COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday September 19th, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Tingley Transport

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Northamptonshire Sexual Health Week

SHIRT OF THE DAY SPONSOR
Weatherbys

Attendance: 4,048 (308 away fans)

Cobblers: Simon Brown, John Curtis, Craig Hinton, Dean Beckwith, Andy Holt, Alex Dyer (sub Luke Guttridge 46), Ryan Gilligan*, Abdul Osman (sub Steve Guinan 55), Luke Boden (sub Gary Mulligan 63), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Ben Marshall. Subs not used: Chris Dunn, Billy McKay, Joe Benjamin, Robbie Threlfall.

* Tingley Transport man of the match

Rochdale: Kenny Arthur, Scott Wiseman, Tom Kennedy, Nathan Stanton, Jason Kennedy, Gary Jones, Chris Dagnall (sub Dale Stephens 88), Joe Thompson (sub Simon Whaley 63), Chris O'Grady, Craig Dawson, Will Buckley. Subs not used: Scott Spencer, Adam Rundle, Matt Edwards, Matt Flynn, Marcus Holness.

Referee: Mr D Sheldrake

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Rochdale: none

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
Rochdale: 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.

Ian Sampson's first home game in caretaker charge saw Northampton Town welcome Rochdale to Sixfields. Sampson made three changes to the Cobblers side, with Adebayo Akinfenwa, Abdul Osman and Craig Hinton replacing Steve Guinan, Billy McKay and the suspended Chris McCready.

On a warm and sunny afternoon the Cobblers were quickly out of the blocks. An early run from Ben Marshall caused the Dale defence problems, while Ryan Gilligan fired a snap shot over the bar from an Akinfenwa lay off.

A neat 8th minute move involving John Curtis, Akinfenwa, Gilligan and Ben Marshall ended when the latter was flagged offside by the narrowest of margins, but it was the visitors who took the lead just over 10 minutes later, Chris O'Grady sliding home a low cross from the left from Will Buckley.

Simon Brown went down well to save from O'Grady on 32 minutes, and the Cobblers keeper was quickly off his line to block Chris Dagnall on 40 minutes when the visiting striker was allowed to latch onto a through ball despite appearing offside.

Rochdale keeper Kenny Arthur got behind a headed Andy Holt effort in the final action of the first half.

Ian Sampson made a change at half time with Luke Guttridge replacing Alex Dyer.

The Cobblers had emerged from the dressing room with renewed vigour and an increased tempo. A 51st minute corner from Guttridge caused a big scramble in the Dale six yard box but Abdul Osman lashed the loose ball wide.

Steve Guinan came on for Osman in the Cobblers second substitution, while from a Holt long throw Luke Boden saw a drive blocked.

Rochdale's first change saw Simon Whaley replace Joe Thompson, and for the Cobblers Gary Mulligan was introduced for Boden.

Within seconds of those changes being made, the Cobblers were level. A shot from Andy Holt was deflected behind for a corner, and from Guttridge's flag kick, Mulligan and Akinfenwa kept the ball alive for Ryan Gilligan to drive home.

Straight from the re-start Gary Jones had an effort parried by Brown and Dagnall was wide with the rebound. It wasn't long before Dale did retake the lead though, Will Buckley curling home from outside the area.

Luke Guttridge twice went close, firstly with a shot that was blocked and then secondly shooting just wide when slightly off balance. Holt then also had a far post effort blocked.

Brown saved well from Jones with his feet on 78 minutes, before Steve Guinan rattled the cross bar with a header. The Cobblers striker met a John Curtis cross well and beat Kenny Arthur, but the ball bounced back off the frame of the goal.

Ben Marshall's run and shot was saved by Arthur on 81 minutes, before Dale Stephens replaced Dagnall for the visitors.

Akinfenwa scooped a Mulligan cross over the bar in the final minute, and although the Cobblers had made most of the running in the second half they were to still end the game pointless.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 10
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (8) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

ROCHDALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

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 in the Community every Friday, can be delivered to your home for half price with no delivery charge! Please email direct.delivery@jpress.co.uk quoting reference DDHP01 for more details. Please phone 01604 467074 for full terms and conditions.