COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday February 9th, 3.00pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Wilson Electrical

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Ovenclean

ASSOCIATE MATCH SPONSOR
Michael Hewitt Football Programmes

EXECUTIVE MATCHBALL SPONSORS
Lee Warren Electrical
Wellingborough Tile Warehouse

PROGRAMME SPONSOR
Paul Cox Panel & Paint Ltd

Attendance: 7,260 (1,268 away fans) more information

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Danny JACKMAN, Mark LITTLE, Mark HUGHES, Brett JOHNSON, Joe BURNELL (sub Giles COKE 60), Andy HOLT (sub Adebayo AKINFENWA 55), Jonathan HAYES (sub Ian HENDERSON 88), Poul HUBERTZ*, Ryan GILLIGAN
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Gabor GYEPES

* Wilson Electrical man of the match

Leeds: Casper ANKERGREN, Rui MARQUES, David PRUTTON (sub Tore Andre FLO 81), Jermaine BECKFORD, Jonathan HOWSON, Bradley JOHNSON (sub Peter SWEENEY 71), Tresor KANDOL, Andy HUGHES, Alan SHEEHAN, Lubomir MICHALIK, Darren KENTON
Substitutes not used: Matt HEATH, David LUCAS, Anthony ELDING

Referee: Mr S Tanner

Booked:
Cobblers: Joe BURNELL (7, 4th of the season), Poul HUBERTZ (85, 7th)
Leeds: Jermaine BECKFORD (51), Darren KENTON (79)

5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 8 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Leeds: 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 welcomed Leeds United to a sold out Sixfields for a Coca-Cola League One fixture. Stuart Gray named an unchanged side to the team that had claimed a point at Swindon Town a week previously, the fit again Giles Coke and recent signing Gabor Gyepes both being among the substitutes.

There was an early booking for Joe Burnell. The Cobblers midfielder felt he should have had the benefit of a free kick moments before, and as he tried to make his ground back after being held down, he caught his man late to earn a yellow card.

Ryan Gilligan sent in an opportunistic strike on 14 minutes, attempting to loop the ball over Casper Ankergren who had strayed off his line, but the Leeds keeper backtracked to recover in time.

The spring like weather confirmed we were now into the final third of the season, and in perfect conditions both sides were playing the ball around with confidence.

Mark Bunn saved a chipped effort from Jermaine Beckford after 18 minutes, while for the Cobblers Jonathan Hayes saw his effort deflected wide after good link up play between Poul Hubertz and Jason Crowe.

On 27 minutes a deflection set Beckford clear of the Cobblers defence, pursued by both Mark Hughes and Brett Johnson. The Leeds striker delayed as he tried to round Bunn, and that gave Johnson enough time to slide in and divert the ball away for a corner.

Leeds might have created a few chances but the Cobblers were enjoying plenty of possession, and it was somewhat against the run of play that the visitors had the lead on 38 minutes, Jonathan Howson volleying home at the near post from a Bradley Johnson cross.

Jermaine Beckford was booked at the start of the second half for delaying a throw in. Soon afterwards Stuart Gray made his first change, Adebayo Akinfenwa for Andy Holt.

The new arrival was soon causing problems for the Leeds defence, and moments after coming on he bulldozed his way past three defenders before sending in a shot just wide.

Giles Coke came on for Joe Burnell in the Cobblers second change, before the Cobblers had strong penalty appeals turned down when Ryan Gilligan's shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of a defender.

Peter Sweeney replaced Bradley Johnson for Leeds, the former Cobbler leaving the field to a good ovation, but the Cobblers were level soon afterwards.

Giles Coke began the move deep inside his own half with a fine ball that found Jonathan Hayes in space on the left hand side. He played a ball through for Poul Hubertz who squared for striker partner Adebayo Akinfenwa. The Cobblers striker's initial effort was blocked at point blank range by Ankergren, but the number 10 was able to squeeze the ball in to score his second goal in 2 games and send Sixfields into raptures.

Darren Kenton was booked for a late foul on Hayes, before Giles Coke volleyed wide from a corner.

Gary McAllister brought Tore Andre Flo on for David Prutton in his second substitution, while Hubertz was booked for a foul on Kenton.

Brett Johnson was in the right place to head a Beckford header off the line as the Cobblers struggled to clear an 87th minute free kick. In the Cobblers third change Ian Henderson came on for Hayes.

Leeds wasted a late free kick just outside the Cobblers area in injury time with the effort from Andy Hughes lacking power, and so the points were shared and the players left the field to a warm ovation.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (6) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3

LEEDS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (9) 21
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 7

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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