SWINDON Town suffered a ninth consecutive first-round exit in the League Cup following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Peterborough United on Tuesday night.

Michael Flynn’s men were arguably the better side overall, but an early goal from Joel Randall put the Robins behind the eight ball – a position from which they always looked likely to recover from.

But after a fine equaliser from Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and some goalkeeping heroics from Murphy Mahoney in the second half, Swindon ultimately fell 4-1 on penalties.

Despite the disappointing result, Town did their travelling fans proud and will arrive into their first League Two game with Crewe Alexandra on Saturday high on confidence.

Town boss Flynn handed competitive debuts to five of his 11 starters – Mahoney, Udoka Godwin-Malife, Tariq Uwakwe, Liam Kinsella, and Dan Kemp - while naming further new signings Benn Ward, Jake Young, and Brooklyn Genesini on the bench.

George McEachran was ill and not included in Swindon's squad as the substitute bench featured just seven of the nine faces allowed.

Peterborough started ex-Swindon loan defender, Romoney Crichlow in the heart of defence while another former face, Joe Tomlinson, had to make do with a spot on the bench for Posh alongside clinical striker, Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Despite a bright first five minutes from the visitors, Swindon went behind in the seventh courtesy of a well-taken Randall finish.

Captain Charlie Austin gave the ball away after a tame pass in midfield, and Randall scurried down the left flank before sending Kinsella to the floor with a dummy once he reached the six-yard box. After cutting back onto his right, the Posh attacker curled into the far corner.

Following a brief interruption as a result of two errant sprinklers, Swindon regained their footing after the early crunch to the ribs and began building themselves back into the contest.

But the closest Town came to finding an equaliser was when Austin thumped a long-range strike into the empty seats behind Nicholas Bilokapic’s goal.

Just prior to the half-hour mark, Posh almost grabbed a second. Ricky-Jade Jones was allowed to pick his target from the right and Tom Brewitt helped the ball on with an ill-timed header. The ball dropped to Randall at the far post, but he drilled narrowly wide with his left on the half-volley.

Swindon enjoyed the better of the remaining first-half play, and possibly should have equalised at the end of a training-ground corner routine late on.

Remeao Hutton whipped a low corner towards the near post and everyone bar Kemp ran towards goal as Godwin-Malife helped it backwards. The attacking midfielder reached the ball near the edge of the box but scuffed his shot into the floor and Bilokapic gathered.

Seconds after the restart, Swindon were indebted to their stopper as Jones powered through the heart of Town’s defence and closed in on goal. Once Jones reached Mahoney one-on-one, a goal appeared inevitable, but a huge stop from the on-loan QPR man kept Swindon in the contest.

Minutes later, that save was put into context as Flynn’s men equalised. A simple through ball down the left from Blake-Tracy was latched on to by Hepburn-Murphy, and the forward simply ran at his man before firing between near post and goalkeeper with his left.

Another superb piece of defensive work – this time from Brewitt – kept Jones out as Posh looked for a response, but it was Swindon who almost took the lead when Kemp was found one-on-one. Yet, as the goalpost neared, Town’s attacking midfielder dragged his left-footed shot wide.

While it was a far more open final quarter, real chances were at a premium as a barrage of substitutes arrived and broke up momentum. Flynn handed further debuts to Ward, Young, and Genesini while Harrison Minturn was also sent on.

As full-time drew closer, Town were left relying on a man-of-the-match display from Mahoney to force penalties. Two stunning saves in stoppage time from substitutes Tomlinson and Clarke-Harris helped Town reach spot kicks.

Unfortunately for the League Two side, Mahoney was not able to repeat his heroics as Town bowed out.

All four of Peterborough’s takers were successful – Clarke-Harris, Tomlinson, Edwards, and Burrows – while Blake-Tracy and Young failed from the spot. Only Kemp scored as Town’s League Cup hoodoo continued.

PUFC starting XI: Bilokapic, Burrows, Edwards, Crichlow, Poku, Randall, Jones, Tshimanga, Kyprianou, Collins, Kioso.

PUFC substitutes: Blackmore, Knight, Fuchs, De Havilland, Clarke-Harris, Ajiboye, Tomlinson, Corbett, Arthur.

STFC starting XI: Mahoney, Hutton, Godwin-Malife, Brewitt, Blake-Tracy, Uwakwe, Kinsella, Khan, Kemp, Hepburn-Murphy, Austin.

STFC substitutes: Brann, Ward, Young, Genesini, Wakeling, Minturn, Brown.

Referee: Tom Nield