Woeful Cobblers suffer more FA Cup misery in York horror show

After being knocked out by lower-division opposition in each of the last four seasons, Town found a new way to suffer FA Cup humiliation, going 3-0 down inside 30 shocking minutes.

Incredibly, just 11 seconds were on the clock when Ollie Pearce volleyed York ahead with one of the fastest goals ever scored in the competition. It was a catastrophic start, made worse by goalkeeper Zach Jeacock injuring himself in the process.

Jeacock temporarily stayed on, just long enough for Pearce to beat him for a second time on 11 minutes, before replacement goalkeeper James Dadge watched Alex Hunt’s effort nestle into the bottom corner.

Three down and all-but out of the competition, the second half was essentially a non-event until Josh Stones slid in at the back post to rub salt into Northampton wounds.

The 413 travelling supporters made their feelings very clear, both at half-time and full-time, and now the pressure is on Chris Hogg to conjure a big response ahead of next weekend’s trip to League Two leaders Salford City.

Hogg was without two first-team regulars in Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (personal reasons) and Janoi Donacien (knock), while Josh Powell and Connor Evans dropped to the bench. In came Max Dyche, James Maxwell, Tyrese Fornah and Elliott List.

Cobblers would have been hoping for a nice, quiet start but instead disaster struck literally straight from kick-off. York launched a huge up and under, the visitors failed to deal with it, and Pearce volleyed home, beating Jeacock at his near post.

Jeacock clattered into the post in his attempt to save the shot and needed several minutes of treatment before play resumed, and once it did, Town threatened a level when Fornah’s shot was blocked.

But the away side were in disarray defensively and they found themselves two behind with less than 11 minutes on the clock. Lee Evans coughed up possession in his own half and Pearce was afforded time and space to drive forward, cut inside and curl a delightful shot beyond Jeacock and into the far corner.

Things just kept getting worse for Hogg and his team as Jeacock then admitted defeat and came off with injury, meaning just a second senior club appearance for Dadge.

York nearly added a third, Jon Guthrie making an important block and Hiram Boateng firing wide, but Cobblers were all over the place at the back and it wasn’t long until they found themselves further behind as Hunt side-footed in Harry Boyes’ low cross.

Northampton had a decent chunk of possession but barely made a dent going forward, with Owen Dale’s curling effort late in the first half met by ironic cheers from the away end, who also loudly booed the sounding of the half-time whistle.

Conor McCarthy replaced Dyche at half-time but, given the state of the game, it was no surprise that the second half started with little intensity.

By this point York were playing in second gear, happy to sit off and contain and occasionally threaten on the break, while Cobblers kept possession but never looked like creating a meaningful chance, let alone scoring.

Dale headed over, Joe Wormleighton miscued a shot and Tyrese Fornah fired straight at home goalkeeper Alfie McNally but it would be a stretch to say any of those were serious chances.

Town’s horrendous afternoon was then compounded with nine minutes to go when Stones completed a resounding home victory by sliding in Joe Felix’s cross at the back post.

York: McNally, Fallowfield (c), Kitching (Medley 45), Johnson, A Hunt (Maguire 61), Boyes (Newby 61), Read, Boateng (Stones 61), Felix, Banks, Pearce (Malcolm 72)

Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Grey, King, J Hunt

Cobblers: Jeacock (Dadge 12), Dyche (McCarthy 45), Moore, Guthrie (c) (Powell 66), Wormleighton, Maxwell, L Evans, Fornah, List (Briggs 66), Dale, Warhurst

Subs not used: Swyer, Chambers, C Evans, Swyer, Saunders

Referee: Martin Coy

Attendance: 4,273

Cobblers fans: 413