Swindon took the upper hand in their League One play-off tie with Charlton after recording a 2-1 victory.
Swindon see off Addicks in first leg to earn slender lead
Swindon took the upper hand in their League One play-off semi-final with Charlton after recording a 2-1 victory in the first leg at the County Ground.
A turgid encounter came into life on 52 minutes when Charlie Austin got onto the end of a wonderful Alan Sheehan cross to nod past goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
The Robins wasted no time in doubling their advantage after weathering a mini-spell of Charlton pressure, Austin again the catalyst as his pass allowed youngster Danny Ward to round off a sweeping counter-attacking move.
But Phil Parkinson's team - looking uncharacteristically off-colour throughout the night - managed to salvage a ray of hope for the return leg when Deon Burton connected to a punt from Randolph to beat Swindon keeper David Lucas.
Both sides pressed for further goals, and it was Swindon who nearly took a two-goal lead back to The Valley when substitute Vincent Pericard nodded against the inside of the post in the closing moments.
Blow
The home side were dealt a blow before kick-off when top-scorer Billy Paynter was ruled out with a hamstring injury but they needn't have worried after making a lively start.
They might have been in front after two minutes had it not been for the agility of Addicks keeper Randolph, who dived to his right to make a superb save from Austin's header.
Austin was causing all sorts of problems and he again escaped the attentions of the away defence to head at Randolph, however this time the save was far more routine.
Danny Wilson's side played with the intensity the occasion required and always looked the more likely and they threatened once again when Ward - starting in the place of injured Paynter - broke clear.
Sam Sodje tried getting ahead of the young striker but allowed the 18-year-old a free run into the box, however he couldn't direct his left-footed shot into the bottom corner and the ball flashed agonisingly wide.
The score remained goalless at half time, much to the home side's frustration, and it was Charlton who nearly snatched an unlikely lead when captain Nicky Bailey cracked a curling long-range effort off the post.
Jostled
It was the first time Bailey's side had threatened but they were to find themselves behind moments later as Austin powered into the box to climb above the Charlton defence to nod home.
And eight minutes later, Swindon had doubled their lead.
Austin was again the architect as his incisive pass allowed Ward to make amends after a sweeping break as the on-loan Bolton man fired low into the net.
Swindon should have seen out the victory in comfortable fashion but Charlton eked out a goal as Burton gambled on a punt from Randolph to nod the ball past Lucas.
The two teams jostled for the upper hand and Pericard headed against the post from inside the six-yard box, but the score remained the same going into Monday's reverse leg.
