NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 OXFORD UNITED 3

OXFORD UNITED 3

Mark Harris 15 pen, 61

Kyle Edwards 48

Cobblers: Max Thompson, Harvey Lintott, Aaron McGowan, Sam Sherring (sub Patrick Brough 46), Max Dyche, Manny Monthe, Shaun McWilliams (sub Mitch Pinnock 52), Marc Leonard (sub Jack Sowerby 53), Peter Abimbola (sub Jacob Scott 88), Louis Appere, Tyreece Simpson
Subs not used:  Jamari Hart, Matthew Ireland, James Dadge

Oxford: Simon Eastwood, Jordan Thorniley, Josh McEachran, Stanley Mills, Mark Harris, Oisin Smith, Josh Murphy, Max Waltman (sub Louis Griffiths 75), Stephen Negru, Kyle Edwards (sub Ruben Rodrigues 62), George Franklin (sub Aidan Elliott-Wheeler 82)
Subs not used: Elliott Moore, Marcus McGuane, Ed McGinty, Kasway Burton

Aaron McGowan, Harvey Lintott, Shaun McWilliams, Max Dyche and Peter Abimbola were amongst the starters as boss Jon Brady made seven changes for the Cobblers EFL Trophy tie with Oxford United. Academy trio Jacob Scott, Jamari Hart and Matthew Ireland came onto the bench.

Tyreece Simpson opened his Cobblers account from the penalty spot inside the opening five minutes after Josh Murphy brought Down McWilliams.

Stanley Mills drew a smart save from Max Thompson in a good response from Oxford and the visitors were handed a chance to equalise when referee Gareth Rhodes pointed to the spot for a second time. The penalty decision looked tough on the Cobblers with McGowan penalised for an extremely harsh handball but Mark Harris showed no mercy from the spot to level the tie.

Lintott headed just wide from a McGowan cross before McWilliams picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Jordan Thorniley.

Brady made a change at the break with Patrick Brough coming on for Sam Sherring.

Oxford took the lead on 48 minutes, Kyle Edwards with a fine finish from a tight angle.

Mitch Pinnock, on in a double change with Jack Sowerby, saw a cross/shot palmed away by Simon Eastwood and Louis Appere was unable to apply the finishing touch to a through ball from Simpson as the Cobblers pressed forward but with just over an hour played Mark Harris scored from close range to double Oxford’s lead.

Eastwood saved from Brough as Town looked to get themselves back into the contest but their task was made even harder when Max Dyche was shown a straight red card for what the referee deemed deliberate handball that denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Academy midfielder Jacob Scott came on for the final few minutes to make his Cobblers debut as Oxford closed out the victory.