While we slipped out of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, yet it still was not the biggest story of the night.
Across the country the competition produced a stream of upsets, heavy scorelines and eyebrow-raising performances that pushed our own exit firmly down the running order.
Holders Fall, Underdogs Rise
The biggest headline came from Swindon, where holders Peterborough United were dumped out. They dominated the second half yet still conceded an 88th-minute winner to Ollie Clarke. It summed up Posh’s season, a side caught between good intentions and costly lapses.
Just as striking was Harrogate Town’s demolition of Blackpool. Rooted near the foot of League Two, and without a league win since September, they raced three ahead in 17 minutes and eventually beat their League One visitors 4-2. Ex-Imp Jack Muldoon was everywhere, scoring early and then adding the late clincher. Harrogate have now taken four straight scalps in the competition (including Huddersfield), a rare bright spell in a difficult campaign.
Big Scores and Bigger Shocks
Port Vale, bottom of League One, smashed Barnsley 5-0. Ruari Paton helped himself to two inside eight minutes before Ben Waine swept in his first of the season. Rotherham went one better, winning 7-2 at Salford (it’s not for everyone, winning at Salford in the cup). Josh Benson hit a 17-minute hat-trick that included a lob from near halfway, one of the finishes of the round.
Cardiff City, leading League One, were humbled at home by AFC Wimbledon. Aron Sasu stole the show with four goals while Omar Bugiel added a goal and an assist in a 5-1 thumping.
Late Drama and Familiar Faces
Bristol Rovers, winless in eight league games, somehow battled through on penalties after surrendering a 94th-minute equaliser to Cambridge United. Plymouth’s Lorent Tolaj delivered a deft backheel in the 93rd minute to win at Leyton Orient, a timely response after his weekend red card.
Billy Sharp rolled back the years as Doncaster Rovers beat Chesterfield 5-1. Two goals and two assists from the veteran underpinned a dominant evening for Rovers. Luton swept Exeter aside 4-0, helped by a brace from Lasse Nordas, while Bolton moved through comfortably with a 3-0 victory over Bradford thanks to Ibrahim Cissoko’s early double.
Elsewhere Across the Competition
Walsall looked in trouble at Stevenage until Rico Richards struck twice in ten minutes to turn the tie around. Northampton ended Wycombe’s hopes of a return to the final with a first-half pair from Kyle Edwards and Tyrese Fornah. Fleetwood’s group-stage penalty luck was not required at Tranmere as they advanced with a straightforward 3-0 win.
By comparison, our elimination felt routine rather than seismic on a night when the competition’s chaos did its best to drag the spotlight elsewhere.