The Cobblers youth team took on Tranmere Rovers at Sixfields on Wednesday night in the FA Youth Cup third round.
The first chance of the game fell to the Cobblers on 8 minutes but Michael Jacobs shot from a tight angle only found the side netting. The first yellow card of the game was then shown on 14 minutes with Tom Gernon booked for a foul on the lively Josh Macauley.
Jacobs came close to breaking the deadlock on 16 minutes when he slid in to connect with Shawn Richard's left-wing cross but his shot went narrowly wide. Tom McBride then went close after some good work down the right from Tom McGowan but his hooked volley was narrowly off-target.
Ash Taylor tried his luck from 25-yards on 21 minutes but Paul Walker did well to tip his effort around the post. At the other end following some patient build-up Ross Oulton had a shot from 20-yards comfortably saved by Peter Kennedy. Macauley was involved in the action again on 36 minutes but from Ash Taylor's knock down he shot high and wide.
It was then Macauley's turn to find the side netting on 38 minutes with a right-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area.
Tom McGowan showed a nice bit of skill on 41 minutes to bring the ball under control in the penalty area but his low-driven left-footed effort whistled narrowly past the post. Michael Jacobs and Luke Denson both entered the referee's notebook on 44 minutes, Jacobs for a foul and Denson for retaliation.
The Cobblers started the second half on the offensive with Tom McBride shooting narrowly wide.
Ash Taylor headed on from a free-kick on 54 minutes but his effort went straight into the arms of Paul Walker. As Tranmere started to up the pressure Jay Ashcroft shot against the post before Walker did well to save a stinging effort from Macauley.
Tranmere then took the lead on 56 minutes with Joel Richardson converting from close range following an in swinging left-wing corner.
Joe Benjamin broke into the penalty area on 74 minutes but his left-footed shot went just past the far post. Tranmere then made a change with Tom Baker coming on for Jay Ashcroft.
Tranmere doubled their lead on 78 minutes, Josh Macauley rising highest from a corner to bullet home a header past Walker.
Sean Parrish then made a double change with Mike Withers and Kieran Mahon replacing Tom McGowan and Tom McBride. The Cobblers third and final change came on 87 minutes with Alex Konstantinou coming on to replace Ben Judd.
Tranmere wrapped up the win with a third on 89 minutes with the goal coming on the break, Josh Macauley rolling the ball into an open net after the unfortunate Paul Walker's clearance came back off the Rovers striker.
Teams
Cobblers: Paul Walker, Tom Gernon, Ben Judd (Alex Konstantinou, 87), Ross Oulton (capt), Jon Marzetti, Luke Cray, Shawn Richards, Tom McBride (Kieran Mahon, 78), Joe Benjamin, Tom McGowan (Mark Withers, 78), Michael Jacobs
Subs not used: Josh Urquhart, Anthony O'Connor
Tranmere: Peter Kennedy, Joel Richardson, Louis Corrigan, Luke Denson, Gerwin Jones, Ash Taylor (capt), Jack Mackreth, Ryan Fraughan, Josh Macauley, Jay Ashcroft (Tom Baker, 76), Dave Wilson
Subs not used: Joe Collister, Ross Rule, Alex Pursehouse, Liam Benson
Referee: Mr S J Phipps
Attendance: 212
