Cobblers struggle but progress in Papa John's Trophy thanks to penalty shootout win against Stevenage

Cobblers squeaked through to the knock-out stages of the Papa John's Trophy with an unconvincing penalty shoot-out victory over Stevenage at the PTS Stadium on Tuesday evening.
By James Heneghan
Published 17th Nov 2020, 21:15 BST
Updated 17th Nov 2020, 21:18 BST
Jack Sowerby in action for the Cobblers against Stevenage in Tuesday's Papa John's Trophy match (Picture: Pete Norton)Jack Sowerby in action for the Cobblers against Stevenage in Tuesday's Papa John's Trophy match (Picture: Pete Norton)
Jack Sowerby in action for the Cobblers against Stevenage in Tuesday's Papa John's Trophy match (Picture: Pete Norton)

Keith Curle picked a strong team in search of a morale-boosting victory but Town were lacking ideas, confidence and quality during a dour goalless draw against the League Two outfit.

Penalties looked inevitable from a long way out and so it proved, with Chris Lines, Shaun McWilliams and Fraser Horsfall all scoring from the spot, leaving it to Caleb Chukwuemeka to coolly convert the winning penalty.

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Cobblers finish second in Southern Group C, behind MK Dons, and will face an away trip in the second round of the competition.

Former Cobblers defender Luke Prosser beats Danny Rose in the airFormer Cobblers defender Luke Prosser beats Danny Rose in the air
Former Cobblers defender Luke Prosser beats Danny Rose in the air

Ricky Holmes started his first game since returning to the Cobblers and Benny Ashley-Seal also returned to the starting line-up as Curle named a surprisingly strong side.

Despite that, though, a weakened Stevenage outfit made much the brighter start at Sixfields and would have taken an early lead had Femi Akinwande been able to slot home after getting in behind Town's defence and rounding Jonathan Mitchell.

Marcus Dinanga scuffed wide from the subsequent corner as Boro's positive start continued, albeit they created little in attack.

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It was not until the half-hour mark when Cobblers finally started to trouble Stevenage defensively and they were close to the opener when Ashley-Seal's low cutback was met by Nicky Adams, but his shot was straight at Jamie Cumming.

The Cobblers players observed a pre-match minute's silence in memory of former physio Denis Casey, who died at the weekend aged 77The Cobblers players observed a pre-match minute's silence in memory of former physio Denis Casey, who died at the weekend aged 77
The Cobblers players observed a pre-match minute's silence in memory of former physio Denis Casey, who died at the weekend aged 77

Holmes almost converted a Danny Rose cross moments later but that was about the sum of the goalmouth action in a largely lifeless first-half.

The Cobblers did not exactly fly out of the blocks in the second period either, but they did gradually improve and gain the upper-hand, helped by the introduction of McWilliams.

Lines, on for a rare appearance, and Chukwuemeka also came on as Michael Harriman and Rose were off target with half chances during their best spell of the game.

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Arthur Iontton dragged wide of the near post for Stevenage, but once again both teams struggled to create anything of note in attack and penalties were the inevitable conclusion, with Town eventually progressing.

Match facts

Cobblers: Mitchell, Bolger (c), Horsfall, Sheehan, Harriman, Adams, Sowerby, Watson (McWilliams 56), Holmes (Lines 60), Ashley-Seal (Chukwuemeka 60), Rose

Subs not used: Arnold, Missilou, Roberts, Marshall

Stevenage: Cumming, Prosser (c), Marsh, Hutton, Vancooten (Effiong 85), Ionton, List (Carter 70), Akinwande, Dinanga (Newton 70), Smith, Marshall

Subs not used: Cuthbert, Johnson, Read, Oteh

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

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