Northwich Victoria, runaway leaders of Evo-Stik First Division North, were the opponents for Northampton Town at an extremely blustery Sixfields in the second round of the 2015/16 Emirates FA Cup.

Brendan Moloney, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jason Taylor all came into the Cobblers side, replacing Josh Lelan, Marc Richards and the suspended John-Joe O’Toole. David Buchanan captained the side with Richards starting the afternoon on the bench.

Mason Springthorpe comfortably saved an early shot from Calvert-Lewin with Northwich’s first real effort coming just before the half-hour mark when Jimmy Ball went close from a free-kick.

Lawson D’Ath had a couple of efforts as the half progressed, while a Ryan Cresswell header was blocked on the line but the non-league side was acquitting themselves well and it was Northwich who took the lead on 43 minutes, Jimmy Ball driving the ball home.

Chris Wilder made a change at half-time, bringing on leading goalscorer Marc Richards for Alfie Potter.

Ricky Holmes replaced Lawson D’Ath as the game approached the hour mark, Holmes returning to action for the first time since August following a back injury.

A goal-line clearance denied the Cobblers an equaliser on 61 minutes but soon after Northwich doubled their lead, Richard Bennett following up to score after the ball came back off the crossbar.

Ryan Cresswell made way for Sam Hoskins in the Cobblers third and final change of the afternoon before Mason Springthorpe made a good save to deny Jason Taylor.

Three goals in less than five minutes turned the game on its head as the Cobblers overturned a 2-0 goal deficit.

Sam Hoskins got the first on 83 minutes, Ricky Holmes’ initial effort having been deflected.

Jason Taylor then equalised with a header before Dominic Calvert-Lewin put the home side in front.

A superb save from Adam Smith kept the scoreline at 3-2 going into injury time and after a remarkable last few minutes it was the Cobblers who progressed into the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Teams

Cobblers: Adam Smith,  Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Ryan Cresswell (sub Sam Hoskins 68), David Buchanan, Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath (sub Ricky Holmes 59), Nicky Adams, Alfie Potter (sub Marc Richards 46), Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Josh Lelan, Rod McDonald, Ryan Watson

Northwich: Mason Springthorpe, Alex Byrne, Scott Duxbury, Cedric Krou, Michael Clarke, Ryan Astles, Brian Summerskill, Jimmy Ball (sub Mohamud Ali 82), Richard Bennett (sub Josh Amis 75), Iain Howard, Jordan Williams (sub Aboubacar Sanogo 75)

Subs not used:  Dane Smith, Michael Roddy, Stuart Cook, Gary Burnett

Referee: Mr P Tierney

Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan Cresswell (14, 4th of the season)
Northwich: Scott Duxbury (72)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Northwich: none

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)

SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 9 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (7) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

NORTHWICH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8

SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 6
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (1) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2