Northampton ON Chenecks and Heanor Town could not be separated as they played out a goalless draw in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on 9 August 2026. Despite a committed display from both outfits, the net remained undisturbed, setting up a replay that neither team will approach with much certainty.

Match summary

The match began at a brisk tempo, with Northampton ON Chenecks eager to make home advantage count. They pressed Heanor Town from the opening minutes and forced a number of early corners. However, the Derbyshire visitors defended resolutely and slowly began to assert themselves through the midfield.

Heanor Town created the clearest opening of the first half when a striker found space inside the box, only to see his effort comfortably saved. At the other end, Northampton ON Chenecks struck the woodwork just before the interval, sparking hopes of a breakthrough after the restart.

Second-half stalemate

The second period was more open, with both sides committing numbers forward in search of a winner. Northampton ON Chenecks thought they had scored midway through the half when a looping header appeared to cross the line, but the referee waved play on. Heanor Town also came close in the final ten minutes, but the home goalkeeper produced a smart stop to keep the scores level.

By the final whistle, the 0-0 scoreline was perhaps a fair reflection. Both teams defended with organisation and discipline, but neither showed the quality needed in the final third to claim victory.

Replay awaits

The FA Cup draw now moves to a replay, with a place in the next qualifying round at stake. For Northampton ON Chenecks and Heanor Town, this was a stern early test of their cup credentials, and both managers will demand more attacking intent when the two sides meet again.