Northampton Town v Oxford United
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday September 12th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Sam Hoskins 23
OXFORD UNITED 0
Attendance: 4,838 (931 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Darnell Furlong, Ryan Cresswell, Shaun Brisley, David Buchanan, Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom (sub Paul Corry 69), Lawson D’Ath, Nicky Adams (sub Ryan Watson 46), Sam Hoskins (sub Alfie Potter 77), Marc Richards
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Josh Lelan, Rod McDonald
Oxford: Sam Slocombe, George Baldock, Joe Skarz (sub AJ George 89), Jake Wright, Danny Rose, Danny Hylton, Alex MacDonald (sub Patrick Hoban 71), Callum O'Dowda, John Lundstram, Ryan Taylor, Cheyenne Dunkley
Subs not used: Benjamin Buchel, Josh Ruffels, Robbie Cundy, James Roberts, Aidan Hawtin
Referee: Mr N Swarbrick
Booked:
Cobblers: Lawson D'Ath (84, 1st of the season)
Oxford: John Lundstram (24), Cheyenne Dunkley (28), Danny Hylton (68)
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: Jason Taylor (44)
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.
New loan signings, central defender Shaun Brisley (Peterborough) and right-back Darnell Furlong (QPR), both came straight into the Northampton Town side for the visit of Oxford United. Jason Taylor was handed a recall to the starting line-up while Sam Hoskins came in for Alfie Potter.
Callum O'Dowda had a chance to put Oxford in front on 11 minutes but Adam Smith rushed out to make the save. The Cobblers had the ball in the back of the net five minutes later only for the goal to be promptly disallowed, Marc Richards adjudged to have impeded U’s defender Joe Skarz.
Sam Hoskins headed the home side in front midway through the first half, Nicky Adams' pin-point cross providing the assist.
Jason Taylor was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident just before half-time and Oxford were awarded a penalty. Danny Hylton stepped up but Adam Smith saved well to keep the Cobblers in front at the break.
Ryan Watson replaced Nicky Adams at half-time, Chris Wilder making the change following Taylor’s dismissal.
Oxford had a chance just 30 seconds into the second half, Smith saving from Ryan Taylor.
As the second half progressed Oxford continued to press as the Cobblers defence stood firm. Paul Corry came on for Joel Byrom in Town’s second change while the U’s made a change of their own, bringing on striker Patrick Hoban for Alex MacDonald.
Alfie Potter came on against his former club with 13 minutes to play, replacing goalscorer Sam Hoskins.
Marc Richards headed straight at Sam Slocombe from a Cobblers free-kick as the clock ticked towards 90. Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled but the ten men saw that out to claim the three points, ending Oxford’s unbeaten start in the league.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
OXFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (1) 6
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta