Northampton Town v Port Vale
NPOWER LEAGUE TWO
Saturday October 27th, 2pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Alex Nicholls 20
Louis Moult 42
PORT VALE 0
Attendance: 5,061 (994 away fans)
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Danny East, Kelvin Langmead, Anthony Charles, Joe Widdowson, Lewis Wilson (sub Ishmel Demontagnac 60), Ben Tozer, Emyr Huws, Lewis Hornby, Alex Nicholls (sub Louis Moult 30), Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Subs not used: Shane Higgs, Claudio Dias, Clive Platt, Henoc Mukendi, David Moyo
Port Vale: Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Robert Taylor, John McCombe, Gareth Owen (sub Kingsley James 46), Jennison Myrie-Williams, Ashley Vincent, Tom Pope, Sam Morsy (sub Ryan Lloyd 69), Ben Williamson (sub Joe Davis 31), Ryan Burge.
Subs not used: Darren Murphy, Louis Dodds, Sam Johnson, Chris Shuker.
Referee: Mr R Clark
Booked:
Cobblers: Anthony Charles (51, 1st of the season), Emyr Huws (81, 1st)
Port Vale: Gareth Owen (45), Tom Pope (59), Sam Morsy (68)
5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Port Vale: John McCombe (21)
Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
On a cold and windy afternoon at Sixfields, Aidy Boothroyd made two changes to the side with Lewis Wilson and Lewis Hornby replacing Clive Platt and Kemar Roofe, the latter who is back at West Brom following the completion of his loan spell.
The game kicked off at the earlier time of 2pm to avoid a direct clash with the Northampton Saints.
An early shot from Emyr Huws was deflected behind with Kelvin Langmead heading over from the second phase of the subsequent corner. Sam Morsy flashed a shot just wide in Vale’s first sight at goal.
Alex Nicholls gave the Cobblers the lead, capitalising on a defensive mistake by Vale before stroking the ball home. In scoring the goal Nicholls was fouled and seriously injured by John McCombe who was shown a straight red card.
A lengthy delay ensued before Nichols left the field in an ambulance. Louis Moult came on for the Cobblers with Port Vale also making a change, Joe Davis replacing Ben Williamson.
The Cobblers thought they had scored again on 41 minutes, but somehow an Anthony Charles header, direct from a Tozer long throw, was ruled out for offside.
Moult did double Town’s lead a minute later, the substitute with a cool low finish having been played in by Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Midway through 14 minutes of first half stoppage time, Moult then found the side netting with a cute shot.
Vale boss Micky Adams made a change for the second half with Kingsley James coming on for Gareth Owen.
It was also revealed at half-time that Alex Nicholls had suffered a suspected broken leg.
Akinfenwa headed just wide from a Danny East cross as the Cobblers looked to quickly further press home the advantage.
Ishmel Demontagnac replaced Lewis Wilson on the hour mark. Lee Nicholls then made a good save to deny Ashley Vincent.
The game fizzled out in the latter stages but the three points had already been won as the Cobblers recorded a 2-0 victory over second in the table Port Vale.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
PORT VALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 6
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.