Northampton Town v Oxford United
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday October 21st, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Enda Stevens 4
OXFORD UNITED 3
Danny Hylton 25, 27 pen
Alfie Potter 50
Attendance: 4,577 (932 away fans)
Cobblers: Jordan Archer, Daniel Alfei (sub Ben Tozer 70), Ryan Cresswell, Gregor Robertson, Enda Stevens, Kaid Mohamed, John-Joe O’Toole, Joel Byrom, Darren Carter (sub Alex Nicholls 49), Lawson D’Ath (sub Emile Sinclair 70), Ivan Toney.
Subs not used: Matt Duke, Kelvin Langmead, David Moyo, Ricky Ravenhill.
Oxford: Ryan Clarke, Johnny Mullins, Jake Wright, Danny Rose, Danny Hylton (sub James Roberts 83), Alfie Potter (sub Josh Ruffels 90), Andy Whing, Michael Collins, Joe Riley, Tyrone Barnett, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis
Subs not used: Jonathan Meades, Michael Raynes, Carlton Morris, Callum O'Dowda, George Long
Referee: Mr P Gibbs
Booked:
Cobblers: John-Joe O'Toole 43 (4th of the season), Ivan Toney (64, 4th), Enda Stevens (70, 2nd), Ryan Cresswell (82, 1st)
Oxford: none
5 cautions on or before 30 November; 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
Oxford: none
Sendings off: 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.
Darren Carter, Kaid Mohamed and John-Joe O’Toole all came into the Cobblers side for the Tuesday night visit of Oxford United to a cold, wet and windy Sixfields as Britain felt the remnants of hurricane Gonzalo.
Ricky Ravenhill and Alex Nicholls dropped to the bench while Chris Hackett (back) was the latest player to be added to Town’s lengthy injury list.
The Cobblers started brightly and had the lead on 4 minutes, Enda Stevens providing the finish from O’Toole’s pass. As Town then looked for a quick second, Darren Carter saw a shot from distance well saved by Ryan Clarke.
Jordan Archer made a terrific save to deny the lively Alfie Potter on 17 minutes before Mohamed had a shot deflected behind.
Oxford equalised on 25 minutes, Danny Hylton heading home from a Danny Rose cross.
The U’s were then awarded a penalty after O’Toole was penalised. Hylton stepped up to put Oxford in front and turn the game on its head in a matter of minutes.
Lawson D’Ath had a chance to make it 2-2 at the start of the second half but chipped his shot over the cross bar having made a good run in to the penalty area. Alex Nicholls was then introduced at the expense of Darren Carter on 49 minutes in the Cobblers first change.
Oxford doubled their lead soon after however, Alfie Potter’s cross-shot looping over Archer and into the back of the net.
Ivan Toney went close with a header as the Cobblers looked for an immediate response to going 3-1 behind.
With 20 minutes to go Chris Wilder made a double change, Ben Tozer and the fit again Emile Sinclair coming on for Daniel Alfei and Lawson D’Ath.
Ryan Cresswell just failed to connect with a Joel Byrom corner on 85 minutes but there was to be no way back for the Cobblers as Oxford saw the remainder of the game out to claim a 3-1 victory.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (8) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
OXFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (5) 8
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta