Northampton Town 1 Mansfield Town 1 - the match report
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday March 15th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Darren Carter 64 pen
MANSFIELD TOWN 1
Oliver Palmer 32
Attendance: 5,129 (744 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Leon McSweeney, Zander Diamond, Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Gregor Robertson, Chris Hackett (sub Cristian Lopez 88), Ricky Ravenhill, Darren Carter, Brennan Dickenson (sub Ian Morris 50), Emile Sinclair, Alan Connell
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Ben Tozer, Gary Deegan, Ivan Toney, David Moyo.
Mansfield: Alan Marriott, John Dempster, Ryan Tafazolli, Martin Riley, Matt Rhead (sub Ross Dyer 86), Lee Stevenson (sub Lindon Meikle 68), Anthony Howell, James Jennings, Adam Murray, Darryl Westlake, Oliver Palmer (sub Colin Daniel 68)
Subs not used: Louis Briscoe, Lee Beevers, Jamie McGuire, Michael Cain
Referee: Mr A Haines
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Mansfield: Martin Riley (43), Matt Rhead (70)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Mansfield: Darryl Westlake (63)
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.
Chris Wilder made two changes to his Northampton Town team for the visit of Mansfield Town. Alan Connell replaced the departed John Marquis, while Ricky Ravenhill, free from suspension, returned at the expense of Gary Deegan. New loan signing Cristian Lopez was named among the substitutes.
On a warm and sunny afternoon in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far, the Cobblers had an early opportunity. Alan Connell released Brennan Dickenson beyond the Mansfield defence with a superb pass, only for Stags keeper Alan Marriott to block well.
Chris Hackett was found by Emile Sinclair but shot wide of the near post a few minutes later, while at the other end Hackett was in the right place on his post to head away from Ryan Tafazolli who had met a Mansfield corner.
Lee Stevenson found some space inside the area on 13 minutes but was wide with his shot as Mathias Kouo-Doumbe closed him down.
Chris Hackett was involved in a lot of the action, and after being fouled on the edge of the Mansfield area on 20 minutes, he picked himself up to send in a stinging effort beyond the wall that Marriott did well to hold.
The visitors had the lead on 32 minutes. Adam Murray played a ball beyond the Cobblers defence and Oliver Palmer ran on to send a low finish beyond Duke.
Brennan Dickenson was clear of the Mansfield defence on 43 minutes when he was fouled by Martin Riley who was booked. Carter’s free kick was blocked by the wall with Ricky Ravenhill only just over with the follow up.
Alan Connell was just inches over with a 20 yard shot after a long throw from substitute Ian Morris on 54 minutes, while a superb Morris drive was well tipped over by Marriott just past the hour mark.
The Cobblers were awarded a penalty on 63 minutes. Darryl Westlake denied a Connell header from a Hackett cross with his hand and was sent off, Darren Carter scoring from the spot.
Zander Diamond headed a 71st minute corner over the bar, while for the Stags Anthony Howell fired into the side netting four minutes later.
The visitors broke from a Cobblers corner on 78 minutes and Matt Duke had to race out of his area to clear from Colin Daniel.
With four minutes to go it was the turn of the Cobblers to break from an opposition corner, Morris feeding Connell but his cross was volleyed just over by Hackett at the far post.
New loan signing Cristian Lopez came on for an energetic last few minutes but that Hackett volley was the final chance of the game and the points were shared.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 12
CORNERS: (3) 8
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
MANSFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 8
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.