Looking back on our last long campaign in the League Trophy back in the season 2003/2004 Under Colin Calderwood at Sixfields in this campaign the Cobblers beat local rivals Peterborough at Sixfeilds.
For the 2000–01 competition, eight Football Conference sides also played in the tournament, resulting in 12 ties in each of the north/south sections in the first round, with only four teams in each section gaining a bye into the second round. The number of Conference entrants was increased to 12 starting in 2002–03, resulting in 14 first-round ties, and two teams in each regional section gaining a bye into the second round.
Tuesday 4th November 2003 – Hereford V Northampton – Round 2
On the road to Edgar Street to face Hereford United in Round two of the league trophy a game which saw Des Lyttle made his Cobblers debut. Mr Mick Fletcher was in charge of the late match which finished at 10.30pm. The first half seemed to be a very little quiet, the second half brought only two goals in the game.
The first goal came for the Cobblers as Dudfield was the first to reach the ball and slid it past Baker. The second goal was an equaliser for Hereford as Brown levelled the score smashing the ball home from 10 yards. After the 90 had ended the game went to penalties and the Cobblers won the game on penalties 4 – 2 thanks to Willmott, Reeves, M. Smith, Dudfield who scared the penalties for the Cobblers.
Hereford: Baker, Green, Rose, Pittman, James, Purdie ((Parry) Smith (King) Guinan, Brown, Mkandawire, Craven (Teesdale)
Northampton: Harper, Lyttle Chambers, Carruthers, Willmott, Harsley, (Trollope) Reeves, Low, Asamoah (Smith M.) Walker, Richards (Dudfield)
Tuesday 9th December 2003 – Northampton V Peterborough – Round 3
It was the Nene Derby in the League Trophy as Peterborough visited Sixfields Stadium with former Cobbler Andy Clarke in the visiting side. Mr Tony Leake was the man in charge of the nene derby in Round three of the competition. A small crowd of 4,290 watch this game over the Posh.
However there was very little action in the goals until the first half. In the second half the Cobblers started the second half better and the first goal of the game came in the 52 minute of the game after Walker nodded the ball into Low’s path who volleyed home. The Cobblers thought they’d done enough but on the stroke of 90 Peterborough managed to get one in as McKenzie stabbed the ball over the line in the 5th minute of time added on.
The game went to Extra time and the Cobblers had to do everything the could to get through the next round of the competition. On the 100th Minute of the game the golden goal came as Dudfield scored from 8 yards out after a Willmott knock down.
Northampton: Harper, Lyttle, Sampson, Sadler, Willmott, Richards (Reeves), Lincoln (Dudfield), Low (Reid), Hargreaves Walker, Smith
Peterborough: Tyler, Gill, Arber, Farrell (Legg), Clarke (Logan), McKenzie, Newton, Woodhouse, Jellyman, Burton, Thompson (Kanu)
Tuesday, 20 January, 2004 – Northampton V Colchester – Area Semi Final
Substitute Scott McGleish fired a hat- trick – including a silver goal – as Colchester staged an amazing comeback.
Northampton’s Richard Walker headed in Martin Smith’s cross and was then fed by Chris Carruthers to make it 2-0.
But after Cobblers defender Ian Sampson saw red for a second caution, McGleish got one back, pouncing after Lee Harper had parried a Wayne Andrews effort.
McGleish equalised with a near-post header to force extra time – and then wrapped it up with another header (95).
Northampton: Harper, Willmott, Reid, Sampson, Lyttle, Carruthers, Hargreaves, Trollope, Asamoah, Walker, Smith. Subs: Thompson, Richards, Abidallah, Vieira, Harsley.
Colchester: McKinney, Stockley, Keith, Chilvers, Alan White, Halford, Izzet, Pinault, Vine, Andrews, Fagan. Subs: Brown, Fitzgerald, McGleish, Bowry, B