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Two second-half goals from Ricky Holmes helped League Two side Northampton earn an FA Cup third round replay with Championship strugglers MK Dons.

Cobblers defender Ryan Cresswell put the Dons ahead when he turned Lee Hodson's cross into his own goal.

The hosts drew level shortly after the break, Holmes curling a shot into the top corner from just outside the box.

He fired in from Sam Hoskins' pass for his second, before Nicky Maynard equalised late on to force the replay.

The Cobblers were aiming to reach the fourth round for the first time since 2004, but the Dons took an early lead when Cresswell diverted the ball past Adam Smith under pressure from Simon Church.

Holmes looked to have secured an upset victory, but Maynard spared his side's blushes as he stabbed home from Ben Reeves's drilled cross.

Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder: "We're in a great position in the league and we're producing great performances like today. We feel a bit disappointed not to have beaten a Championship side in the FA Cup.

"It's mixed emotions, we played so well and thought we'd done enough to get into the fourth round but it wasn't to be. We desperately needed that third goal and if we'd have got it I think that would have been enough.

"We got two good goals and we're a bit disappointed by their equaliser, we had chances to clear it. The first goal was an own goal and the equaliser was a deflection."

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson: "We're still in the fourth-round draw and that's the main thing, now we can take them back to stadium:mk and have another go there.

"When you look at some of the results today you can see what a great competition it is and we're still in it. If we can win the replay then we're in the fourth round.

"For the first 15 minutes we were excellent and for the last 15 minutes we were excellent. In the middle hour we were poor and we have to have a look at that.

"Northampton might be disappointed not to be through but we've had disappointments all season and that's the way football is. It was a derby, we've not been at our best but we're still in the hat for the next round."