Two goals in four first half minutes sent Swindon Town crashing out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at The County Ground.
Town made eight changes to their starting line-up with Steve Adams, Kaid Mohamed, Peter Brezovan and Blair Sturrock amongst those recalled to the side.
Craig Easton was soon on the receiving end of a late challenge from the visitors but thankfully for Paul Sturrock the midfielder was soon up and able to continue.
The fledgling Swindon back four of Pook, Blackburn, Tozer and Comminges were put under early pressure from the visitors but responded well, looking organised and caught the Cheltenham frontline offside on a number of occasions in the opening ten minutes.
The first real piece of quality play from the home side arrived on 13 minutes. A long ball forward from Brezovan was met by Mohamed who played the ball wide for McGovern. His first time cross was headed behind by Gallinagh for a first corner of the game. However the centre was headed clear with Michael Pook smashing the ball in from 22 yards with Higgs gathering at the second attempt.
Peter Brezovan's first involvement was a decent take from a right wing cross on 17 minutes before Craig Easton had to be at his best to clear from a Myrie-Williams cross.
The big Slovakian was the Swindon saviour on 20 minutes keeping the scores level. Craig Reid had latched onto a throughball which had bypassed Blackburn and was denied by a superb stop from Brezovan who had forced Reid wide before parrying the ball away for a corner.
Minutes later it was Swindon who could have opened the scoring. A sublime ball through from McGovern was met by Mohamed, who brought the ball down well before firing narrowly wide.
It was Cheltenham who took the lead on 22 minutes. A fast break from the visitors saw Myrie-Williams stride through into the left-hand edge of the box before firing a low shot from 14 yards past Brezovan into the bottom corner of the net.
Just two minutes later Swindon were two goals down. Another through ball was let slip by the Town defence with Craig Reid advancing before firing a deflected shot into the far corner from 16 yards.
Brezovan was then called into action to prevent a third, saving well from Reid who was again allowed to breeze past the Swindon defence.
Following the two early goals there was a tactical change for Swindon on 25 minutes with Michael Pook moving to left-back with Comminges switching to the right-back position to cope with the pace of Myrie-Williams.
There was another chance for the visitors who again exposed Swindon's lack of experience at the back with Cheltenham unable to capitalise on another opportunity. Before the half-hour mark Zaaboub switched with Pook in another tactical switch.
Swindon finally forced some pressure on the Gloucestershire side with McGovern's cross turned behind with Mohamed lurking inside the area for a second corner of the game. Swindon then changed the side again with McGovern moving into the frontline, Pook into centre midfield, Easton to wide right and Mohamed in the left hand side.
There were soon positive signs with chances for Sturrock and McGovern arriving before the 35-minute mark.
Kaid Mohamed went close with a downward header on the stroke of half-time before the added minute of added time was up and Swindon went into the break two goals down.
Half-Time: Swindon Town 0 Cheltenham Town 2
Swindon made one change at the break with young midfielder Chris Allen coming on in place of Craig Easton in the heart of the midfield.
The first home attack of the new half arrived with McGovern's ball flicked in by Sturrock for Pook, who had advanced well into the box. Pook's left foot effort on the right hand side was gathered by Higgs with Swindon looking to make an early impression on the scoreline.
The first goal for Swindon arrived on 55 minutes with Blair Sturrock turning well after a mistake in the visitors defence. Sturrock's effort from 14yards caught Higgs unawares with Swindon grateful for their opening goal of the game.
With Swindon on the front foot following their opening goal, Blair Sturrock forced a decent stop from Higgs with another corner forced. The set-piece ball saw an early cross for Tozer who headed narrowly over from seven yards.
Chris Allen, who had made a considerable impression since his introduction at the break, set Sturrock free on the hour and his first time effort flashed into the side netting from the right hand edge of the box.
Another chance came Swindon's way with a long ball resulting in a challenge between Higgs, well out of his area on his right, and Sturrock. The ball sprung free for McGovern who hit a goalbound shot which was blocked.
Disaster struck for Swindon on 70 minutes when a cross from the left from Alan Wright was hacked past his own keeper by the unfortunate Ben Tozer to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
Swindon responded well to the third, with McGovern going close with a 72nd minute free-kick after a foul on Mohamed.
Simon Cox and Christian Roberts were introduced into the action on 77 minutes with Michael Pook and Kaid Mohamed making way. Roberts was soon involved, crossing for Sturrock who flashed his header over.
Peter Brezovan saved Swindon's blushes once again on 86 minutes as he denied Craig Reid from close range.
A late surge from Christian Roberts earned his side a corner with the ball eventually played back into the box for Sturrock to head against the bar in what was the last real action of a disappointing evening for the home side.
Full-time: Swindon Town 1 Cheltenham Town 3
Attendance: 3,765
Substitutes: Mark Scott (GK), Chris Allen, Callum Kennedy, Simon Cox, Christian Roberts
Cheltenham Town: Shane Higgs; Shane Duff (c), Michael Townsend, Paul Connor, David Bird, Adam Connolly, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Andy Gallinagh, Dean Sinclair, Alan Wright, Craig Reid
Substitutes: Gavin Caines, Scott Brown, Ben Gill, Michael Wylde, Sosthene Yao
