TWO goals in eight second half minutes have given Town a slender 2-1 lead following their League One play-off semi-final first leg against Charlton.

Charlie Austin grabbed his 20th of the season and Danny Ward also netted as Swindon opened up a two-goal home advantage, before ex-County Ground loanee Deon Burton headed in for the Addicks.

Town were full value for their win after dominating for long periods, but they had to be patient as visiting keeper Darren Randolph pulled off three stunning saves to deny Austin.

But the front man headed home on 52 minutes and Ward added number two after an hour as the hosts broke away.

Keeper David Lucas will be disappointed with Burton's goal, as the striker rose above his punch to nod home, but it is advantage Swindon going into Monday night's second leg at The Valley.

Town's ranks were weakened before kick-off with top scorer Billy Paynter succumbing to a hamstring injury in training.

And rather than call up Frank Nouble or Vincent Pericard, manager Danny Wilson gambled on a recall for winger Alan O'Brien who has spent most sidelined with various hamstring problems of his own.

But the loss of 29-goal Paynter didn't seem to affect the hosts as they started at a ferocious pace, roared on by a sold-out County Ground crowd.

With just two minutes on the clock, Jon-Paul McGovern's inswinging cross found Charlie Austin unmarked inside the area.

The rookie striker headed down and it was bound for the back of the net until an outstanding fingertip stop from Darren Randolph, with Gordon Greer unable to find the target from the rebound.

And when Danny Ward combined with McGovern down the right, Austin managed to force another header at goal - this time a looping effort - but with the same result as Randolph denied him.

It was turning into an individual battle between the pair as Charlton's keeper pulled off yet another fine stop to keep out yet another Austin header, when the 20-year-old connected with Alan Sheehan's free-kick.

It took the Addicks 16 minutes to produce their first real chance of the evening, but neat interplay between front pairing Deon Burton and David Mooney ended with captain Nicky Bailey's low drive from 25 yards fizzing wide of the far post.

Charlton had ridden the early Swindon storm and started to find time and space to settle into the game.

But the home side still managed to carve out chances, with Jonathan Douglas heading Alan O'Brien's deep delivery wide on the half-hour mark.

And Ward should have given them the deserved breakthrough almost immediately after. The Bolton loanee, playing up front in the absence of Paynter, held off Sam Sodje's challenge as he raced on to Sheehan's through ball.

But, having got into the area, he drove his shot across the face of goal inches wide with Randolph beaten.

After dominating the first half without any reward, there was always a danger that Charlton could make Town rue their missed opportunities.

And that was almost the case four minutes after the restart.

When Bailey picked the ball up on the left touchline nothing looked on, but he jinked inside Kevin Amankwaah's challenge and curled an effort past home keeper David Lucas and against the upright.

However, Swindon finally broke the deadlock on 52 minutes through Austin's 20th goal of the season.

Ward released Sheehan down the left, and the full-back's deep cross was perfect for the former Poole Town striker to rise highest and nod into the bottom corner.

It took the goal to spark Charlton into life as they forced five corners immediately in an attempt to carve out an instant response.

But the hosts, led by the immense Gordon Greer, held firm to repel each one of the Addicks' set pieces.

And from the fifth of those flag kicks Town grabbed their second of the night and some vital breathing space on the hour mark.

The ball was cleared as far as Simon Ferry just outside his own area, and the midfielder took it fully 50 yards before slipping in Ward, who provided the coolest of finishes across Randolph to send the County Ground crazy.

Charlton halved the deficit in the 65th minute to give themselves hope - Deon Burton reacting quickest to Randolph's huge hoof forward to out-jump Lucas and nod into the empty net.

The Addicks were galvanised and forced corner after corner as they put the home side under serious pressure.

Lucas atoned for his error as he dominated the six-yard box, and Wilson sent on Liverpool loanee Stephen Darby tighten up their rearguard.

But ironically, the youngster's first contribution came in the visitor's final third as his cross was headed on by Douglas, with Austin nodding over the top under pressure from Randolph.

Swindon could have bagged a third when Austin pulled the ball back for Ward, but his strike was blocked by Sam Sodje, and the lively forward threatened again when he blazed wide at the near post.

Deep into five minutes of stoppage time, substitute Vincent Pericard came inches away from opening his Town account, when his diving header from close range came back off the inside of the post and somehow stayed out.

But Wilson's side are in the driving seat as they go to The Valley on Monday night.

TOWN (4-4-2): David Lucas; Kevin Amankwaah (Stephen Darby 77), Scott Cuthbert, Gordon Greer, Alan Sheehan; Jon-Paul McGovern, Simon Ferry, Jonathan Douglas, Alan O'Brien (Michael Timlin 84); Danny Ward, Charlie Austin (Vincent Pericard 89)

Subs not used: Phil Smith, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Craig Easton, Frank Nouble

CHARLTON (4-4-2): Darren Randolph; Frazer Richardson, Christian Dailly, Sam Sodje, Gary Borrowdale; Lloyd Sam (Scott Wagstaff 79), Jose Semedo, Therry Racon, Nicky Bailey; Deon Burton (Akpo Sodje 84), David Mooney (Nicky Forster 74)

Subs not used: Rob Elliott, Miguel Llera, Chris Solly, Kyel Reid