Newport County v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday October 31st, 3.00pm
Rodney Parade
NEWPORT COUNTY 2
Scott Barrow 31
Lenell John-Lewis 38
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Sam Hoskins 10
Marc Richards 30
Attendance: 2,424 (352 Cobblers fans)
Newport: Joe Day, Scott Barrow, Tommy O'Sullivan (sub Yan Klukowski 86), Medy Elito, Zak Ansah (sub Scott Boden 72), Lenell John-Lewis (sub Aaron Collins 89), Janoi Donacien, Scot Bennett, Matt Partridge, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, Mark Byrne.
Subs not used: Danny Holmes, Matthew Taylor, Kieran Parselle, Tom Owen-Evans.
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Darnell Furlong, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Joel Byrom (sub Jason Taylor 58), Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins (sub Ryan Watson 68), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (sub Alfie Potter 54), Marc Richards
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Josh Lelan, Brendan Moloney, Chris Hackett
Referee: Mr D Deadman
Booked:
Newport: Scott Barrow (62), Matthew Partridge (90)
Cobblers: 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:
Newport: 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.
In a week when players and staff wages were delayed with takeover talks still ongoing, Northampton Town travelled to a resurgent Newport County. Rod McDonald replaced the injured Ryan Cresswell in defence.
Lenell John-Lewis flashed a 9th–minute header just wide on a sunny afternoon at Rodney Parade.
The Cobblers took the lead soon after however, Sam Hoskins close range finish the end result of a quick counter-attack where a Nicky Adams cross was initially met by Marc Richards.
Joel Byrom went close from distance as the first half neared the midway point, the shot from Byrom coming after Hoskins had an effort blocked.
Marc Richards fired in a superb free-kick to double Town’s lead on the half hour before Scott Barrow quickly pulled a goal back for Newport, his right-footed drive giving Adam Smith no chance in the Cobblers goal.
Newport levelled the scores on 38 minutes, Lenell John-Lewis finding the corner of the net to make it 2-2.
Chris Wilder made a couple of changes early on in the second half, Alfie Potter replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jason Taylor coming on for Joel Byrom.
Sam Hoskins made way for Ryan Hoskins on 68 minutes as the Cobblers made their final change.
With the game still very much in the balance, an overhead volley from Zak Ansah went well wide before the aforementioned player was replaced by Scott Boden.
Rod McDonald couldn’t direct his header on target from a orner while Marc Richards curled a free-kick just wide as the Cobblers pushed forward in the closing stages.
John-Joe O’Toole went down in the area following a challenge from Newport substitute Yan Klukowski as the clock ticked over to 90 but referee Darren Deadman turned down the Cobblers penalty appeals.
There was to be no late sting in the tail for either side though as the game ended 2-2, all four goals coming in a frantic first half.
NEWPORT MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (2) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 4
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (7) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta