Hartlepool United v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday February 10th, 7.45pm
Victoria Park
HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1
Marvin Morgan 50
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 2,856 (132 Cobblers fans)
Hartlepool: Scott Flinders, Michael Duckworth, Scott Harrison, David Mirfin, Neil Austin, Jack Compton (sub Connor Smith 90), Michael Woods, Aaron Tshibola, Jonathan Franks (sub Dan Jones 78), Marlon Harewood, Marvin Morgan (sub Nicky Featherstone 78).
Subs not used: Jonathan Maxted, Jordan Richards, Darren Holden, Brad Walker
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Brendon Moloney, Ryan Cresswell, Lee Collins, Evan Horwood, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Chris Hackett 78), Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath (sub Ivan Toney 56), Marc Richards, Ricky Holmes (sub Ben Tozer 56)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Billy Bodin, Darren Carter, Tom Newey
Referee: Mr N Miller
Booked:
Hartlepool: none
Cobblers: Evan Horwood (45, 4th of the season), Joel Byrom (62, 8th), Ryan Cresswell (77, 6th)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Hartlepool: 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.
Ryan Cresswell, back from suspension, replaced Zander Diamond (hamstring) in the only change to the Northampton Town side for the long trip to Hartlepool.
On a misty night in the north east and on a difficult surface, there were no real clear cut chances for either side in the opening half hour. Hartlepool had enjoyed more of the play but a Jack Compton shot across goal was the only moment of real danger for Town.
Marc Richards had a shot blocked at close range by David Mirfin as the Cobblers started to pose a threat while at the other end Matt Duke did well to gather in a shot from Jonathan Franks.
John-Joe O’Toole and Joel Byrom both had efforts at goal from a Cobblers corner that caused Hartlepool problems but the ball was eventually claimed by Scott Flinders.
The Cobblers started the second half on the front foot, Lawson D'Ath bursting through with a good run before seeing his shot saved by Flinders.
Hartlepool then took the lead against the run of play, Lee Collins back pass falling rather fortuitously to Marvin Morgan via a deflection off Cresswell.
Ivan Toney and Ben Tozer came on as the Cobblers switched formation before Duke pulled off a good save to deny Marlon Harewood.
As the game entered the final five minutes Toney had a shot saved by Flinders before the striker was denied what would have been a tap in from a Brendon Moloney cross which was put behind by a Hartlepool defender.
With the game stretched Duke made a terrific save from Harewood before Cresswell had a header saved by Flinders deep into stoppage time as the Cobblers continued to press hard for an equaliser. The goal wouldn’t come for Town though as their six-match unbeaten run in 2015 came to an end.
HARTLEPOOL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (1) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (7) 7
FOULS: (2) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta