FA Cup: Oxford City shock Northampton Town to reach second round
- Published
FA Cup: Oxford City 2-1 Northampton Town highlights
Non-league Oxford City stunned Northampton Town to set up an FA Cup second-round tie against Shrewsbury.
The National South side, 63 places below League One Northampton on the football ladder, deservedly came from behind to secure a second-round spot for the third time in their history.
Sam Hoskins' goal for the Cobblers was cancelled out by James Roberts' header.
And even though Roberts saw a penalty saved, Josh Ashby converted his own spot-kick for a famous win.
It looked like it might be a straightforward evening for Keith Curle's Northampton when Hoskins swept in Mark Marshall's cut-back in the seventh minute.
But the Hoops, full of energy, were a constant threat, equalising when Roberts nodded in Louis Hall's looping cross.
The hosts' commitment was epitomised by Aaron Drewe's stunning, sliding goalline clearance to stop Mark Marshall's strike restoring the Cobblers' lead.
And after Roberts was denied from the spot following a foul by Joe Martin, Ashby converted a penalty of his own after a tug by Fraser Horsfall on Elliot Benyon.
Hoskins had Northampton's best chance late on, firing at keeper Ben Dudzinski, but Oxford City will now look to reach the third round for the first time when they travel to League One Shrewsbury on the weekend of 28-29 November.
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Oxford City manager David Oldfield to BT Sport: "I am very proud of our boys to come from a goal down and get over the line.
"I don't think we will fear Shrewsbury, but they will not fear us either. We can't think about that yet, we just have to be excited and it is sad for the fans they cannot be here."
Oxford City goalscorer James Roberts: "The first was a team goal and I was lucky enough to be there to nod it in. That says everything about the team, even against opposition higher than us, we do not give up.
"Missing a penalty is part and parcel of the game. You get your head back up and my good friend Josh Ashby dug me out of there."
Northampton manager Keith Curle: "Where shall I start? Nowhere near good enough. I have players who have been banging on my door, wanting an opportunity and tonight was a perfect platform for them but collectively they did not deliver.
"You have to give Oxford City a lot of credit. They closed us down, made us play their type of game and they were better than us, they out-fought us and out-competed us. I think it will be quiet this week, I won't have many players banging on my door wanting to play."