Exeter City v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday April 16th, 3.00pm
St James Park
EXETER CITY 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 5,077 (876 Cobblers fans)
Exeter: Bobby Olejnik, Craig Woodman, David Noble, Jamie McAllister, Ryan Harley, Alex Nicholls, Jordan Moore-Taylor (capt), Ollie Watkins (sub David Wheeler 90), Jayden Stockley (sub Jamie Reid 90), Jake Taylor, Troy Brown.
Subs not used: Christian Ribeiro, Arron Davies,Tom McCready, Jordan Tillson, Christy Pym.
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Danny Rose, Ricky Holmes, Nicky Adams (sub Sam Hoskins 61), Lawson D’Ath (sub Jason Taylor 90), John Marquis (sub James Collins 67)
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Luke Prosser, Joel Byrom, Alfie Potter
Referee: Mr O Langford
Booked:
Exeter: Jamie McAllister (35)
Cobblers: Zander Diamond (45, 4th of the season), Danny Rose (73, 4th), James Collins (78, 6th)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Exeter: 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.
Having already secured promotion, Northampton Town had five games to wrap up the title, starting with a trip to play-off contenders Exeter.
Lawson D’Ath replaced Sam Hoskins in the only change to the side that started against Bristol Rovers while former Cobblers striker Alex Nicholls started for the Grecians.
Both keepers were tested in the opening 15 minutes, Bobby Olejnik making a good early save to deny Ricky Holmes while Adam Smith did well to tip over a Jayden Stockley header.
A superb save from Olejnik somehow kept out Zander Diamond’s header as the Cobblers endeavoured to up the pressure on the Exeter goal.
Ryan Harley saw his shot blocked by Diamond before news came through that despite taking the lead in their game, second-placed Oxford trailed 2-1 at home to Luton. With Accrington only drawing, the Cobblers were primed for the title as things stood at half-time.
Jayden Stockley’s header at the start of the second half struck the inside of the post before Jake Taylor’s follow-up effort found the side netting. Accrington meanwhile had taken the lead in their game at home to Morecambe.
The woodwork came to the Cobblers rescue for a second time just after the hour mark when Jake Taylor’s effort crashed against the crossbar.
James Collins came on for John Marquis in Chris Wilder’s second change of the afternoon, Sam Hoskins having replaced Nicky Adams.
A Morecambe equaliser at Accrington meant that with Oxford losing, the Cobblers were ten minutes away from claiming the League 2 title.
Jason Taylor came on as the game entered stoppage time. Accrington v Morecambe finished 2-2 but as the full-time whistle went at Exeter, Oxford were still playing in their game v Luton.
There was no comeback for the U’s though and their defeat meant the Cobblers were Champions.
EXETER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9
CORNERS: (6) 7
FOULS: (2) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta