The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Elite squad lost 5-4 at home to Chippenham Town in the NFYL South Premier on Wednesday afternoon.
James Owen, Mmenim Ekop, Tyrun Primus and Bradley Cheshire scored the Cobblers’ goals as they were defeated by their unbeaten opposition.
The hosts created the first chance early on, Zack Douglas turning over after a corner was played back into the middle.
But Chippenham opened the scoring a few minutes later when a ball over the top of the Northampton defence was dinked over Billy Panter.
Owen equalised for the Cobblers not long afterwards, winning the ball back from a defender who had blocked his initial shot and slotting into the bottom corner.
Panter made a diving save to deny an effort from the edge of the area as the visitors looked to restore their lead midway through the first half.
They did just that from the penalty spot soon after, when an attacker was pulled back on the edge of the box and a teammate side-footed just out of the ‘keeper’s reach from 12 yards.
Chippenham continued to push forward and doubled their advantage before the break. Panter made a strong save low to his left, but his defenders failed to clear their lines and the follow-up was smashed into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Northampton defence 10 minutes into the second half, an attacker racing onto Panter’s loose goal-kick, driving into the area and finishing to add his side’s fourth.
The Cobblers pulled a goal back going into the final quarter-of-an-hour when substitute Ekop tapped in from Primus’ low cross at the back post.
The visitors scored a fifth to seemingly seal the contest with eight minutes to go when a square ball was diverted in off the crossbar from close range.
But Primus found the far corner with a lob and Cheshire stabbed home from Archie O’Donnell’s cross to set-up an exciting final few minutes.
Northampton created a few half-chances as they pressed for a dramatic late equaliser, but they were unable to find the elusive fifth goal.
Elsewhere today, the Development team’s home fixture against Wycombe Wanderers in the South Central Championship kicks-off at 2:15pm, whilst the Women’s team are away to Barking Abbey in the South Premier Women.
Cobblers: Billy Panter, Zack Douglas, Tyrun Primus, Johnny Carey, Ollie Galbraith, Jack Culwick, Romeo Ingman, Bradley Cheshire, James Owen, Archie O’Donnell, Elliot Balchin
Substitutes: Tom Ladyman, James Lewis, Reece Lineham, Mmenim Ekop, Nico Mountford