ON a day dominated by news off the pitch this game was very much an afterthought and another defeat will not unduly concern Newport County AFC manager Terry Butcher.

Teenager Aaron Collins was the hero as he took the tie to penalties but it was his miss in the shootout that allowed Swindon Town to knock County out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy for the second year running.

The Robins eventually won it 7-6 in sudden death but Butcher will know that Saturday’s League Two home clash with York City is the real must-win game of the week.

County fans spent transfer deadline day glued to their phones and laptops as Regan Poole’s protracted move to Manchester United played out.

That deal was officially confirmed less than an hour before kick-off at Rodney Parade.

Earlier in the day it was announced that fellow centre-back Kevin Feely had agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent.

And Exiles boss Butcher also managed to bring in free agent defender Matt Partridge before the window slammed shut.

Such a hectic day of transfer activity completely overshadowed a JPT first round tie and both sides gave the distinct impression that it was a game they could have done without.

The visitors could only name three subs and fielded a young and inexperienced team, while County made five changes from the side that lost at Plymouth Argyle to condemn them to last place in the League Two table.

That was the maximum number of changes Butcher was allowed under the competition rules and he opted to hand first competitive starts to Rhys Taylor in goal, loan signing Josh Laurent in central midfield and academy graduate Tom Owen-Evans wide on the left.

Recalled to the starting XI were teenage defender Kieran Parselle and Alex Rodman, back from injury, and a defensive reshuffle saw Seth Nana Twumasi shift to right-back.

The hosts started reasonably well with Owen-Evans and Scott Barrow catching the eye down the left flank.

And Parselle, set to play a much bigger role after the departure of his good friend Poole, showed good strength in the box to deny Fabien Robert.

But moments later Anton Rodgers, son of Liverpool boss Brendan, unleashed a rocket and Swindon were ahead on 19 minutes.

His 25-yard strike may have taken a slight deflection on its way to the top corner of Taylor’s net but either way the County keeper had little chance of keeping it out.

County tried to respond but Scott Boden and Lenell John-Lewis up front didn’t have a chance between them in the first half.

Captain Mark Byrne came closest to an equaliser but his free-kick curled well over Tyrell Belford’s bar.

The second half didn’t start well for Butcher’s boys as Rodman, who had shown how much he’s been missed with some impressive touches, picked up another injury.

The former Gateshead man was helped off to be replaced by Collins and his lively performance in the final half hour, as well as that of Owen-Evans, were real bright spots for the hosts.

Taylor also pulled off some good stops to keep the tie alive, saving Rodgers’ free-kick and a fierce drive from Robert expertly.

At the other end Belford was a spectator until Collins’ leveller on 72 minutes.

Twumasi was the orchestrator with a brilliant piece of skill to control a high ball and play in the teenager with an inch-perfect pass.

But Collins’ cool finish showed his immense potential and probably put a few thousand on his price tag as well.

Fellow substitute Yan Klukowski headed just over the top soon afterwards and Swindon sub Tom Smith went close at the death but there was nothing to separate the sides in normal time.