Northampton dumped out of FA Cup by neighbours Kettering

Northampton Town endured humiliation in the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat at home to non-league neighbours Kettering Town.

An own goal by Kettering’s Connor Johnson had put the Cobblers in front during the first half, but they were unable to build on their advantage before visiting substitute Luca Miller equalised.

Kettering then grabbed a winning goal in the early minutes of extra-time, as former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger headed in a corner that proved to hand the Poppies victory.

Victory meant an upset for Kettering, who compete four divisions below Northampton in the Southern League Premier Division Central, with Kettering victorious in a competitive meeting with Northampton for the first time.

For Northampton, it meant another FA Cup First Round exit, with this being the fifth season in a row where Northampton’s interest in the tournament ended straight away, and for the seventh time in the last eight campaigns.

The game had been a big occasion, with the BBC choosing the game for live television broadcast as Northampton faced Kettering for the first time since 1989.

Kettering arrived back by numbers in excess of 1,400, with a side that currently lead the 7th tier division seeking the upset.

Ranger came close early on with a strike denied by Cobblers keeper Nik Tzanev, before a tight offside call went against Northampton.

The Cobblers thought they had taken the lead when Cameron McGeehan rifled the ball into the back of the net, but an offside flag in a tight sequence of play went against the Northampton attacking midfielder.

Just before the half-hour mark, however, Northampton opened the deadlock. Tarique Fosu’s strike deflected heavily off two Kettering defenders, with the pivotal one seeing the ball strike Kettering captain Johnson and pivot into the back of the net. The goal was later classified as an own goal by the Kettering man.

The hosts pressed in search of a quick second, with McGeehan missing the target before away goalkeeper Daniel Jezeph made two saves in quick succession to thwart Liam McCarron.

McCarron would be denied again just after half-time, but Kettering began to offer more, with Ben Hart seeing a shot kept out by Tzanev.

With 66 minute son the clock, Kettering equalised. Substitute Miller, who had just come on as part of a double substitution alongside former Celtic striker Gary Hooper, was able to get space for a header and the 19-year-old headed Hart’s cross past Tzanev.

Neither side could find a winner in regular time, however, with extra-time to be played and the threat of penalties looming.

Kettering, however, stunned the Cobblers when they moved in front within two minutes of the restart.

Miller’s corner picked out Ranger at the back post, and the 33-year-old was able to force his header past Tzanev to put the visitors in front for the first time on the night.

Northampton tried to go on the offensive to avoid defeat, but it would ultimately be futile as they were unable to find the equaliser to force penalties, instead slipping to a shock defeat in front of a national audience.