SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday September 30th, 3.00pm
St James Park

EXETER CITY 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Sam Hoskins 20
Patrick Brough 90

Attendance: 6,541 (365 Cobblers fans)

Exeter: Vil Sinisalo, Zak Jules, Will Aimson, Alex Hartridge, Tom Carroll, Reece Cole, Yanic Wildschut (sub James Scott 56), Sonny Cox (sub Jack Aitchison 72), Kyle Taylor, Pierce Sweeney (sub Jack Fitzwater 72), Vincent Harper (sub Harry Kite 66)
Subs not used: Gary Woods, Pedro Borges, Jake Richards

Cobblers: Lee Burge, Akin Odimayo (sub Harvey Lintott 90), Patrick Brough, Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Marc Leonard, Shaun McWilliams (sub Ben Fox 90), Mitch Pinnock, Sam Hoskins (sub Tyreece Simpson 79), Louis Appere (sub Manny Monthe 79), Kieron Bowie
Subs not used: Max Thompson, Ryan Haynes, Aaron McGowan

Referee: Neil Hair

Booked:
Exeter: Zak Jules (8)
Cobblers: Kieron Bowie (35), Patrick Brough (41), Sam Sherring (44), Akin Odimayo (62), Manny Monthe (84)

Sent off:
Exeter: none
Cobblers: none

Louis Appere came into the Cobblers side for the trip to Exeter, replacing Tyreece Simpson in attack in the only change made by Jon Brady to the side that started the previous league fixture against Barnsley.

Shaun McWilliams was unable to get a shot away after being played in by Kieron Bowie in a bright start from the Cobblers while Sam Sherring was alert to clear the danger from an early Exeter set piece.

Bowie, making his 50th appearance for the club, nearly found Appere with a ball into the area and Sam Hoskins, on the end of a pin-point Mitch Pinnock cross, was denied by a terrific save by Vil Sinisalo.

The Cobblers were in control and deservedly took the lead on 20 minutes, McWilliams' exquisite through-ball playing in Sam Hoskins who kept his cool to slot the ball past Sinisalo.

Sonny Cox fired over after a deflection fell kindly for him inside the area and Yanic Wildschut shot straight at Lee Burge as Exeter responded to falling behind. Bowie was shown a yellow card after a collision with Sinisalo and he was joined in the book by Patrick Brough following a challenge on Vincent Harper. Jon Brady and Sam Sherring were also cautioned before half-time.

Hoskins had a couple of chances to double his tally before the hour mark but Sinisalo kept the scoreline at 1-0. Alex Hartridge then made a goal saving block to deny McWilliams and Sinisalo stuck out a leg to keep out a shot from Appere as the Cobblers continued to press for a second goal.

Sinisalo saved a powerfully struck shot from Bowie after some good work by Marc Leonard and Mitch Pinnock fired over before Tyreece Simpson and Manny Monthe came on in a double change.

Ben Fox replaced McWilliams as the fourth official signalled six minutes of added time in which the Cobblers sealed victory with a second goal, Patrick Brough scoring following a slick counter attack involving Simpson and Bowie. It was a goal the Cobblers thoroughly deserved for their dominant performance with Brady’s side well worth the three points.

EXETER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (3) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 1
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (6) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 5