Luton Town v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday December 12th, 3.00pm
Kenilworth Road
LUTON TOWN 3
Paul Benson 10, 52
Danny Green 66 pen
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 4
John-Joe O'Toole 19
Lawson D'Ath 31
Marc Richards 42
Ricky Holmes 70
Attendance: 8,792 (1,032 Cobblers fans)
Luton: Mark Tyler, Sean Long (sub Ryan Hall 88), Scott Griffiths, Luke Wilkinson, Magnus Okuonghae, Jonathan Smith, Olly Lee, Alex Lawless (sub Jack Marriott 75), Danny Green, Craig Mackail-Smith, Paul Benson.
Subs not used: Stephen O’Donnell, Cameron McGeehan, Josh McQuoid, Frankie Musonda, Elliot Justham
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Ryan Cresswell, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin 90), Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath, Nicky Adams (sub Ricky Holmes 69), Alfie Potter (sub Jason Taylor 87), Marc Richards
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Sam Hoskins, Josh Lelan, Rod McDonald
Referee: Mr M Jones
Booked:
Luton: Danny Green (88), Scott Griffiths (90)
Cobblers: none
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Luton: 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.
Marc Richards came back into the Northampton Town side for the trip to Luton while John-Joe O’Toole also returned to the starting XI after serving a one-match ban for accumulated bookings.
Luton took the lead on 9 minutes at Kenilworth Road, Paul Benson scoring with an overhead kick following a free-kick that the Cobblers failed to clear.
It didn’t take long for the Cobblers to get themselves back on terms, John-Joe O’Toole finishing off a superbly worked free-kick straight from the training ground.
Lawson D’Ath fired the Cobblers in front on the half hour, beating Mark Tyler with a shot from a tight angle after a superb chest off from Alfie Potter.
Potter himself spurned a good chance to make it 1-3 on 39 minutes before at the other end Adam Smith saved easily from Alex Lawless.
It wasn’t long before the Cobblers did double their lead though, Marc Richards getting the final touch from a corner, another assist for Potter.
Luton pulled a goal back on 52 minutes, Paul Benson netting his second of the afternoon after getting on the end of a cross field ball from Magnus Okuonghae.
Referee Michael Jones pointed to the penalty spot on 65 minutes. Danny Green scored from the spot to make it 3-3.
Having let a two goal lead slip the Cobblers responded in terrific fashion, John-Joe O’Toole firing a shot into the side netting and Lawson D’Ath drawing a terrific save from Mark Tyler.
Ricky Holmes, having been on the pitch for less than 30 seconds, put the Cobblers back in front on 69 minutes with a shot into the roof of the net after going on a driving run from the half way line.
Jason Taylor replaced Alfie Potter for the closing stages as the Cobblers did an effective job of seeing the game out, making it seven wins on the bounce in all competitions in the process.
LUTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (9) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta