COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday August 22nd, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Rix & Kay Solicitors

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Benfield Electrical Services

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Adebayo Akinfenwa 6, Ben Marshall 84

Attendance: 4,102 (594 away fans)

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Paul Rodgers, Chris McCready, Dean Beckwith, Craig Hinton, Ben Marshall, John Curtis (sub Alex Dyer 15), Ryan Gilligan (sub Robbie Threlfall 90), Andy Holt*, Adebayo Akinfenwa (sub Billy McKay 20), Steve Guinan. Subs not used: Paul Walker, Michael Jacobs, Romone Rose.

* Rix & Kay Solicitors man of the match

Bournemouth: Shwan Jalal, Scott Guyett, Jason Pearce, Sammy Igoe (sub Josh McQuoid 75), Anton Robinson, Brett Pitman, Liam Feeney (sub Alan Connell 66), Mark Molesley, Lee Bradbury, Warren Cummings, Steve Fletcher (sub Joe Partington 80). Subs not used: Marvin Bartley, Ryan Price, George Webb.

Referee: Mr P Taylor

Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan Gilligan (40, 1st of the season), Ben Marshall (60, 1st), Paul Rodgers (90, 2nd)
Bournemouth: Anton Robinson (45), Steve Fletcher (76), Warren Cummings (77), Mark Molesley (90)

5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Bournemouth: 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.

Stuart Gray named an unchanged side as Northampton Town welcomed AFC Bournemouth to Sixfields. The only change from the win at Accrington Stanley was on the bench where new loan signing Robbie Threlfall - who had only arrived at Sixfields late the previous evening - replaced the injured Abdul Osman (thigh). Other players missing included Liam Davis (foot), Luke Guttridge (knee), Danny Jackman (knee), Gary Mulligan (ankle) and Seb Harris (awaiting international clearance).

On a warm and sunny afternoon the Cherries were in search of a club record equalling seventh successive victory, but it was the Cobblers who had the first effort, Ben Marshall curling an early free kick into the side netting.

Stuart Gray's side were ahead after six minutes, scoring the first goal Bournemouth have conceded in League 2 this season. Steve Guinan played the ball wide on the right for Ben Marshall who delivered a low cross that Adebayo Akinfenwa converted from close range.

Chris Dunn got down to save from Mark Molesley on 12 minutes, before the Cobblers were forced into a change, Alex Dyer replacing John Curtis. The pace of the game did not slow however, and a surging 18th minute run from Ben Marshall ended with the loanee shooting over the bar.

Dunn tipped a dipping effort from Sammy Igoe around the post as the visitors showed their threat but the Cobblers then had to make a second change because of injury, Billy McKay on for Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Brett Pitman hit the cross bar for Bournemouth on 27 minutes, volleying a long throw goalwards, while for the Cobblers Steve Guinan could not quite find the finish after Marshall and Ryan Gilligan had linked up well down the right.

Bournemouth's Mark Molesley was keen to try his luck from distance, and on 35 minutes he sent in a shot that was just off target. The first caution of the game came on 40 minutes, Ryan Gilligan penalised for catching Sammy Igoe.

Anton Robinson was booked for a foul on Andy Holt, the resulting free kick seeing Cherries keeper Shwan Jalal saving well from Dean Beckwith. Chris Dunn then came to the Cobblers rescue in first half stoppage time, doing well to deny Brett Pitman.

A determined 54th minute run from Ben Marshall, springing a break from a spell of Bournemouth pressure, saw the winger run almost the whole length of the field before delivering a deep cross that Billy McKay volleyed over the bar from a tight angle.

Dunn again did well to deny Brett Pitman, this time pushing away a 57th minute drive after the Cherries striker had found space inside the area, and soon after that Marshall became the last player to be booked after holding Molesley.

Ryan Gilligan tested Jalal with a rising 62nd minute drive, before Eddie Howe made a change with Alan Connell replacing Liam Feeney.

The Cobblers won their first corner in 202 minutes of play in the 71st minute, the delivery was only half cleared to Alex Dyer who sent a deflected drive inches wide. A flag kick at the other end moments later saw Ryan Gilligan in the right place to clear.

Josh McQuoid was Bournemouth's second change, coming on for Sammy Igoe. Andy Holt made his way down the Cobblers left and cut inside, only to be denied by Jalal who made the save at his near post. Steve Fletcher was then booked for dissent. Warren Cummings also committed the same offence with the same outcome.

The Cobblers thought they had doubled their lead on 79 minutes. A powerful Steve Guinan drive was only parried by Jalal, Billy McKay reacted quickest and put away the rebound but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

The final substitution for Bournemouth was Joe Partington for Steve Fletcher, before the Cobblers did score a second goal. Ben Marshall played the ball into Billy McKay, his shot was pushed away by Jalal but only as far as Marshall who gleefully swept home.

There was time for a debut for Robbie Threlfall - on for Ryan Gilligan - as the game entered stoppage time. Molesley was booked after a lunge at Rodgers - who was also booked towards the end of the game - and thereafter the final whistle blew. The Cobblers fans treated their team to an excellent ovation as they left the field after recording their second victory in the space of a few days.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4
CORNERS: (0) 3
FOULS: (4) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

AFC BOURNEMOUTH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 9
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (6) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

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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