Summary
Seventh-tier Kettering Town knock out League One Northampton
Ranger heads winner for Kettering in extra time after game ended 1-1
Miller had equalised for Kettering with fine header afterJohnson had scored own goal
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Just 17 miles separate two Northamptonshire towns
Live Reporting
Ben Ashton
Seventh tier Kettering knock out League One local rivals Northampton
Nile Ranger scored a sensational winner in extra time as seventh-tier Kettering Town produced the biggest shock of the FA Cup first round against near-neighbours Northampton Town.
The former Newcastle United striker, now 33, headed in against the League One Cobblers, who are 17 miles and four divisions apart from the Southern League Premier Division Central leaders.
Northampton took a first-half lead as Kettering captain Connor Johnson unluckily diverted a Tariqe Fosu shot into his own net.
Johnson was a rock in defence after that misfortune as Kettering-born teenager Luca Miller scored a stunning equaliser with his head after coming on as a substitute, setting the scene for Ranger’s winner.
It has been a long road to redemption for Ranger, who has had numerous off-field issues amid a career that began at St James’ Park in 2009.
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Any chance of an upset became even harder after 28 minutes when Fosu’s wayward shot cannoned off the thigh of Johnson to give the home side the lead at a packed Sixfields.
Kettering keeper Dan Jezeph produced two great saves from Liam McCarron to keep the non-league side in the contest, and they gradually took over in the second half and pinned the Cobblers back.
With Ranger starting, two more former Premier League strikers, Gary Hooper and Marvin Sordell, came on for the Poppies, but it was teenage substitute Miller who changed the course of the game.
Ben Hart swung in a wicked cross from the right and the local boy timed his run to perfection to guide a picture-book header into the top corner.
Northampton tried to respond but with Johnson marshalling the defence the away side held firm, with Aaron Powell’s sliding block to deny Akin Odimayo being especially heroic.
Just two minutes into the extra 30 minutes, Miller took a hand again, drifting in an excellent corner which was met by Ranger with a thumping finish.

Nile Ranger (right) joined Kettering in September
'I'm still hungry' - Ranger
Kettering Town striker Nile Ranger told BBC Two:
"It's special, especially where we're coming from.
"Obviously our tier of football is quite low, so coming to Northampton, it's a derby as well. Look what it means to the fans. It's a lot.
"I'm trying to be humble. I'm getting old now.
"Obviously I went down a level to show everyone I'm still hungry. It feels good for myself as well."
Related topics
FA Cup Scores & Fixtures
Saturday 2nd November
Team Lineups
home team, Northampton Town
Manager:Jon Brady
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
Substitutes
home team, Northampton Town
away team, Kettering Town
Manager:Richard Lavery
Formation:4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
away team, Kettering Town
home team, Northampton Town
Manager:Jon Brady
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
Substitutes
away team, Kettering Town
Manager:Richard Lavery
Formation:4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
Substitutes
Match Officials
- Referee:
- Elliot Bell
- Assistant Referee 1:
- Alan Cresswell
- Assistant Referee 2:
- Ryan Williams
- Fourth Official:
- Ben Speedie
Match Stats
Key, Northampton v KetteringBasic Stats
Overall possession
Shots
Northampton Town 24Kettering Town 11Shots on target
Northampton Town 5Kettering Town 5Total touches inside the opposition box
Northampton Town 41Kettering Town 15Goalkeeper saves
Northampton Town 3Kettering Town 5Aerial duels won
Northampton Town 35Kettering Town 35Fouls committed
Northampton Town 13Kettering Town 14Corners
Northampton Town 5Kettering Town 3In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Northampton Town 24Kettering Town 11Shots on target
Northampton Town 5Kettering Town 5Shots off target
Northampton Town 8Kettering Town 2Attempts out of box
Northampton Town 9Kettering Town 2One-on-one attempts
Northampton Town 1Kettering Town 0Total offsides
Northampton Town 8Kettering Town 4Distribution
Total passes
Northampton Town 672Kettering Town 401Pass accuracy %
Northampton Town 79Kettering Town 61.3Backward passes
Northampton Town 94Kettering Town 60Forward passes
Northampton Town 233Kettering Town 212Total long balls
Northampton Town 109Kettering Town 106Successful final third passes
Northampton Town 131Kettering Town 79Total crosses
Northampton Town 34Kettering Town 18Defence
Total tackles
Northampton Town 19Kettering Town 21Won tackle %
Northampton Town 68.4Kettering Town 76.2Fouls committed
Northampton Town 13Kettering Town 14Total yellow cards
Northampton Town 2Kettering Town 2Total clearances
Northampton Town 33Kettering Town 37Season so far
FA Cup
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