Six-star Town say Harrow to round two
NORTHAMPTON quickly turned a potential FA Cup banana skin into the most comfortable of cruises into the second round.
Quick-fire goals by Paul Anderson and Marc Richards within the opening 12 minutes settled any Cobblers nerves, before they put Steve Baker’s plucky Harrow to the sword after the break.
For Northampton, this was the perfect antidote to last season’s trauma when they came from 2-0 down to scrape past Northwich Victoria on home soil.
“We wanted to come out of the traps quickly and get a goal – and we got two,” said Cobblers boss Rob Page.
“We were expected to win and win comfortably and that’s tough, but we handled it well. We know full well that the FA Cup throws up surprises and we needed to ensure it wasn’t us.
“Defensively and in attack we were good and I was pleased how we saw out the game after going 3-0 up.”
Experienced midfielder Anderson got the game off to a spectacular start with a stunning angled shot that flew into the roof of the Harrow net.
Richards then slid in to meet a cross by Dave Buchanan in the 12th minute.
Zander Diamond volleyed over and JJ Hooper lobbed just wide as the home side threatened to run riot.
The visitors didn’t fold though. Lewis Driver saw a fierce shot blocked and skipper Marc Charles-Smith failed to get enough power in his shot in a flurry before the break.
Cobblers made light of Jak McCourt’s injury just after the interval as his replacement JohnJoe O’Toole crossed for Richards to net.
Harrow keeper Luke Williams did his best to keep the score down as Northampton cranked up the pressure, but could do nothing to prevent O’Toole adding a fourth from close range.
Matty Taylor curled in the fifth with his customary studied dead ball expertise.
Harrow introduced 19year-old Ibrahim Meite from the bench on the hour and the starlet, who has caught the attention of Premier League champions Leicester City this season, produced one or two bright runs.
The closing stages saw Harrow plugging away for a consolation only for Hooper to net his first goal for Cobblers in injury time.
The Non-League outfit take credit for never giving up the fight and playing neat football at times but they were totally outclassed.
Harrow boss Steve Baker said: “I told the players to go out and enjoy themselves and not be nervous and they did so.”