ON THIS DAY, 17 years ago, Swindon Town suffered one of the club’s most heartbreaking defeats of all time.

Trailing by a goal to Brighton & Hove Albion after a nervy first-leg at the County Ground a few days earlier, Town battled back at the Withdean Stadium to lead 2-0 on the night, and 2-1 on aggregate.

Sam Parkin had scored late on in normal time before Rory Fallon struck in the first half of extra time to put Swindon on the edge of yet another trip to Wembley.

But just as the fourth official was due to show how much added time was set to be played, Albion’s Adam Virgo headed in a 120th minute goal to send the pair’s Division Two play-off semi-final to penalties.

Town lost 4-2 in the shoot-out, and their dream of reaching what is now the Championship was dashed in the most sickening of fashion.

Andy King’s men had put up a brilliant fight over the course of an extremely wet first 80 minutes in East Sussex, with the best of the visitors chances falling to Tommy Mooney late on. The controversial figure rolled his man before unleashing a venomous left-footed strike that skidded off the top of the crossbar.

Luckily for Mooney, Parkin was on hand to bundle a half-chance home minutes later. Following a Sammy Igoe shot, Stefani Miglioranzi appeared to be fouled, only for Parkin to prod home through the legs of a defender from two yards out, sending the travelling party into raptures behind the goal.

Those scenes were repeated seven minutes into added time after Mooney charged forward and reversed a pass into Fallon down the inside right channel.

The New Zealander poked through the legs of Ben Roberts and into the net to double Town’s lead on the night.

But as King’s side tried to hold onto their lead, the ball continued to come back towards Rhys Evans’ goal with interest.

And three seconds after 30 minutes of added time had passed, Virgo rose to power into the far corner and give Brighton a huge boost before penalties.

Parkin powerfully dispatched Swindon’s first before Richard Carpenter replied for Albion, sending Evans the wrong way.

Matty Heywood scuffed Town’s second under the legs of Roberts while Chris Iwelumo powerfully placed the hosts second into the side netting.

Though Mooney had enjoyed a decent game, his penalty in the shoot-out was not what was required. Town’s player of the year was thwarted by Roberts as he dived away to his right. John Piercy slotted home Brighton’s third, as did Fallon for Town.

But when Virgo repeated his extra-time heroics in the shoot-out by whipping his spot-kick into the top corner, the pressure was all on Andy Gurney to keep Swindon in the tie.

However, Town’s centre-back crashed his effort against the post, and Brighton went on to face Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium.