THE game was a personal tragedy for skipper Trevor Morley and a personal disaster for loan full-back John Millar. And the Cobblers committed a cardinal footballing sin which probably cost them the tie: they were still congratulating themselves on their goal when Newcastle pinched the winner.

Millar blamed himself for the goal in the 69th minute that stunned the 2,000 fans who made the long trek, who were still rejoicing in Richard Hill’s equaliser. Andy Thomas, who had dumped the Cobblers out of the Milk Cup in his days with Oxford Utd, claimed the goal , but Millar admitted it was going wide. ” I just couldn’-t get out of the way,” said an anguished Millar.

“Graham Reed and I were both going to get a tackle in. Graham got there first and the ball ran into my path as I was running back. “Graham said it was going wide but it was going too fast for me to get out of the way.” Roared on by their fanatical fans, Newcastle had the perfect start through £450,000 Paul Goddard, who cost almost 10 times the entire Cobblers team, with a goal of four minutes. More misery followed in the 23rd minute as Morley fell awkwardly following a challenge from Peter Jackson. But the sad spectacle of their inspirational skipper being carried off only served to increase the players’ determination.

Hill pushed up and Aidy Mann came into the midfield fray. Gradually the Cobblers came more into the picture and on 68 minutes it looked as if their Cup dreams were still very much alive. Phil Chard’s spearing cross picked out Eddie McGoldrick, whose head down found the predatory Hill waiting to pounce with his left foot. Then came the moment of truth as fans ID the stand were still leaping about in delight. Kenny Wharton surged through a static defence the ball ran free to Thomas for a shot and the fatal interception.