While the Northampton Town first team were in Emirates FA Cup action at Glanford Park, the Cobblers youth team travelled to Swindon Town in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

The game was played at Swindon’s Energy Check County Ground with a home tie versus Nottingham Forest awaiting the winners in round 3.

Sol Price headed Swindon in front on 11 minutes with James Gillard going closest for the Cobblers in a tight first half.

Jon Brady’s side upped the tempo after the break and Sean Whaler thought he had levelled the scores on 65 minutes, only to be denied by an off-side flag.

The Cobblers continued to battle hard in the closing stages but Swindon held on.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow and I felt we at least deserved to take the game into extra-time,” said the Cobblers under 18s coach.

“Sean scored a legitimate goal, we’ve watched it again and he came from an on-side position so it’s a tough one to take.

“It’s all a learning curve for the players and they were absolutely first class tonight.

“We were a bit too cautious in the first half and perhaps should have played with a bit more belief but in the second half we were on the front foot and there was only one team in the ascendancy.

“The players gave everything and if we had played with the belief we showed in the second half for the full 90 minutes I’m sure we would be in the next round.”