THE FA CUP SPONSORED BY E.ON FIRST ROUND
Saturday November 10th, 3pm
Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena

DARLINGTON 1
Gregg BLUNDELL 8

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Colin LARKIN 26

Attendance: 2,964 (Darlington did not confirm the number of Cobblers fans in attendance)

Darlington:  David STOCKDALE, Neil AUSTIN, Alan WHITE, Steve FOSTER, Micky CUMMINS, Clark KELTIE, Rob PURDIE (sub Xavier BARRAU 66), Julian JOACHIM, Gregg BLUNDELL, Tommy WRIGHT, Jon BRACKSTONE (sub Pawel ABBOTT 80)
Substitutes not used: Andy OAKES, Ricky RAVENHILL, Scott WISEMAN

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Daniel JACKMAN, Liam DOLMAN, Mark HUGHES, Chris DOIG (sub Bradley JOHNSON 10), Joe BURNELL, Ryan GILLIGAN, Poul HUBERTZ (sub Andy KIRK 62), Colin LARKIN, Andy HOLT
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Daniel JONES, Alex DYER

Referee: Mr K Evans

Booked:
Darlington: none
Cobblers: none

5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 8 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Darlington: none
Cobblers: none

Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

Northampton Town made the trip to Darlington in the first round of this season's FA Cup. Andy Kirk, Daniel Jones and Bradley Johnson were left out following the midweek defeat to Bristol Rovers and with Alex Russell cup tied, Joe Burnell, Andy Holt, Colin Larkin and Danny Jackman returned to the starting line up.

On a very windy afternoon at the Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena, the home side had the lead after 8 minutes, Gregg Blundell firing home from 12 yards. To make matters worse, Chris Doig was injured as he stretched to try and stop the goal and he had to leave the field to be replaced by Bradley Johnson.

Mark Bunn was forced to backtrack on 11 minutes to push away a deep cross-shot from Julian Joachim that was taken by the wind, while at the other end an excellent Danny Jackman corner was headed just wide by Bradley Johnson.

On 21 minutes Darlington's Micky Cummins sent in a shot from the edge of the box that bounced against the outside of the post and away to safety, before Andy Holt's deflected effort was well saved by David Stockdale in the Darlington goal.

The home side, who are unbeaten at home in League 2 this season having conceded just four goals in 8 home games, had to add one more to the goals against tally when Colin Larkin equalised for the Cobblers on 26 minutes. A short free kick found the striker in space 25 yards from goal, and his curling effort found the net with Stockdale motionless.

The Cobblers injury luck with central defenders continued to get worse when Liam Dolman had to leave the field on 30 minutes to have stitches in a head wound. After a 5 minute absence, he returned to the action.

Bradley Johnson headed a Danny Jackman corner over the bar four minutes after half time, while the same player volleyed just wide of the far post after Andy Holt had flicked on a Liam Dolman long throw.

Stuart Gray made his 2nd change on 62 minutes, bringing Andy Kirk on for Poul Hubertz, while for the home side Xavier Barrau replaced Rob Purdie.

Pawel Abbot came on for Jon Brackstone in Darlington's 2nd substitution, before Liam Dolman sent a shot on to the roof of the net after one of his long throws had been cleared back to him.

Jason Crowe shot wide on 88 minutes after breaking out of defence, but after a second half of few chances, the two sides will have to meet again to settle this tie.

DARLINGTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 6

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 8
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (3) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 7

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.

The Northampton Chronicle & Echo, which prints Cobblers Jr every Friday, wants your views on anything to do with Northampton Town Football Club to include in their Fanzone feature. Text or email your opinion to 07734 717374 or email fans@northantsnews.co.uk