Carabao Cup: Northampton Town 0-1 AFC Wimbledon
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AFC Wimbledon's Anthony Hartigan scored his first goal since January 2019
Anthony Hartigan's stoppage-time strike from 30 yards was enough for League One AFC Wimbledon to beat fourth-tier side Northampton in the Carabao Cup.
The midfielder's effort agonisingly squirmed through Cobblers goalkeeper Jonny Maxted's grasp and into the net.
Before that the hosts had looked stronger, Dylan Connolly and Danny Rose both denied by Dons keeper Nik Tzanev.
But Hartigan's speculative effort saw Mark Robinson's side avoid a penalty shootout and reach the third round.
Jon Brady's Northampton - relegated from League One last season - made six changes for the tie, while for Wimbledon it was a first victory since their first-round triumph at Charlton.
AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson:
"I don't think I've ever felt so flat after a win. We didn't play well at all - that's probably the worst I've seen us in my time here.
"We got really lucky because Northampton were better in all departments and that's really disappointing because you won't get very far playing like that.
"It's nice to create a bit of history and get through to the third round but that's the only positive to come out of the game because we were really poor."
Northampton manager Jon Brady:
"All in all, that is the way we want to play. Yes, we need to put the ball in the back of the net a few times and we could have done tonight, but I thought our intensity was good from front to back out of possession and the way we closed them down was excellent.
"And then the way we played in possession, that's how we want to move the ball - we've just got to put the ball in the net.
"It was obviously disappointing to concede so late and Jonny knows he should probably save that, but we should stop it before they get that far so there are lessons to be learned."
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