A match report from Cheltenham Town 1 Northampton Town 1, 1 February 2014
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday February 1, 3.00pm
Abbey Business Stadium
CHELTENHAM TOWN 1
Jamie Cureton 1
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Matty Blair 76
Attendance: 2,707 (352 Cobblers fans)
Cheltenham: Scott Brown, Troy Brown, Jamie Cureton, Sam Deering, Byron Harrison (sub Terry Gornell 85), Matt Richards, Sido Jombati, Craig Braham-Barrett, Kemar Roofe, Michael Ihiekwe, Lee Lucas (sub Jermaine McGlashan 85).
Subs not used: Jason Taylor, Steve Elliott, Connor Roberts, Ashley Vincent, Mitch Brundle
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Ben Tozer (sub Leon McSweeney 57), Lee Collins, Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Joe Widdowson, Matty Blair, Ricky Ravenhill, Darren Carter, Ian Morris, Antonio German, Alan Connell (sub Emile Sinclair 57)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Roy O’Donovan, Sean McGinty, Ivan Toney, Gary Deegan
Referee: Mr Paul Tierney
Booked:
Cheltenham: Matt Richards (90)
Cobblers: Darren Carter (62, 7th of the season)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cheltenham: 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.
All four new signings were in the Cobblers matchday 18 for Chris Wilder's first game in charge. Alan Connell and returnee Ricky Ravenhill both started with Leon McSweeney and Emile Sinclair on the bench. Mathias Doumbe and Ian Morris also both came back into the side but Chris Hackett (hamstring) remained unavailable for selection.
Cheltenham took an early lead, Jamie Cureton tapping the ball into an empty net after a miss-judgement in the windy conditions from Matt Duke.
The Cobblers were soon almost back on terms, Ian Morris denied by the inside of the post following a good run from Antonio German.
As the game approached the half hour mark Duke made a terrific flying save to keep out a shot from Sam Deering.
With the strong wind now at their backs the Cobblers started the second half brightly and on 47 minutes had strong appeals for a penalty turned down when the ball appeared to strike the arm of a Cheltenham defender following a corner.
Chris Wilder made a double change on 57 minutes, Emile Sinclair and Leon McSweeney both coming on to make their Cobblers debuts in place of Alan Connell and Ben Tozer.
Sinclair was quickly involved in the action setting up a chance for Darren Carter but his drilled shot was turned behind by Scott Brown.
After a good spell of pressure the Cobblers equalised on 76 minutes, Ian Morris crossing for Matty Blair to finish smartly from close range.
The Cobblers continued to press hard for a winner but the Cheltenham defence held out as the game ended 1-1.
CHELTENHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (7) 11
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 8
FOULS: (4) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.