Full-time report: Cobblers stun Premier League Bolton in Carling Cup
The Cobblers stunned Premier League stalwarts Bolton Wanderers with a magnificent display at the Reebok Stadium to dump the home side out of the Carling Cup.
An Adebayo Akinfenwa double put the Cobblers 2-0 up after 22 minutes, and that was enough to ensure it will be Town's name in the hat for the third round draw on Saturday.
Kevin Nolan pulled a late goal back for the home side with eight minutes remaining, but a string of second half saves from Mark Bunn kept the Cobblers in front.
Town could have been 1-0 up in the first minute when Akinfenwa shot at home keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from 10 yards, though apart from that the home side were on top, peppering Mark Bunn's goal from a series of set-pieces.
But it was the league one side that took the lead after Gavin McCann was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box by referee Graham Laws.
Akinfenwa took the resultant penalty, sliding the ball past Jaaskelainen for 1-0.
A minute later the big striker made it two with a header from Leon Osman's cross as the traveling fans went into raptures.
From then on the Cobblers were firmly on top as the hosts fell apart, gifting opportunity after opportunity to Stuart Gray's men.
Several chances were wasted by the Cobblers, before Wanderers' night took another turn for the worse with the sending-off of captain Gary Cahill.
The defender put in a scandalously high challenge on Giles Coke as the Town number seven lobbed the ball over his opponent, catching Coke on the shoulder to earn an instant red card from the referee.
Bunn kept the Cobblers' winning margin intact as he expertly tipped round Joey O'Brien's free-kick in stoppage time at the end of the first-half.
The Cobblers ran the show for the majority of the second half, taking advantage of their man advantage.
Shots from Gilligan and Crowe were both aimed straight at Jaaskelainen though as Town failed to take the opportunity to add to their lead.
Bolton brought on their big guns Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies with 64 minutes on the clock, and it was Nolan who posed the biggest threat, testing Bunn with a half-volley from the penalty spot before pipping the keeper to the ball to score for the Trotters after 82 minutes.
That set-up a tense finish with the Cobblers hanging on, though Coke could have put it beyond doubt but for a weak shot after a mazy run.
Nolan thought he had equalized for Wanderers with two minutes to play, but the linesman came to the Cobblers rescue as he raised his flag for off-side.
Substitute Greg Taylor, a 17 year-old youth scholar making his Cobblers debut, nearly capped a memorable night in stoppage time, but he shot over with the goal gaping 12 yards in front.
The away end celebrated as if they had won the cup as the final whistle blew, sealing an incredible giant killing for the away side.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel (Nolan 64), Muamba, Steinsson, Riga (Davies 64), Shittu, Cahill (Sent-off 38), Gardner, Helguson, J O'Brien, McCann (A O'Brien 39). Subs not used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Dzemaili, Fojut
Cobblers: Bunn, Crowe, Jackman, Hughes, Doig, Coke (Taylor, 90+2), Akinfenwa (Henderson 75), Holt, Osman, Little, Gilligan (Dolman 71). Subs not used: Dunn, Davis, Dyer, Guttridge
Attendance: 7136
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Friday 10 February 2012
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