Swindon 2-1 Charlton

Early second half goals from Charlie Austin and Danny Ward appeared to put the Wiltshire side firmly in the driving seat to book a final place at Wembley on May 29.

However, Deon Burton’s 65th minute header keeps Phil Parkinson’s side right in contention going into the decisive Valley clash early next week.

Sam Sodje was recalled to the starting line-up in place of Miguel Llera, who was named on the bench.

David Mooney continued to partner Burton up front, while Swindon were dealt a major blow before kick-off when top scorer Billy Paynter was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Swindon were denied the perfect start on two minutes when Darren Randolph saved Austin’s header but Gordon Greer headed the loose ball into the side netting.

Gary Borrowdale blazed over from 40 yards four minutes later as Charlton made their first attempt on David Lucas’ goal.

Austin headed straight at Randolph after Jon-Paul McGovern was given the freedom of the park to deliver a dangerous cross from the right.

And the Addicks keeper denied Austin again three minutes later when he tipped over the striker’s third header on target after the Swindon player had connected with Alan Sheehan’s free-kick.

Lucas made a comfortable catch to gather Borrowdale’s corner on the quarter hour mark, while Nicky Bailey dragged a low shot from 20 yards just wide of the post moments later.

Chances were at a premium for the next 10 minutes or so until Jonathan Douglas headed harmlessly wide under pressure from Borrowdale.

However, Ward should have done better just after the half hour when he left Sam Sodje for dead before bursting into the area and firing wide of the far post.

Lucas reacted quickly to come and get Richardson’s cross into the danger zone but a frustrating start for the Addicks was summed up when Bailey’s 35th minute cross ended up in the stand as opposed to the penalty area.

However, they were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position just to the right of the area when Lloyd Sam was upended by Sheehan three minutes later.

Borrowdale’s free-kick was fisted away by Lucas but landed at the feet of Jose Semedo on the edge of the area, whose powerful volley took a slight deflection off McGovern and went behind for a corner.

Kevin Amankwaah put in a crucial header to prevent Bailey getting on the end of Mooney’s cross as Charlton finally sprung to life.

But both sides went in level at the break and it was probably the Addiscks who were happier with that bearing in mind Swindon had created the clearer chances.

Lucas had to get down low to catch Borrowdale’s long range effort within a minute of the restart.

The visitors should have broken the deadlock on 49 minutes when Bailey’s 20 yard shot beat Lucas before cannoning back off the post and being put behind by a Swindon defender for a corner.

However, it was Swindon who made the breakthrough two minutes later when Austin rose above Borrowdale to head home Sheehan’s cross.

Charlton were awarded a free-kick just outside the area almost immediately but Borrowdale’s attempt failed to find the target.

The Addicks were then awarded a series of free-kicks and corners in quick succession and there was a made scramble to clear away Mooney’s 57th minute shot from six-yards by the Swindon defence after a corner was swung in.

But it was from one of these set pieces Swindon made a quick break through Simon Ferry on the hour and his pass to Ward ended with the midfielder firing a low shot beyond the reach of Randolph to make it 2-0 on the hour.

Borrowdale had to put behind Alan O’Brien’s 63rd minute cross for a corner, although O’Brien’s cross one minute later was comfortably saved by Randolph.

Charlton’s keeper turned into an unlikely provider on 65 minutes when his long clearance upfield caused confusion in the Swindon defence and Burton beat Lucas to the ball to head into an empty net and halve the deficit.

Burton was just unable to get a touch on Bailey’s 71st minute cross, while Ward fired wide at the other end moments later.

Nicky Forster was introduced on 73 minutes for Mooney as the Addicks prepared to take a corner, but Lucas made an easy save from Borrowdale’s delivery.

Austin headed just over the bar in the 79th minute seconds before Scott Wagstaff entered the fray in place of Sam.

Sam Sodje made a crucial block on Ward’s close range effort after he had been set up by Austin.

Ward then fired wide before Akpo Sodje came on for Burton with six minutes remaining.

Forster’s 35 yard volley was never going to trouble Lucas and there was possibly some relief for Charlton when Austin was substituted by Vincent Pericard.

Ward headed agonisingly wide as five minutes of stoppage time were signalled by the fourth official.

Could the Addicks get their third injury time equaliser this season against their hosts?

No, although Swindon should have added a third when Pericard headed against the post from six yards.

Bearing in mind the chances Swindon created, Charlton will probably be reasonably satisfied they only have a one-goal deficit to chase in SE7 on Monday evening.

There is everything still to play for thanks to Burton’s header and with their own fans behind them in the second leg, the Wembley dream could still be on yet.

Charlton: Randolph, Richardson, S Sodje, Dailly, Borrowdale, Sam (Wagstaff 79), Semedo, Racon, Bailey, Burton (A Sodje 84), Mooney (Forster 73). Subs not used: Elliot, Llera, Solly, Reid.