Ten-man Swindon Town have crashed out of the FA Cup after a penalty shootout defeat away against Accrington Stanley after a 2-2 draw.

Tyler Walton had Accrington in the lead in a first half Swindon were on top of in which Danny Butterworth also saw red for a late tackle but Grant Hall’s stoppage-time header saw the sides level at the break.

A missed Harry Smith penalty did not deter Swindon as Joel Cotterill scored but Walton netted in stoppage time to take it to penalties. But Accrington held their nerve best to progress.

Swindon exit the FA Cup and have still made the Third Round just once since 2012 and defeat ends Holloway’s perfect record in the cups.

Holloway only made two changes to the starting line-up from the Morecambe debacle last weekend as Aaron Drinan and Tunmise Sobowale were restored to the starting 11. The midfield double pivot of Gavin Kilkenny and Butterworth appeared to be a gamble leading into the match against a side who had physically overpowered Town a fortnight ago.

With Swindon probably still a little bit tender from the monsoon last week, Accrington definitely opted to take the game to them from the first whistle. Within a minute the ball had been fired into the pinball table in the area and Stanley won a corner which Jack Bycroft hurriedly punched away from the six-yard box.

That speed of the game persisted throughout the opening stages but with Swindon giving as good as they got. With three central strikers, the ball went forward quickly and without a huge degree of precision. The Accrington drum seemed to strike each time possession changed hands.

Having been subjected to Holloway’s famous run for a month now, Swindon seemed to be playing with the energy and endeavour that it inspires. Drinan created two reasonable chances for Smith with mad darts into both channels and Sobowale did the same for George Cox, as he fired wide.

But any buoyancy these rapid-fire opportunities conjured up was punctured as swiftly as it had arrived. Dara Costelloe ran into space on the edge of the area and drew a fine stop from Bycroft. Nobody in black could quite dig out the required clearance as Stanley swarmed and after three attempts, the ball fell to Walton to give them the lead.

Although, unlike in previous games, the goal did not change an awful lot about how Swindon played. They continued to run and chase with undented gusto.

As the game ran towards its middle point, Swindon were well on top. They had Accrington pinned back defending an aerial bombardment from both sides but were never quite able to get the decisive touch.

But for the second time in the half, with a head of steam built up a rock was placed on the tracks. Butterworth, who had run the show in midfield, miscontrolled a long punt and went in high and late for a challenge. The referee had no choice but to send him off.

But once again, the adversity placed in their way did not bring the expected negative response. Cox floated in a fabulous deep free kick in first-half stoppage time for Smith to head into Hall’s path and he netted at the near post.

The attacking intent remained from Swindon after the break but with a man advantage, Accrington were finding space on the counter. Town survived a big scare when Dara Costelloe got on the end of a low cross but lifted it over the top from inside the six-yard box.

But just as Swindon seemed to be fading around the hour mark, they found a second wind. Sobowale was especially lively down the right.

The big moment arrived as Cox was brought down in the box. Smith stepped up blasted it but Crellin went the right way and got enough on it to send the ball to safety.

But this didn’t deter them either, like The Terminator they kept coming and were rewarded. In the 71st minute the ball was worked down the left, Joel Cotterill faced up a defender in the corner of the box and bent one deliciously beyond the sprawling Crellin.

With ten players, hunkering down and looking to absorb pressure was all that could be expected from Swindon as Accrington looked to take the game to extra time on their home turf.

In stoppage time, having fought tooth and nail, the equaliser came as once again Swindon could not get the ball clear and it fell for Walton to lash home.

Accrington had the better of the additional 30 minutes but couldn’t make the most of it and so penalties was needed to decide it.

Misses from Joel Cotterill and Aaron Drinan with Town’s first two spot kicks saw them lose the shoot-out 4-1.

ASFC starting XI: Crellin, Love, Awe, Coyle, B. Woods, Khumbeni, Costelloe, Walton, Aljofree, O’Brien, J. Woods.

ASFC substitutes: Kelly, Henderson, Knowles, Popoola, Smith, Trickett, Conneely, Sohna, Hunter.

STFC starting XI: Bycroft, Sobowale, Delaney, Wright, Kilkenny, Tshimanga, Butterworth, Drinan, Hall, Cox.

STFC substitutes: Barden, Ofoborh, Cotterill, Glatzel, McGurk, Longelo, Minturn, McGregor, Ameen.

Attendance: 1,534 (355 away).