Brentford bowed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the First Round stage as they let a 1-0 lead slip to lose 4-1 to Swindon Town.

Ricky Shakes' second goal in as many Bees' games seemed to be setting the visitors on their way through but the home side hit back, were ahead by half time and wrapped it up after the break.

Brentford, who kept a very similar line-up to the one which started at Bury on Saturday, started well and were deservedly ahead within the first 15 minutes.

Alan Connell had already shot over after a nice move involving Shakes and Glenn Poole but when Swindon failed to clear a Shakes cross Brentford went ahead.

The ball broke to Sammy Moore, who forced Peter Brezovan into a fine low save but the Swindon stopper could do nothing about Shakes, who fired home past the bodies on the line.

The Robins thought they had been reprieved as the assistant referee's flag was raised with Connell in an offside position but Mr Atwell decided he hadn't been interfering and awarded the goal.

Karleigh Osborne could have doubled the lead but Brezovan saved well from a fierce volley and from then on the evening went downhill.

Miguel Comminges should have pulled the home side level but fired wastefully wide after nice play by Simon Cox and Chris Allen but The Robins were soon level.

Callum Kennedy swung a cross into the box for Ibon Arrieta, who controlled it, chipped it up and lofted an effort over his own head, over the head of Simon Brown and into the far corner.

The home side were perhaps a little fortunate to be level, despite the quality of the goal, and Shakes could have put Brentford back ahead when he flicked a header narrowly wide and soon after Kevin O'Connor headed over when well placed but Swindon were ahead before half time and made their advantage count in the second half.

Arrieta and Mauro Almeida shot wide before the break and with minutes remaining of the first half Swindon took the lead.

Ben Tozer helped work a crossing opportunity for Jon-Paul McGovern and his cross picked out the unmarked Simon Cox, who headed past Brown from five yards.

Brentford would have hoped to get back into the game after half time and switched to a 4-3-3 system in an attempt to open up the home defence but in a lacklustre first 20 minutes of the second half it was Swindon who created the openings.

Cox headed wide as Brentford failed to clear a long throw and shot wide soon after while Moore fired an effort wide from 25 yards and 20 minutes after the re-start the games was just about up.

Brentford conceded a corner when a fizzing shot from McGovern was deflected wide and when the winger floated a ball in, Almeida flicked it on and Chris Blackburn fired home.

With the win just about sealed The Robins went for the jugular, Brown saved well from McGovern, Cox fired wide and Steve Adams had an effort blocked.

Brentford weren't creating as much as they would have liked, Ryan Peters had a weak effort saved but soon Swindon stretched their lead.

Brown again kept Adams out when he lashed in a shot from 25 yards but when McGovern knocked the corner over Blackburn volleyed home from 15 yards to cap a good evening for Swindon.

Brentford tried to find a late goal, Brezovan saved well from Connell and Shakes had a shot blocked but there was no way through and The Bees were dumped out of the competition at the earliest possible opportunity.

Swindon Town: Brezovan; Tozer, Almeida, Blackburn, Kennedy; McGovern (sub Macklin 85 mins), Adams, Allen, Comminges; Cox, Arrieta (sub Mohamed 70 mins)

Subs (not used): Smith, Hammond, Joyce

Bookings:

Brentford: Brown; O'Connor, Heywood (sub Pead h/t), Osborne, Basey; Moore, Smith (sub Ide 81 mins), Pettigrew, Poole (sub Peters 70 mins); Shakes, Connell

Subs (not used): Hamer, Mousinho

Bookings:

Attendance: 3,118

Written by Chris Wickham