Carlisle started brightly though and had the first chance in the game but Adam Clayton's volley from the edge of the penalty area only ended up in the carpark as it sailed over the stand. With 13 minutes on the clock Town responded when Austin and Simon Ferry combined to set up a curling shot for Jonathon Douglas which was easily saved by visitors goalkeeper Adam Collin.
Five minutes later and lone United striker Joe Anyinsah won a free-kick just outside the Swindon box, Ian Harte then stepping up to fire in the set-piece and force a good save out of Lucas at his far-post. Danny Livesey then missing a great chance to give Carlisle the lead when, unmarked, he headed wide from Graham Kavanagh's resultant corner.
Shortly afterwards and Collin had to make a good tip over from Jon-Paul McGovern as the home side began to up the pressure, then Danny Ward smacked an effort over the crossbar from distance. Alan Sheehan then curled a free-kick wide for Town before they finally did take the lead on 31 minutes, Gordon Greer putting an excellent ball through for Austin, who picked his spot well as he curled a shot home into the corner of the Carlisle net.
With Swindon now well on top Collin had to push a Ferry shot over before Austin and Paynter both shot wide as the visitors began to hope for the half-time whistle. Paynter then flicked a McGovern free-kick wide before Carlisle missed a great chance to equalise just before the break. Clayton feeding Anyinsah deep in the Town box only for Lucas to make a good save with his legs from Anyinsah's quick turn and shot.
Six minutes after the interval and it was still the home side on top when Paynter's shot deflected away from danger off right-back Richard Keogh. Paynter did double Swindon's advantage on 53 minutes though when, following a McGovern lay off, Sheehan's cross into the box was neatly headed home by Paynter for his 20th goal of the season.
Carlisle then gambled with a couple of attacking substitutions to try to get back into the game but the home side were coasting by this point. Although they did have a couple of quick scares when first Keogh shot wide and then Harte had a header from a Kevan Hurst corner deflected wide. The next flag-kick in then only producing a free-kick for Town as Harte was adjudged to have pushed Greer in the back.
Ward then broke away quickly up the other end but Paynter glanced his header from the cross by the Bolton-loanee across goal and narrowly wide of the target, Ward then going for it himself on 70 minutes with a curling shot over the top. Former Carlisle striker Vincent Pericard, on as a Town substitute, then missing a great chance to score from an Austin cross when he failed to control the ball as it came in.
Moments later Ward sent a curler wide before Pericard failed to take an even better opportunity in front of goal when his shot from a McGovern pass was cleared off the line by Livesey. Collin then making an excellent save on 87 minutes from a powerful Craig Easton volley, with neither Austin nor Pericard able to get a toe on the rebound as Collin scrambled to grab the loose ball.
Carlisle's only chance to grab a consolation goal coming deep into injury time when Paul Thirlwell missed a fantastic chance from close range, the United midfielder somehow blazing over the top when a loose ball dropped to him. The final whistle coming seconds later to signal a long journey home up the M6 for the 297 visiting supporters.