Cambridge moved a step closer to a return to Cardiff with a dramatic fightback which earned them a victory over LDV Vans Trophy second-round opponents Northampton.

Northampton stormed into a 2-0 through headers from Chris Hargreaves and Marco Gabbiadini inside the opening 27 minutes.

But their plans were disrupted when goalkeeper Nathan Abbey was sent off for bringing down Tom Youngs.

The resulting penalty by United skipper Paul Wanless hit the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety, but Cambridge were level by the break through an own goal from Daryl Burgess and an Omer Riza strike.

Riza struck again just after half-time to put the visitors ahead, fighting his way into the box before firing past replacement goalkeeper Lee Harper.

And with full-time approaching, Youngs added a fourth to complete a dramatic win for last season's losing finalists.

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Northampton: Abbey, Rickers, Sampson, Burgess, Gill, Asamoah, Harsley, Trollope, Hargreaves, Gabbiadini, Forrester. Subs: Harper, Hope, Morison, Lowe, Cavill.

Cambridge Utd: Marshall, Tann, Duncan, Angus, Jordan, Nacca, Wanless, Fleming, Bridges, Youngs, Riza. Subs: Chillingworth, Brennan, Guttridge, Paynter, Warner.

Referee: M Cooper (West Midlands).