Northampton Town v Notts County
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday April 2nd, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Ricky Holmes 32, 76 pen
NOTTS COUNTY 2
Thierry Audel 36
Jon Stead 73 pen
Attendance: 6,428 (438 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Danny Rose, Ricky Holmes, Nicky Adams (sub Lawson D'Ath 57), Marc Richards (sub John Marquis 57), James Collins (sub Sam Hoskins 85)
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Luke Prosser, Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom
Notts County: Scott Loach, Haydn Hollis, Rob Milsom, Curtis Thompson (sub Elliott Hewitt 46), Liam Noble, Adam Campbell (sub Izale McLeod 55), Wes Atkinson, Jon Stead, Thierry Audel, Stanley Aborah (sub Genaro Snijders 86), Mike Edwards
Subs not used: Roy Carroll, Mawouna Amevor, Ronan Murray, Rhys Sharpe
Referee: Mr B Toner
Booked:
Cobblers: John-Joe O'Toole (72, 11th of the season)
Notts County: Mike Edwards (79), Liam Noble (83)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Notts County: 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.
The new East Stand at Sixfields was open for the first time on a day when a win could see the Cobblers clinch promotion, if results elsewhere at Accrington and Bristol Rovers also went their way.
Ricky Holmes and Nicky Adams came into the side as Chris Wilder made two changes, John Marquis and Jason Taylor dropping to the bench. Izale McLeod, who had a brief loan spell at Sixfields at the end of 2013, was among the substitutes for Notts County.
There was a cracking atmosphere around the ground as the game kicked off and in the opening minutes Scott Loach saved from Nicky Adams while Ricky Holmes put a shot wide. Curtis Thompson had the first meaningful effort on goal for Notts County, a deflection off Danny Rose enough to put the ball behind.
The breakthrough for the Cobblers came on 32 minutes, Ricky Holmes with a stunning volley into the corner of the net, the goal coming from a corner that the visitors failed to clear.
Notts County responded well to going behind and were quickly back on level terms, Thierry Audel heading home following a terrific initial save from Adam Smith to end a move where the Cobblers felt the offside flag should have been raised.
Izale McLeod came on for Notts County ten minutes into the second half before the Cobblers made a double change, John Marquis and Lawson D’Ath coming on for Marc Richards and Nicky Adams.
The Cobblers went agonisingly close to re-taking the lead on 68 minutes, Brendan Moloney’s shot going just inches wide after taking a nick off James Collins.
The two sides then traded penalties in a hectic few minutes. Jon Stead put County in front after John-Joe O’Toole was penalised before Ricky Holmes stepped up to almost immediately draw the Cobblers level.
Sam Hoskins came on for the closing stages in place of James Collins. Hoskins was quickly involved in the action, playing in Danny Rose and his cross was fired over by John Marquis from 8-yards.
That chance for Marquis proved to be the last of the afternoon and despite pushing hard for a winner the game ended 2-2. Results elsewhere meant that even a win wouldn’t have secured promotion just yet.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4
NOTTS COUNTY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 5
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (5) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 7
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta