COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday October 17th, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Rix & Kay Ltd

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Ibis Hotel

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Steve Guinan 72

Attendance: 4,341 (579 away fans)

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, John Johnson, Craig Hinton, Dean Beckwith, Paul Rodgers, Ryan Gilligan, John Curtis, Luke Guttridge, Andy Holt, Steve Guinan* (sub Ben Marshall 83), Billy McKay (sub Adebayo Akinfenwa 55). Subs not used: Simon Brown, Alex Dyer, Seb Harris, Chris McCready, Gary Mulligan.

* Rix & Kay Ltd man of the match

Lincoln City: Rob Burch, Aaron Brown, Janos Kovacs, Danny Hone (sub Ian Pearce 76), Stefan Oakes (sub Scott Kerr 63), Richard Butcher, Rene Howe, Shane Clarke, Sergio Torres, Adam Watts, Anthony Pulis (sub Jamie Clarke 66). Subs not used: Lennell John-Lewis, Joe Heath, Paul Musslewhite, Cian Hughton.

Referee: Mr S Cook

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Lincoln: Anthony Pulis (35), Sergio Torres (45), Shane Clarke (55), Scott Kerr (76), Jonas Kovacs (78), Rene Howe (86) 

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
Lincoln: 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 made three changes to his Northampton Town side that welcomed Lincoln City to Sixfields. The returning Dean Beckwith, Billy McKay and Ryan Gilligan replaced Chris McCready, Ben Marshall and Courtney Herbert, the latter missing out through injury.

After a quiet opening on a cold afternoon, a 27th minute Stefan Oakes free kick that went just wide was the first effort of the match. Lincoln's Anthony Pulis was cautioned for dissent in the 35th minute as the game continued its low key progress.

Five minutes before half time Sergio Torres got in behind the Cobblers defence but he was denied by a fine save from Chris Dunn, before the Lincoln man was booked for simulation at the end of a first half of few chances.

Ian Sampson made a change ten minutes into the second half, bringing Adebayo Akinfenwa on for Billy McKay. Shane Clarke was then booked for a foul on John Curtis.

Akinfenwa was involved in a good move moments after coming on, his one:two with Luke Guttridge allowed the midfielder to run on into the area and fire in a shot that Rob Burch beat away.

Lincoln's first substitution was Scott Kerr on for Stefan Oakes, before the previously booked Anthony Pulis caught Andy Holt with a high arm. Had he not already been cautioned, a yellow card would surely have been shown to the Imps midfielder, but the referee deemed a talking to punishment enough. Pulis was immediately taken off to be replaced by Jamie Clarke.

Akinfenwa headed wide from a long Andy Holt throw, before the Cobblers took the lead. Steve Guinan was fouled by Jonas Kovacs to win a free kick. Luke Guttridge's delivery was headed back by Andy Holt, that was not dealt with by the Lincoln defence and after a spell of pinball in the City area Guinan fired home.

Scott Kerr was booked, and Ian Pearce replaced Danny Hone for Lincoln, before Kovacs also had his name taken.

Ben Marshall came on for Guinan on 83 minutes, before Rene Howe was the sixth Imps player booked - earning his team a fine - after a lunge at Paul Rodgers.

The fourth official indicated 5 additional minutes, but there were no alarms for the Cobblers who ended Chris Sutton's unbeaten record as Lincoln boss.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (9) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

LINCOLN MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (7) 24
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 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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