Northampton go out of the Trophy at home to Gillingham and now visit league leaders Salford
Wednesday 11 November 2026 · By Luther Rishworth
Northampton Town’s week ended with a second cup exit in four days, and they now face the toughest league trip of the season. On Tuesday they went out of the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, losing 1–2 at home to Gillingham, after a 4–0 FA Cup defeat at York City on Saturday.
Lamin Sillah scored for Gillingham on 12 minutes, Elliott List equalised on 47, and Cameron Antwi won it on 54 after a wayward pass in the Northampton box, according to the Northampton Chronicle, Gillingham’s official report and KentOnline. Chris Hogg made eight changes. Ross Fitzsimons started in goal in Zach Jeacock’s absence, and James Maxwell wore the armband, according to the Chronicle.
Jeacock had been hurt in the opening move at York and went off on 12 minutes. No diagnosis has been given. Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, who missed the cup tie for personal reasons, started the Trophy game. Janoi Donacien had a knock for the cup.
No fresh verbatim Trophy quote from Hogg was opened this week. After the York defeat he told the Press Association: “The first half was one of the slowest performances I have witnessed on a touchline. I take full responsibility for the result as I picked the team.”
He also said: “I know this will be a grind of a season until we get to a stage where we can bring some help in.” The Chronicle reported that the 413 Northampton supporters at York “made their feelings very clear” at half-time and full-time.
York led 3–0 inside 29 minutes at the weekend, through two goals from Ollie Pearce, the first after about ten or 11 seconds, and one from Alex Hunt. Josh Stones added a fourth on 81 minutes.
There have been no League Two games since Northampton’s 1–0 home defeat by Oldham Athletic on Tuesday 3 November, so the table is unchanged. Northampton are 21st on 14 points from 13 games, two points above the bottom two, and they have a game in hand. Their last six league games read drawn, won, lost, won, drawn, lost. They have conceded only ten league goals, the second-best record in the division, which made the York scoreline stand out.
BBC Sport lists Northampton at leaders Salford City on Saturday 14 November at 3pm. Salford have 31 points and an eight-game league winning run, though they went out of the FA Cup at Carlisle United. Northampton are then listed at home to Rochdale on Saturday 21 November, before a trip to Port Vale on Tuesday 24 November at 7.45pm.
Hogg’s honesty after York was clear, and the supporters’ frustration was obvious. The defence that has served Northampton well in the league fell apart at York, and with Jeacock’s fitness still unclear, the goalkeeping situation is one to watch.
The visit to Salford is a hard place to start the recovery, but the home game against Rochdale the following week, with both clubs close to the bottom two, looks especially important.
Sixfields Stadium sits on the western edge of Northampton at Upton Way, NN5 5QA. Opened in October 1994 after Northampton Town left the County Ground, it is an all-seater bowl of 8,203. Visiting supporters are almost always placed in the Persimmon Homes South Stand, a covered single-tier end behind the goal that holds 972. For bigger travelling numbers the club can add seats in the LCS East Stand, with a segregation line put in place. Enter only through the South Stand turnstiles; the stand named on your ticket is allocated seating, so sit in the numbered seat printed on it.
The four stands are easy to read once you are on site. Opposite you is the Regen Renewables Dave Bowen Stand, the home end of 972 behind the far goal and at the foot of the grass bank that gives the ground its sunken look. Along the west touchline is the Jackson Grundy Stand, the main two-level structure of 3,880 with the players’ tunnel, dugouts, changing rooms, press box and hospitality. Facing it is the LCS East Stand (about 2,379), completed in 2025 with family seating, new boxes and a wheelchair viewing platform. The pitch is a conventional grass rectangle; the white goals sit directly in front of the North and South stands, not the sides.
Arrival is simplest by car from M1 junction 16 onto the A4500, then follow signs for Sixfields. On-site parking fills early on matchdays; blue-badge spaces must be pre-booked through your own club. Coaches drop at the south side. There is no cash at the away ticket window if any tickets remain — card only — and advanced purchase is strongly advised. Stewards operate bag and body searches, so travel light. Smoking and vaping are banned inside the stadium. Glass, cans, large umbrellas and flag poles are not allowed.
Once through the gates there is a fenced bar for away fans and pitchside kiosks for pies, tea and soft drinks. Toilets sit near the corner flags of the South Stand. The big screen is in the south-east corner. Views from the away end are generally clean and slightly elevated; the back rows have tighter legroom, so if you have a choice take a mid-block seat. The South Stand is compact and can be lively. If you prefer a quieter afternoon, ask your ticket office for a wing block rather than the centre.
The ground is part of a leisure park, so food before kick-off is chain restaurants and a cinema rather than traditional pubs on the doorstep. Carrs Bar in the main stand is primarily a home facility. After the final whistle, buses from the park are limited on midweek nights, so check Stagecoach times if you are not driving. Stewards in “Here To Help” tabards will point you to the right gate if you are unsure. Sixfields is a tidy, modern League One ground rather than an old inner-city bowl: follow the ticket, sit in the South Stand behind the goal, and you will have a straightforward afternoon.