Dramatic finish sends Cobblers through in JPT

Northampton Town 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Southern Area Second Round
Tuesday, October 6th 2009

If Saturday’s last minute equaliser against Bradford was dramatic, then last night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Second Round game was an epic finish as the Cobblers progressed through to the Southern Area Quarter Finals with a last gasp penalty from Ryan Gilligan to give Sammo an ideal start in his first game in full charge of the club.

With both sides struggling with injuries, there was no chance of “reserve” teams being put out for this one and Sammo had already reiterated his desire to go as far as possible in the competition with a place in the Wembley final at stake. Michael Jacobs started for the first time in the absence of John Curtis while Alex Dyer came into midfield following his heroics on Saturday.

Jacobs set up the first real chance of the game, an inviting cross that just missed its targets of Ben Marshall and Steve Guinan. Guinan had a couple of decent efforts after that, having a shot blocked before shooting wide but it was the Cherries that took the lead just after the half hour mark as Danny Hollands smashed the ball home after a knock down.

It stayed that way until half-time and we would need some more of the same fighting qualities shown on Saturday if we were to get back into the tie. Billy McKay replaced Gary Mulligan at the break and the Cobblers started brightly with Gilligan’s volley well saved by visiting keeper Dan Thomas.

The breakthrough came on 66 minutes and Steve Guinan was the man to get the crucial equaliser. Guinan scored in the First Round at Wycombe and headed home a free kick from Gilligan to put us right back in the game. This competition is not know for its dramatic endings so no-one in the ground could predict a manic last few minutes.
With just three minutes to go, Bournemouth won a penalty for a hand ball on Chris McCready but Lee Bradbury’s spot kick was saved by Chris Dunn. It looked like penalties would decide it after that and they did but fortunately for us just one was needed.

Substitute Courtney Herbert was felled in the area and Gilligan stepped up to slot home the winning goal in the 93rd minute and we were through to the next round and the last eight of the Southern Section. It’s not often we get past one round of the JPT, let alone two so this was a very good start for Sammo and the tide is slowly but surely starting to turn.

Our possible opponents, with the draw coming up on Saturday morning on Soccer AM are: Charlton, Swindon, Norwich, Hereford, Leyton Orient, MK Dons and Southampton so still a tough road ahead but either way this was another step in very much the right direction.