Lawrie Sanchez

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Area Final: Swindon 1 (2) Barnet 0 (1)

Alan Connell scored the only goal of the game as Swindon reached the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Barnet’s expense.

The two sides were level going into the second leg after Hughes cancelled out Aden Flint’s opener at Underhill on January 10.

The Bees finished the game with 10 men after Charlie Taylor was sent off for a nasty challenge on Oliver Risser.

Swindon felt they had a penalty when Hughes ran into the back of Connell with 15 minutes gone with the captain forced off temporarily with a cut nose.

Before Hughes was able to get back into position the Robins took the lead when Paul Caddis provided an inch perfect cross for Connell to head home past goalkeeper Dean Brill, who was rooted to his line.

Swindon looked relatively untroubled as Barnet looked for an equaliser before half-time and were the more likely to double their lead and Benson had a tame shot comfortably saved by Brill.

The second-half continued in the same vein as the first with the hosts threatening more, as their league position suggested that they should.

The Bees brought on Taylor for Mark Byrne with 17 minutes left as they tried to get back into the game.

However, the 26-year-old saw red just 12 minutes later for kneeing Risser in the stomach with five minutes left as the Bees frustration grew, while Swindon fans began to celebrate.

The 10 men still kept going but the Wiltshire club kept them at bay and the final whistle was greeted by a joyous pitch invasion.

Swindon will face Chesterfield at Wembley on March 25.

Swindon: Foderingham, Kennedy (Murray 82), Devera, Caddis, Ferry (Risser 58), Ritchie, McCormack, Smith, Benson, Connell, De Vita (Cibocchi 77)

Subs not used: Smith, Magera

Barnet: Brill, Dennehy, Saville, Kamdjo (Obita 58), Downing, Byrne (Taylor 74), Deering (Mustoe 90), Holmes, McLeod

Subs Not Used: O’Brien, Hajrovic