Northampton Town v Burton Albion
NPOWER LEAGUE 2
Saturday January 19th
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Adebayo Akinfenwa 69
BURTON ALBION 0
Attendance: 4,090 (167 away fans)
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Ben Tozer, Kelvin Langmead, Clarke Carlisle, Joe Widdowson, Chris Hackett, Luke Guttridge, Ben Harding, Jake Robinson (sub Lewis Hornby 90), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Clive Platt (sub Ishmel Demontagnac 81)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Louis Moult, Paul Turnbull, Lewis Wilson, David Moyo
Burton: Dean Lyness, Aaron Webster, Nathan Stanton, Zander Diamond, Robbie Weir, Calvin Zola (sub Matt Paterson 88), Damien McCrory, Jacques Maghoma (sub Jimmy Phillips 78), Anthony O'Connor, Lee Bell (sub Billy Kee 73), Adam Drury
Subs not used: John McGrath, Stuart Tomlinson, Marcus Holness, Jack Dyer
Referee: Mr D Bond
Booked:
Cobblers: Clive Platt (28, 4th of the season), Luke Guttridge (64, 4th)
Burton: none
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Burton: none
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.
Despite the 'big freeze' gripping the nation the frost covers had done their job and the Sixfields surface was declared perfectly playable by referee Mr Bond after some heroic snow clearing efforts by around 70 shovel-wielding Cobblers fans.
Head Groundsman Paul Knowles and his staff had once again done an excellent job in the build up to the game and the pitch looked in good condition for kick-off.
The Cobblers started the game very much on the offensive and on 4 minutes Adebayo Akinfenwa saw a looping header come back off the post. As the first half progressed, Chris Hackett curled a shot just wide.
Joe Widdowson crossed for Luke Guttridge on 35 minutes but his shot on the turn went a yard wide.
Jake Robinson made a good run into the Burton penalty area midway through the second half before appearing to be fouled but the referee waved away the appeals.
The Cobblers made their dominance count when they finally took the lead on 69 minutes, Adebayo Akinfenwa heading home from a Ben Tozer cross.
As Burton responded to falling behind, a great challenge from Clarke Carlisle kept the Cobblers in front.
Aidy Boothroyd made his first change on 81 minutes with Clive Platt making way for Ishmel Demontagnac.
Lee Nicholls made a good save to deny Jimmy Phillips as Burton forced a flurry of late corners.
The Cobblers saw out four minutes of stoppage time though to claim the win that sees them move into the npower League Two play-off places.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 9
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (11) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 3
BURTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (1) 8
FOULS: (4) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.