CARABAO CUP 2ND ROUND
Tuesday August 24th, 7.45pm
Sixfields Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
AFC WIMBLEDON 1
Anthony Hartigan 90
Attendance: 3,257 (302 away supporters)
Cobblers: Jonny Maxted, Aaron McGowan, Joseph Mills, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Dylan Connolly (sub Sam Hoskins 76), Paul Lewis, Jordan Flores (sub Mitch Pinnock 66), Ali Koiki, Danny Rose (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 82), Kion Etete
Subs not used: Liam Roberts, Michael Harriman, Scott Pollock, Sid Nelson
AFC Wimbledon: Nikola Tzanev, Dan Csoka, George Marsh, Anthony Hartigan, Jack Rudoni, Dapo Mebude (sub Luke McCormick 73), Nesta Guinness-Walker (sub Henry Lawrence 63), Aaron Pressley (sub Ollie Palmer 73), Ben Heneghan, Paul Kalambayi, Paul Osew
Subs not used: Alex Woodyard, Will Nightingale, Ethan Chislett, Zaki Oulah
Referee: Ross Joyce
Booked:
Cobblers: Fraser Horsfall (34), Sam Hoskins (85)
AFC Wimbledon: Dan Csoka (17), Aaron Pressley (34)
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
AFC Wimbledon: none
Jon Brady made six changes for the Carabao Cup second round tie against AFC Wimbledon with Jonny Maxted, Fraser Horsfall, Dylan Connolly, Ali Koiki, Jordan Flores and Danny Rose all coming into the starting XI. Michael Harriman was named on the bench for his first appearance in the matchday squad this season.
The Cobblers started on the front foot pressing high but when Paul Lewis went down in the area following a scramble from a corner referee Ross Joyce waved play on.
Maxted made a smart save with his legs and body to deny Dapo Mebude the opening goal and Aaron McGowan was alert to the danger when Aaron Pressley threatened, the League 1 side growing into the contest.
Pressley and Horsfall were both booked following a coming together before Anthony Hartigan drilled a shot from distance just wide.
In a tight first half the Cobblers were probing for a way through but despite some good build-up play at half-time the scores remained level.
Paul Osew’s deflected effort nearly looped in at the start of the second half before Dylan Connolly, played in by Kion Etete, drew a sharp save from Tzanev.
Tzanev saved from Danny Rose with Etete’s follow-up effort cleared off the line as the Cobblers went close to breaking the deadlock.
Rose appealed for a penalty after going down in the area but the referee wasn’t convinced and although it was the Cobblers who continued to look most likely to score with ten minutes to play the tie remained in the balance.
Deep into stoppage time Anthony Hartigan broke the Cobblers hearts with a strike from 35-yards. It was a goal that was extremely harsh on the Cobblers but it was enough for AFC Wimbledon to book their place in the third round.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (4) 4
FOULS: (9) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
AFC WIMBLEDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
Golden Goal Peel and Reveal Time: ADTM2