COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday February 16th, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Hartwell Landrover

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Uptonaway Media

PROGRAMME SPONSOR
Cobblers World

Attendance: 4,978 (547 away fans)

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Mark LITTLE, Mark HUGHES, Gabor GYEPES, Andy HOLT, Danny JACKMAN*, Joe BURNELL, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Jonathan HAYES 66), Adebayo AKINFENWA (sub Giles COKE 61), Poul HUBERTZ
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Liam DOLMAN, Ian HENDERSON

* Hartwell Landrover man of the match

Gillingham: Simon ROYCE, Simon KING, Andrew CROFTS, Nicky SOUTHALL, Simeon JACKSON, Dennis OLI (sub Gary MULLIGAN 53), Adam BYGRAVE (sub Garry RICHARDS 53), Stuart THURGOOD, John NUTTER, Adam MILLER (sub Stuart LEWIS 80), Barry FULLER
Substitutes not used: Derek STILLIE, Leroy GRIFFITHS

Referee: Mr S Mathieson

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Gillingham: Adam MILLER (4), John NUTTER (46), Stuart THURGOOD (76)

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
Gillingham: 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 Gillingham to Sixfields for their latest Coca-Cola League One fixture. Stuart Gray made two changes to the side that had lost at Yeovil in midweek. Adebayo Akinfenwa was handed his first start in place of Giles Coke, while Joe Burnell replaced the injured Brett Johnson.

On a chilly February afternoon, Gillingham's Adam Miller picked up an early caution after going right through Mark Little in a bid to win the ball.

The Cobblers started with early pressure, and both Mark Hughes and Adebayo Akinfenwa sent in shots on the Gills goal. At the other end, Mark Bunn was in the right place to save John Nutter's free kick.

Barry Fuller came to his team's rescue on 20 minutes, kicking the ball off the line to deny Akinfenwa in a goalmouth scramble, while soon afterwards the Cobblers striker released Ryan Gilligan who saw his shot saved by the feet of Simon Royce. Andy Holt headed the resulting corner wide.

Jason Crowe then had a shot cleared off the line after meeting a Danny Jackman corner as the Cobblers continued to press, before Adam Miller was lucky to stay on the field after catching Ryan Gilligan very late.

The Cobblers domination was rewarded on 44 minutes. Persistence from Joe Burnell allowed him to emerge with the ball and play a slide rule pass out to Jason Crowe who fired home a powerful drive beyond Royce.

It was two-nil moments later when Andy Holt delivered a perfect cross for Adebayo Akinfenwa to head home.

Miller, who seemed to be intent on getting himself sent off then caught Burnell, before the Cobblers ended the half with Ryan Gilligan sending in a drive just over the bar.

John Nutter was booked for a foul on Crowe moments into the second half, before the Cobblers lead was extended further in the simplest of fashions. Mark Little played the ball in to Adebayo Akinfenwa who simply brushed aside the attentions of his marker to send a finish beyond Royce, the ball going in off the inside of the post.

Mark Stimson made two changes before the game could re-start, bringing on Garry Richards and Gary Mulligan for Adam Bygrave and Dennis Oli.

The new Sixfields hero left the field to a standing ovation on 61 minutes to be replaced by Giles Coke, and within three minutes the substitute had added to the scoring. Referee Mr Mathieson waved play on after a crude challenge on Ryan Gilligan in the build up, and justice was served in the best way possible as Coke's deflected effort nestled in the back of the net.

Gilligan was then replaced by Jonathan Hayes, before Gillingham had a shot at goal - Adam Miller's drive being saved by Mark Bunn.

Danny Jackman had the ball in the net but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, and moments later - when onside - he slid a shot just wide.

The Cobblers were rampant, and after Coke had released Hayes, the cross found Hubertz in plenty of space. He almost had too much time, and fired his shot over the bar.

Stuart Thurgood was booked for a trip on Coke, before Adam Miller was replaced by Stuart Lewis. The home side then did a professional job of seeing the game out and recording a very comfortable victory, although there was still time for Jackman to again come close, this time being denied by a save from Royce.

Every outfield player had registered an attempt at goal for the Cobblers as they recorded their biggest win since beating Macclesfield Town 5-0 in January 2006.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (11) 19
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 12 
CORNERS: (6) 12
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

GILLINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 1
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 5

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

Advertisement
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 or email your opinion to 07734 717374 or email fans@northantsnews.co.uk