A Northampton Town XI won the Northamptonshire FA Maunsell Cup with a 1-0 win away to Peterborough Sports on Tuesday night.
Neo Dobson scored the Cobblers’ goal as they defeated their Vanarama National League North opponents.
First team coach Marc Richards and Under 18s coach Shane Goddard named a side mostly made up of youth team players as well as first teamers James Dadge, Josh Tomlinson and Peter Abimbola.
Both sides created opportunities in an end-to-end opening five minutes, Dan Jarvis flashing an early effort wide of the Cobblers goal and Jamari Hart firing a shot towards the near post from a tight angle which was beaten away by Lewis Elsom at the other end.
The senior outfit began to control the contest, but the visitors threatened midway through the first half when Dobson hooked an effort from the edge of the area just over the bar.
Connor Johnson rose highest to head a corner over from six yards and Jordan Nicholson curled off target at the end of a mazy dribble as Peterborough Sports pushed forward in search of an opening goal.
Nicholson’s through ball set Jarvis up for the hosts’ best chance of the opening 45 minutes on the half-an-hour mark, but he elected to cut the ball back rather than shoot across goal and the Cobblers were able to clear.
Tomlinson headed James Owen’s deep corner across goal and a yard over as the visitors continued to frustrate their opponents going into the break.
The scoreline remained goalless at the interval after Dadge pushed a low strike away from goal and dived on the loose ball, two low strikes whistled past the post and Hugh Alban-Jones flicked a header into the side-netting from Nicholson’s inswinging corner.
Peterborough Sports wasted another excellent chance early in the second half when Alban-Jones sprinted onto a cutback but miscued his effort and missed the target from the penalty spot.
Dadge was called into action soon after, beating away a powerful strike from long range and reacting quickly to block the follow-up from inside the area.
The Cobblers youngsters’ resilient defending was rewarded when they broke the deadlock on the hour, Dobson winning the ball off a defender, playing a one-two with Hart and finding the bottom corner.
Half-time substitute Jozef Baxter made two blocks in quick succession to prevent an immediate equaliser as Peterborough Sports looked to hit back straight from kick-off.
Reuben Wyatt also made a goal-saving block 10 minutes later, sliding in to deny the shot that followed a short free-kick routine.
It was the Cobblers’ turn to be denied by a block heading into the final quarter-of-an-hour, Abimbola capitalising on sub Dan Lawlor’s loose touch and skilfully dribbling towards goal, but having his effort from the edge diverted clear by a defender.
Substitute Harry Guess intercepted Lawlor’s pass out wide and found Jacob Scott as he broke into the box a few minutes later, but a defender managed to clear as he looked to pick Dobson out in the middle.
The visitors remained resolute in defence to earn a fantastic cup final win despite Peterborough Sports joint-manager, former Manchester United goalkeeper Luke Steele, bringing himself on up front as his side threw everything at them with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Both sides ended the game with a ‘keeper on outfield, as Baxter was forced off due to a head injury in added time and Marcus Bald was the only replacement left on the Cobblers bench.
Cobblers: James Dadge, Josh Rayfield, Leo Jenkins, Josh Tomlinson, Matty Ireland, Reuben Wyatt, Peter Abimbola, Jacob Scott, James Owen, Neo Dobson, Jamari Hart
Substitutes: Marcus Bald, Jozef Baxter, Harry Guess, Charlie Carroll, Aleks Jevterevs
Picture: Northamptonshire FA