COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday May 3rd, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Midland Scaffolding Services

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
PC Howard Ltd

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Adebayo AKINFENWA 3, Poul HUBERTZ 68

Attendance: 5,088 (343 away fans)

Cobblers:  Chris DUNN, Jason CROWE, Liam DOLMAN, Gabor GYEPES, Chris DOIG, Daniel JONES, Giles COKE (sub Poul HUBERTZ 54), Alex DYER (sub Danny JACKMAN 65), Ryan GILLIGAN *, Adebayo AKINFENWA, Colin LARKIN (sub Andy HOLT 65)
Substitutes not used: Joe BURNELL, Greg TAYLOR

* Midland Scaffolding Services man of the match

Tranmere: Danny COYNE, Robbie STOCKDALE (sub Steve JENNINGS 59), Paul McLAREN, Shane SHERRIFF (sub Craig CURRAN 79), Antony KAY, Ian MOORE, Chris GREENACRE, Ben CHORLEY, Ian GOODISON, Andy TAYLOR, Chris SHUKER (sub Steve DAVIES 67)
Substitutes not used: John MULLIN, John ACHTERBERG

Referee: Mr G Ward (change to match programme - illness)

Booked:
Cobblers: Daniel JONES (41, 9th of the season), Poul HUBERTZ (58, 9th), Ryan GILLIGAN (80, 12th)
Tranmere: Ian GOODISON (60 and 80) 

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Tranmere: Ian GOODISON (80)

Sending offs: 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.

The final game of the 2007/2008 season saw Northampton Town take on Tranmere Rovers at Sixfields. Stuart Gray made a number of changes to the Cobblers side, with Liam Dolman, Alex Dyer and Colin Larkin coming in for Danny Jackman, Poul Hubertz and Giles Coke. Chris Dunn made his senior debut in goal in place of the injured Mark Bunn, while Hubertz and Joe Burnell were among the substitutes on their final Northampton Town appearance.

On a warm, sunny afternoon, and after a host of pre-match presentations, the Cobblers had an early lead. Alex Dyer started the move in midfield, before Giles Coke played the ball out to Daniel Jones on the left. Jones swung over an inviting cross that was swept home at the second attempt by Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Antony Kay volleyed over the bar for the visitors on 10 minutes as he met a cross from Chris Greenacre, while at the other end Alex Dyer fizzed a drive just wide after a Jones corner had been half cleared.

Akinfenwa released Alex Dyer in the area on 27 minutes but the recovering Ian Goodison was able to make the block, while five minutes later Colin Larkin curled an effort just beyond the far post after taking down a long ball from Jason Crowe.

Chris Dunn made a fine near post stop from Andy Taylor after the Tranmere man had made good progress down the left hand side, while for the Cobblers, Giles Coke's drive forced a sprawling save from Danny Coyne in the Tranmere goal.

Daniel Jones was booked after catching Robbie Stockdale, before Tranmere equalised two minutes before the break. After the Cobblers had half cleared a corner, Chris Shuker headed the ball back in for Chris Greenacre to acrobatically volley beyond Dunn with an overhead kick.

Poul Hubertz was introduced as a 54th minute replacement for Giles Coke to make his final appearance for the club.

Gabor Gyepes met a corner from Daniel Jones well, only to be denied by a fine save from Coyne, before Hubertz was booked for an innocuous looking tackle on Taylor. Steve Jennings then replaced Stockdale for the visitors.
Ian Goodison was booked for delaying a Cobblers free kick, and after the ball had been returned, Daniel Jones curled a shot inches wide.

Stuart Gray made a double change on 65 minutes, bringing Danny Jackman and Andy Holt on for Alex Dyer and Colin Larkin. For Tranmere, Steve Davies replaced Chris Shuker.

The Cobblers went ahead just beyond the midway point in the second half. Daniel Jones swung over a free kick from the left and Poul Hubertz beat Coyne with his header, the ball going in off the inside of the post.

Jackman then headed just over the bar following a right footed cross from Andy Holt, before the final change of the game saw Shane Sherriff come off to be replaced by Craig Curran.

Ryan Gilligan and Ian Goodison were both booked after an altercation, for the Tranmere man this meant a second yellow card and he was dismissed. Gilligan needed treatment for a blood wound to his face after the incident.

That was the last major incident of the season, and after the final whistle the players thanked the supporters for their backing at the end of a very enjoyable season.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (8) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

TRANMERE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (6) 6
FOULS: (2) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.

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