Northampton Town v Rochdale
NPOWER LEAGUE 2
Saturday February 9th
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Clive Platt 32
Kelvin Langmead 68
Adebayo Akinfenwa 76 pen
ROCHDALE 1
Jason Kennedy 64
Attendance: 5,110 (225 away fans)
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Ben Tozer, Kelvin Langmead, Clarke Carlisle, Joe Widdowson (sub Jake Robinson 79), Chris Hackett, Luke Guttridge (sub Lewis Hornby 84), Ben Harding, Roy O’Donovan, Clive Platt, Adebayo Akinfenwa (sub Lee Collins 77)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Ishmel Demontagnac, John Johnson, Manny Oyeleke
Rochdale: Josh Lillis, Joe Rafferty (sub Peter Cavanagh 63), Rhys Bennett, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Jason Kennedy, Andrew Tutte (sub Ashley Grimes 46), George Donnelly, Phil Edwards, Kevin McIntyre, Andy Haworth, Terry Gornell (sub Joel Logan 83)
Subs not used: Brian Barry-Murphy, Steve Collis, Dele Adebola, Matt Pearson
Referee: Mr J Linington
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Rochdale: Kevin McIntyre (75)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Rochdale: 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.
Following a run of three away games on the bounce the Cobblers returned home for the visit of Rochdale. Clive Platt and Roy O’Donovan both came into the side with new signing Lee Collins named on the bench. Platt and Joe Widdowson both lined up against their former club.
Rochdale started brightly with Kelvin Langmead doing well to block a shot from Terry Gornell. The Cobblers first chance came when Adebayo Akinfenwa headed over from a trademark Ben Tozer long throw. Another good block from Langmead denied Andrew Tutte, the ball then falling to Kevin McIntyre who fired over.
Clive Platt headed the Cobblers in front on 32 minutes, rising superbly to connect with a pin-point right-wing cross from Chris Hackett.
As the first half neared it’s conclusion some great link up play involving Hackett and Platt saw the ball worked to Ben Harding who flashed a shot just wide.
Dale boss Keith Hill made a change at half-time with Ashley Grimes coming on for Andrew Tutte. As the Cobblers pushed forward, a flying header from Roy O’Donovan was comfortably gathered by Josh Lillis. At the other end Lee Nicholls did well to tip away a fiercely struck Andy Haworth effort.
Just minutes later the on-loan Wigan keeper pulled off another tremendous save to deny George Donnelly. Gornell fired over when well-placed on 58 minutes having been played in by a good cross-field ball from Dale substitute Grimes.
Jason Kennedy equalised for Rochdale on 64 minutes, midfielder getting the final touch to a cross from Kevin McIntyre.
The Cobblers lead was however quickly restored, skipper Kelvin Langmead turning in a superbly delivered Ben Harding corner-kick after a scramble.
Adebayo Akinfenwa made it 3-1 from the penalty spot on 76 minutes, coolly slotting the ball home after Chris Hackett had been fouled by McIntyre. Bayo was then replaced soon after with Lee Collins coming on to make his Town debut.
Jake Robinson came on for Joe Widdowson in the Cobblers second change, Collins having slotted in at left-back. Luke Guttridge then made way for Lewis Hornby.
O’Donovan curled a shot against the post late on as the Cobblers recorded a 3-1 win to move back in to the npower League 2 play-off places.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (10) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
ROCHDALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 9
CORNERS: (4) 7
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 6
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.