Peterborough United have been held to a 2-2 half-time draw with 10-man Swindon Town in the first-leg Southern area final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Posh took the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, with Raphael Branco producing a thumping header past his own goalkeeper from a Grant McCann corner on 10 minutes.

The Robins were swiftly denied the opportunity to produce an immediate riposte after James McEveley saw his appeal for a penalty waved away by referee Paul Tierney, before Darren Ferguson's men doubled their advantage.

Kyle Vassell added his team's second and his first since joining from Bishop's Stortford late last year, benefiting from a goal-mouth scramble to tap the ball home from close range on 15 minutes.

Nile Ranger reduced the arrears for Swindon on the half-hour mark, racing clear of the defence and curling past goalkeeper Robert Olejnik.

However, Town's bid to complete the comeback was dealt a hammer blow shortly after as McEveley was shown a straight red card for catching Britt Assombalonga in the face with a high boot.

Despite the numerical disadvantage the visitors found the equaliser on the stroke of half time, with Shaun Brisley diverting past his own keeper to restore parity ahead of the second half.