Tranmere Rovers v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Sunday December 28th, 3.00pm
Prenton Park
TRANMERE ROVERS 2
Kayode Odejayi 32
Jake Kirby 63
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Marc Richards 44
Attendance: 5,394 (350 Cobblers fans)
Tranmere: Owain Fon-Williams, Danny Holmes, Max Power, Marcus Holness, Kayode Odejayi (sub Cole Stockton 44), Marc Laird, Janoi Donacien, Chris Shuker (sub Jake Kirby 62), Steve Jennings, Shamir Fenelon (sub Guy Madjo (90), Josh Thompson.
Subs not used: Peter Brezovan, Abdulai Baggie, James Rowe, Calaum Jahraldo-Martin.
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Daniel Alfei, Zander Diamond (sub Kelvin Langmead 29), Lee Collins, Gregor Robertson (sub Evan Horwood 31), Chris Hackett, John-Joe O’Toole, Stewart Murdoch, Joel Byrom, Kaid Mohamed (sub Emile Sinclair 67), Marc Richards
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Ben Tozer, Lawson D’Ath, Darren Carter
Referee: Mr A Haines
Booked:
Tranmere: none
Cobblers: Evan Horwood (83, 2nd of the season), John-Joe O'Toole (90, 6th)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Tranmere: none
Cobblers: 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.
Lee Collins, Chris Hackett, Kaid Mohamed, Joel Byrom and John-Joe O’Toole all came into the Cobblers side for their final game of 2014.
After an opening half hour where neither side worked the opposition goalkeeper, the Cobblers were forced into making two changes because of injuries picked up by Zander Diamond and Gregor Robertson, Kelvin Langmead and Evan Horwood coming on.
The first shot on target of the match came on 32 minutes, Kayode Odejayi volleying in from close range to put Tranmere in front.
Marc Richards header was saved by the diving Owain Fon-Williams as the Cobblers looked to get themselves back on level terms, the chance coming from a looping Hackett cross nodded on by O’Toole.
The Cobblers equalised on 44 minutes, Joel Byrom setting up Marc Richards who finished well when one-on-one with the Tranmere keeper.
Joel Byrom had a shot well saved on 56 minutes after a cagey start to the second half.
Tranmere re-took the lead against the run of play on 63 minutes, substitute Jake Kirby with a curled low finish in to the corner of the net.
Emile Sinclair then replaced Kaid Mohamed for the final 20 plus minutes as the Cobblers made their third change.
It was so nearly 2-2 on 80 minutes, only for Josh Thompson to come to Tranmere’s rescue when Marcus Holness’s defensive header looped over Fon-Williams and seemed destined for the goal before Thompson’s intervention.
Daniel Alfei volleyed just over the bar on 88 minutes as the Cobblers continued to press for a second equaliser. That proved to be the last chance of the afternoon for Town though as Tranmere saw out the final few minutes to claim the victory.
TRANMERE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (2) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta