Northampton wrap up season by conceding late equaliser at home to Wigan

Northampton Town ended the 2024/25 season by conceding a stoppage time equaliser as they drew 1-1 with Wigan Athletic at Sixfields.

Tariqe Fosu’s goal had seemed to put Northampton on course to end their season with victory, only for a 96th minute equaliser by Dale Taylor helping Wigan to swipe a point.

Wigan had Will Aimson sent off in the 12th minute of stoppage time, but there was no time for the Cobblers to try and take advantage of having an extra man, as the points were ultimately shared.

The point means that Northampton end the League One campaign in 19th position on goal difference behind local rivals Peterborough United. They finished five points clear of the relegation zone, having secured survival with a few games of the campaign remaining.

After manager Kevin Nolan’s criticism of their performance in losing 3-0 at League Two-bound Crawley Town last week, Northampton had hoped to rally with a win in their final assignment of the season.

The best opportunity in a low quality first half-hour fell for the Cobblers, as Terry Taylor’s free-kick was diverted towards his own goal by Aimson and had to be denied by Sam Tickle in the Wigan goal.

With 33 minutes on the clock, however, Northampton would find a break-through. Nesta Guiness-Walker’s run from a Wigan corner saw him make it into the Wigan half before releasing Fosu, who cut inside a defender then lashed the ball beyond Tickle’s reach.

Wigan came close when Mitch Pinnock was forced to clear Jason Kerr’s header off the line in the second half, with the away side beginning to create more the longer the game went on.

Ryan Lowe’s side had pressure in the second half, but seemed like they were set to be frustrated in their attempts to break through. That was however until they found an equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

James Carragher’s cross induced chaos in the penalty area and the ball would eventually land for Taylor to force the ball home to earn Wigan a point.

There was still further late drama when Aimson was sent off for a high foot that caught Northampton’s substitute keeper James Dadge, but there was no time for any more action as the Cobblers’ season ended with no winner in its final game.