COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday April 12th, 3pm
Roots Hall
SOUTHEND UNITED 1
Lee BARNARD 51
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Colin LARKIN 24
Attendance: 9,286 (641 Cobblers fans)
Southend: Darryl FLAHAVAN, Simon FRANCIS, Peter CLARKE, Adam BARRETT, Mark GOWER, Alan McCORMACK, Tommy BLACK (sub Alex REVELL 77), Charlie MULGREW, Lee BARNARD, Nicky BAILEY, James WALKER
Substitutes not used: Charlie MacDONALD, Steve COLLIS, Franck MOUSSA, Anthony GRANT
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Daniel JONES, Liam DOLMAN, Gabor GYEPES, Chris DOIG, Alex DYER (sub Danny JACKMAN 59), Colin LARKIN (sub Poul HUBERTZ 76), Ryan GILLIGAN, Adebayo AKINFENWA (sub Ian HENDERSON 71), Andy HOLT
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Jonathan HAYES
Referee: Mr D Deadman
Booked:
Southend: none
Cobblers: Mark BUNN (86, 6th of the season), Gabor GYEPES (90, 2nd)
10 cautions on or before 13 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Southend: 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's penultimate away game of the season took them to meet in form Southend United at Roots Hall. The Blues were unbeaten in 11 games, and had not lost at home since New Year's Day.
If the Cobblers task was not hard enough, illness was sweeping through the camp. Joe Burnell did not travel, Giles Coke and Brett Johnson were on the team bus but fell ill during the journey and both remained at the team hotel. In addition, some of the players who were named in the sixteen were also far from well, but had to be named to allow the Cobblers to field a team. On the plus side, Gabor Gyepes and Chris Doig both returned to the starting line up after injury, as did Ryan Gilligan after suspension.
A bright spring afternoon interspersed with April showers left a slick playing surface which almost caught the Cobblers out in the opening few seconds, a closed down clearance gave James Walker an early opportunity but his effort was blocked with the ball eventually ending up in the arms of Mark Bunn.
The Cobblers quickly adjusted to the conditions and came close themselves on 9 minutes, firstly Ryan Gilligan saw his shot blocked, the rebound falling to Jason Crowe who also had his effort blocked, the ball going behind for a corner. A moment later Andy Holt had a left foot volley comfortably held by Darryl Flahavan in the Shrimpers goal. At the other end James Walker was released after the home side had won the ball in midfield, but his right foot effort from the edge of the area was wide of the post.
A strong penalty shout was turned down on 12 minutes as Colin Larkin appeared to be upended in the area, but the referee decided there was no infringement and waved play on. The Cobblers continued to press and on 16 minutes Gilligan connected well with a left foot volley but it was straight at Flahavan who made a routine save.
Adebayo Akinfenwa used all of his strength to hold off the attentions of Southend's defenders on 24 minutes and displayed neat footwork before placing a firm strike towards the corner which Flahavan did well to turn behind. From the resulting Gilligan corner Colin Larkin found space near the penalty spot and planted a firm header into the corner of the net to give the Cobblers the lead.
As expected, the Shrimpers upped their tempo to get back into the match, but the Cobblers defence, marshalled by the excellent Chris Doig, remained firm, restricting the home side to a couple of long range shots and a half hearted penalty appeal for a body check on Lee Barnard.
The referee Mr Deadman brought an end to a very entertaining first half with the Cobblers deservedly ahead, a lead which could easily have been doubled had Alex Dyer's powerful drive on the stroke of half time not been superbly saved at full stretch by Flahavan.
Southend found themselves level on 51 minutes, Peter Clarke was adjudged to have been fouled 30 yards from goal when he collided with Gabor Gyepes. Charlie Mulgrew tried his luck from the free kick with a curling effort which came back off the crossbar and ricochet into the direct path of Lee Barnard who had the simple task of turning the ball home.
The home side, buoyed by their equaliser, visibly grew in confidence and started to dictate the tempo and have a prolonged spell in the Cobblers half, culminating in Adam Barrett having a close range header miraculously saved by Mark Bunn on 58 minutes from a Mark Gower cross. Stuart Gray made his first change on 59 minutes, Danny Jackman being introduced, to replace the tiring Alex Dyer.
Adebayo Akinfenwa made a bustling run on 70 minutes, but failed to get a shot off, although perhaps could be forgiven having been eventually crowded out by no fewer than four defenders. It was to be the striker's last action of the match before being replaced by Ian Henderson. Almost immediately, Tommy Black found space in the area but although his tame shot beat Bunn from a narrow angle, Daniel Jones had taken up a good position on the goal line to clear the ball to safety.
Poul Hubertz was introduced on 76 minutes at the expense of the goalscorer Colin Larkin, whilst the Shrimpers made their first change on 77 minutes, with Alex Revell coming on to replace Tommy Black. On 80 minutes the whole ground stood still and watched as a Nicky Bailey effort from 25 yards came off the crossbar, but was cleared away to safety by Liam Dolman. At the other end a Hubertz header from a Jones free kick went agonisingly over the bar.
Mark Bunn was booked as both sides continued to come forward to try and win the game, while as three minutes of injury time began Gabor Gyepes was cautioned for a foul on Peter Clarke in what proved to be the final action of note.
SOUTHEND MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 7
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (2) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 7
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (6) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
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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