Cobblers out of the EFL Trophy after Gillingham defeat
Cobblers have now been knocked out of every cup competition this season after their EFL Trophy adventure was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Gillingham at Sixfields on Tuesday.
Lamin Sillah’s 12th-minute goal separated the sides at half-time before Elliott List levelled, but a defensive disaster allowed Cameron Antwi to net the winner in front of just 667 supporters, the lowest attendance ever recorded at Sixfields outside of COVID.
Disappointingly, Town have fallen at the first hurdle in each of the three cup competitions this season and now the sole focus is on improving their lowly league position, though they face a tough task at league leaders Salford at the weekend.
Chris Hogg rang the changes as expected, making eight in total, with Ross Fitzsimons returning between the sticks in the absence of the injured Zach Jeacock. There were also starts for Conor McCarthy, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Logan Briggs and Harvey Saunders, while James Maxwell wore the armband.
Hogg also tweaked the shape, going to more of a 4-4-2 with Swyer and Elliott List leading the line, and his side had the first chance when Connor Evans fired into the side-netting on five minutes.
Gillingham arrived at Sixfields with near enough a full-strength starting XI and they were close themselves through two efforts for Ronan Hale, the first blocked by Joe Wormleighton and the second drawing a good save from Fitzsimons.
Fitzsimons pulled off an even better save to deny Hale again a few minutes later, but it mattered not as Sillah was on hand to stick away the rebound as Gillingham struck first after Cobblers were caught light on numbers at the back.
The home side had the majority of possession after the early setback but they only created one real opening in the rest of the first half as the lively Briggs exchanged a one-two with Swyer in the penalty box before shooting straight at visiting goalkeeper Ollie Wright.
Trailing 1-0 at the break and needing three second half goals to qualify for the next round, Cobblers were quick out of the traps after the restart, levelling via a well-worked goal within three minutes. O’Brien-Whitmarsh played a smart one-two, spread the ball to Evans on the right and his low cross gave List a tap-in.
Unfortunately, O’Brien-Whitmarsh was involved again when Town immediately gifted Gillingham the lead back. He lost possession inside his own box and the ball was worked to Antwi to finish.
Sheldon Kendall struck the post while O’Brien-Whitmarsh’s long-range shot was beaten away by Wright but the game drifted towards a rather inevitable conclusion, albeit only after Max Dyche went close to snatching a late equaliser in stoppage-time, denied by Wright’s outstretched foot.
Cobblers: Fitzsimons, Wormleighton, Dyche, McCarthy, Maxwell (c), O’Brien-Whitmarsh, C Evans, Briggs, Swyer (Warhurst 70), List, Saunders (Dale 70)
Subs not used: Subs: Dadge, Moore, Powell, L Evans
Gillingham: Wright, Smith (Antwi 21), Beckles (c), Daley, McKenzie (Coleman 43), Albarus (Little 60), Brophy, Freeman, Hale (Kendall 45), Sillah (Dayal 60), McCleary
Subs not used: Goodwin, Luthra
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 667
Gillingham fans: 70