Cobblers return from a two-week break by taking on Bolton Wanderers at the Toughsheet Community Stadium this weekend.
The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Elite team won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at home to Volenti Academy London Nautical School in the National Football Youth League Premier Cup on Wednesday afternoon.
Daniel Collin-Kolowale scored both of the Cobblers’ goals in normal time before netting the winning spot-kick.
Volenti Academy started on top, flashing two shots across goal either side of Kyran Yeomans’ diving save from a fierce low effort.
But the Cobblers took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half as Collin-Kolowale drove towards goal and slotted into the far bottom corner.
The visitors equalised on the half-an-hour mark when an attacker was played in over the top and hooked over the onrushing Yeomans.
The Cobblers improved in the second half and almost restored their advantage 10 minutes in, Rojus Kuzminskas controlling Gabriel Badero’s low shot and forcing the ’keeper into a one-handed fingertip save with a deflected effort.
Collin-Kolowale ran onto James Owen’s through ball, cut inside and had a low strike pushed wide by the ‘keeper at his near post going into the final five minutes.
And the forward thought he had won the game for his side a few minutes later when he smashed home following a period of sustained pressure in the Volenti Academy box.
However, the visitors were awarded a dubious corner in added time, threw everyone forward including the ‘keeper and managed to draw level.
The tie went to penalties, and Collin-Kolowale converted from 12 yards after Owen, Badero and Kuzminskas had done the same to send the Cobblers through to the next round.
The FEP are holding an open evening and open training sessions next week. Please register your interest by contacting lee.garlick@ntfc.co.uk (Men’s) or josh.oldfield@ntfc.co.uk (Women’s).
Cobblers: Kyran Yeomans, Leon Considine, Kyle Stratford, Joel Halsall, Jack Culwick, Jay Hudson, James Owen, Gabriel Badero, Daniel Collin-Kolowale, Mmenim Ekop, Rojus Kuzminskas
Substitutes: Mackay Dewer, Josiah McWilliams, Joel Adjekum
