The Cobblers were cruelly beaten on penalties by Sunderland after the Black Cats came from 2-0 down in the final five minutes of normal time to take the game to an extra half hour. Leon Constantine’s penalty miss helped the home side through after an agonising Third Round tie.
Stuart Gray brought in Frank Fielding to replace Chris Dunn in the Cobblers goal while Adebayo Akinfenwa dropped to the bench in place of Leon Constantine. Giles Coke and Abdul Osman also started the game while Liam Dolman dropped to the bench. Striker Karl Hawley was cup-tied and was forced to sit out of the game.
Andy Holt’s long throw created the first chance of the game early on, setting up Luke Guttridge, who shot over the bar. Leon Constantine shot side via a deflection ten minutes later but we did have a deserved lead on the twenty minute mark. A long ball up field was flicked on by Leon Constantine and Colin Larkin latched onto it well before finished low past home keeper Martin Fulop.
As Sunderland looked to get right back into the game, Frank Fielding was called into action, saving from Carlos Edwards. A few minutes later, Grant Leadbitter drove wide of Fielding’s post. Fielding was called into action again with ten minutes to go until half-time as he pushed away a Darryl Murphy header.
Andy Reid then went close with a driven shot from distance but the Cobblers went into the break in front to a chorus of boos from the home fans. Fielding had made another good save just moments before the break and it was clear that the game was far from over as the sides went in at the break.
Michael Chopra and Kieran Richardson were introduced into the action as Sunderland looked to get back into the game. Chopra had a couple of good chances early in the half but we were dealing well with the early onslaught from the Black Cats. Leon Constantine had our first real chance of the half as he forced Fulop into a save.
After Ryan Gilligan replaced Giles Coke in midfield, Chopra went close with a free kick. Roy Keane made his final change with Grant Leadbitter coming off for Anthony Stokes but incredibly it was the Cobblers who struck the next blow in the game.
Larkin did well on the right and his cross was side footed home by Luke Guttridge to give us a two goal cushion with ten minutes to play. We should have known that it’s never game over with the Cobblers but you couldn’t help but dream. I couldn’t help leaping around my living room but should have known better!
Nyron Nosworthy’s injury meant that Sunderland were down to ten men late on as they had used all of their subs but they found a way back into the game. With five minutes left, Anthony Stokes latched onto a long free kick to scramble the ball home and give the home side some hope.
As stoppage time ticked away, it looked like we were about to cause another shock but Stokes popped up again as Sunderland won a late corner. Stokes rose the highest to head home the set play and send the game into extra time!
Extra time was as nervy as usual with Stuart Gray bringing on Adebayo Akinfenwa and Danny Jackman for Colin Larkin and Andy Holt. The fresh legs put a spark back into our play and Liam Davis and Luke Guttridge went close with long range efforts. The Cobblers were pressing hard against the ten men to try and avoid penalties but Sunderland were looking happy to preserve the draw and take the game to spot kicks.
Leon Constantine headed over the bar at the start of the second half of extra time before Sunderland came to life. Stokes went on a winding run and nearly scored his hat-trick but shot just wide and the game went onwards to penalties.
After Michael Chopra had put Sunderland in front on penalties, Mark Hughes shot over the bar for the Cobblers. Darryl Murphy made it 2-0 before Akinfenwa scored for the Cobblers. Black Cats hero Stokes missed for the home side and Liam Davis kept his nerve to equalise. Andy Reid and Abdul Osman both scored before Kieran Richardson’s successful kick meant that Leon Constantine had to score to keep us in the game.
But the front man saw his penalty saved and the Cobblers were out of the Carling Cup after a brave fight against their Premier League opposition.
1 comment:
Horrible losing that way wasn't it?
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