Southend United 2 Northampton Town 0 - the match report
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 17th, 3.00pm
Roots Hall
SOUTHEND UNITED 2
Anthony Straker 37
Freddy Eastwood 62
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 5,510 (392 Cobblers fans)
Southend: Daniel Bentley, John White, Adam Thompson, Luke Prosser, Ben Coker, Will Atkinson, Anthony Straker, Ryan Leonard (sub Jack Payne 90), Marc Laird (sub Conor Clifford 60), Freddy Eastwood (sub Craig Reid 81), Barry Corr.
Subs not used: Don Cowan, Michael Timlin, Kevan Hurst, Paul Smith
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Kevin Amankwaah, Joe Widdowson (sub Ishmel Demontagnac 66), Ben Tozer, Lee Collins, Danny Emerton (sub Clive Platt 66), Gary Deegan, Darren Carter, Chris Hackett, Roy O’Donovan, Jacob Blyth (sub Ivan Toney 73)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Ian Morris, JJ Hooper, Claudio Dias
Referee: Mr A Davies
Booked:
Southend: John White (14)
Cobblers: Joe Widdowson (10, 2nd of the season), Chris Hackett (13, 1st)
5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Southend: none
Cobblers: Chris Hackett (22)
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.
A minor groin injury meant Ian Morris started the game on the bench with Chris Hackett coming straight back into the side after recovering from injury. The fit again Clive Platt was also named in the matchday 18 for the first time this season.
Almost from kick-off Gary Deegan had a shot on goal with Daniel Bentley forced into making an early save.
The Cobblers were awarded a penalty on 8 minutes, John White penalised for leaving in a trailing leg on Joe Widdowson. Roy O'Donovan stepped up only to see his spot kick well saved by Bentley.
With the challenges from both sides flying in, Joe Widdowson, Chris Hackett and John White all entered the referee's notebook in quick succession.
Hackett was then sent off midway through the first half after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Anthony Straker.
Despite being down to ten men Town nearly took the lead on 25 minutes, Lee Collins header cleared off the goal line by White.
Southend took the lead on 38 minutes, Anthony Straker finishing from close range after Freddy Eastwood's deflected shot fell kindly for him in front of goal.
Barry Corr headed just over for Southend on 53 minutes before Gary Deegan saw a shot from distance whistle past the post.
Freddy Eastwood doubled Southend's lead on 62 minutes, the striker with a good finish low into the corner of Duke's goal.
Aidy Boothroyd made a double substitution soon after with Clive Platt and Ishmel Demontagnac coming on for Joe Widdowson and Danny Emerton. Ivan Toney then replaced Jacob Blyth in the Cobblers final change.
Will Atkinson and Barry Corr were both denied by an in-form Matt Duke as Southend looked to put the game to bed. Two goals were enough though as Phil Brown's side claimed the three points.
SOUTHEND MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 7
CORNERS: (0) 3
FOULS: (9) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (11) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.
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