COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday April 26th, 3pm
Vale Park
PORT VALE 2
Marc RICHARDS 30, Danny GLOVER 49
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Ryan GILLIGAN 25, Andy HOLT 27
Attendance: 4,556 (657 Cobblers fans)
Port Vale: Chris MARTIN, George PILKINGTON, Paul HARSLEY, Adam ECKERSLEY, Keith LOWE, Luke PROSSER, Marc RICHARDS, Danny WHITAKER, Simon RICHMAN (sub Ross DAVIDSON 89), Danny GLOVER (sub James LAWRIE 89), Joe CARDLE (sub Kyle PERRY 62)
Substitutes not used: Chris SLATER, David MULLIGAN
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Daniel JONES, Gabor GYEPES, Chris DOIG, Ryan GILLIGAN, Giles COKE, Danny JACKMAN (sub Colin LARKIN 68), Poul HUBERTZ (sub Alex DYER 82), Adebayo AKINFENWA, Andy HOLT
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Liam DOLMAN, Joe BURNELL
Referee: Mr R East
Booked:
Port Vale: Simon RICHMAN (60), Danny WHITAKER (65), Marc RICHARDS (67), Luke PROSSER (90)
Cobblers: Daniel JONES (45, 8th of the season), Jason CROWE (67, 10th)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Port Vale: none
Cobblers: none
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.
Northampton Town travelled to meet Port Vale for their final away game of the 2007/2008 season. The hosts, despite being already relegated, had picked up their form at home recently, putting together a four match unbeaten run in front of their own supporters.
The Cobblers trip to Vale Park last season (on a Tuesday night in February) had seen freezing conditions but this time around the players were greeted by far more pleasant temperatures. With Mark Hughes (thigh) and Ian Henderson (sore foot) absent, Stuart Gray named an unchanged side, while former Cobblers Paul Harsley and Marc Richards were in the Vale team.
Denis Casey, who was standing in on physio duties for Stuart Barker, saw some early action when he ran on to treat Gabor Gyepes.
The long grass on the Vale Park pitch was making passing the ball at pace difficult, but there was a chance for the home side on 13 minutes when Marc Richards played a pass back to Danny Glover who drove wide from the edge of the area. At the other end Danny Jackman sent a rising shot over the bar from Akinfenwa's lay off.
Poul Hubertz struck a 24th minute shot well but his dipping effort was just too high, but moments later the Cobblers had the lead. Jason Crowe won the ball back 25 yards from goal and made his way into the Vale area. His pass found Akinfenwa who teed up Ryan Gilligan to finish beyond Martin.
Within two minutes that lead was doubled. Jason Crowe overlapped down the right and sent over a hanging cross that Andy Holt powerfully headed home.
Vale looked for a way back, and on 29 minutes Danny Whitaker rounded Mark Bunn but his shot from an acute angle was cleared away by Gyepes. The deficit was halved soon afterwards though when Marc Richards shot home from close range after Glover had broken away and supplied a cross from the left.
Hubertz, back defending a corner, headed a 37th minute effort from Luke Prosser off the line, while from another Paul Harsley corner, Marc Richards saw his header come back off the cross bar.
Daniel Jones was booked in first half stoppage time for a foul on Harsley.
Four minutes after the break Danny Glover drove home after latching on to a Marc Richards flick to bring the scores level.
Giles Coke sent a fizzing volley just wide of the post as the Cobblers looked to respond, before Simon Richman was booked after hauling down Jones.
Vale then made a change with Kyle Perry replacing Joe Cardle, before Danny Whitaker was booked for a cynical trip on Giles Coke. The referee deciding that the incident occurred outside the area and awarding a free kick right on the white line of the 18 yard box.
Jason Crowe and Marc Richards were booked after an altercation while Stuart Gray made his first change when Colin Larkin was introduced for Danny Jackman.
Giles Coke burst through from midfield on 78 minutes, leaving four defenders in his wake. The Cobblers midfielder was only denied by a fine save from Martin, who grabbed the ball at the second attempt.
Stuart Gray's second change saw Alex Dyer come on for Hubertz, while in a double change for Port Vale Ross Davidson and James Lawrie replaced Glover and Richman.
Luke Prosser was booked after a foul on Coke, as the Cobblers continued to press, but time ran out in their final away game of the season and the points were shared.
PORT VALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (7) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 10
CORNERS: (0) 4
FOULS: (8) 10
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.
The Northampton Chronicle & Echo, which prints Cobblers Jr every Friday, wants your views on anything to do with Northampton Town Football Club to include in their Fanzone feature. Text your opinion to 07734 717374 or email fans@northantsnews.co.uk
