COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Monday December 28th, 3.00pm
Underhill

BARNET 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 2,237 (595 Cobblers fans)

Barnet: Jake Cole, Joe Devera, Kenny Gillet, Mark Hughes, Ishmail Yakubu (sub Ahmed Deen 61), John O'Flynn (sub Albert Adomah 67), Micah Hyde, Ryan O'Neill, Albert Jarrett, Craig McAllister (sub Yannick Bolasie 67), Dean Sinclair. Subs not used: Nicky Deverdics, Jake Hyde, Phil Carpenter, Paul Furlong.

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Paul Rodgers, Craig Hinton, Dean Beckwith, Peter Gilbert, Luke Guttridge, Abdul Osman, Ryan Gilligan, Joe Benjamin (sub Alex Dyer 68), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Courtney Herbert (sub Billy McKay 46). Subs not used: Billy Lumley, Patrick Kanyuka, John Curtis, Chris McCready, Seb Harris.

Referee: Mr C Sarginson

Booked:
Barnet: Dean Sinclair (45)
Cobblers: Joe Benjamin (45, 1st of the season), Paul Rodgers (90, 5th, misses AFC Bournemouth) 

5 cautions on or before 31 December; 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:
Barnet: Dean Sinclair (59)
Cobblers: 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.

The Cobblers made the Bank Holiday trip to North London to meet Barnet as Ian Sampson made three changes to the team that had beaten Dagenham at Sixfields on Boxing Day. Luke Guttridge, Abdul Osman and Joe Benjamin replaced John Curtis and the unavailable Andy Holt and John Johnson.

The first chance of the game fell to Barnet striker John O'Flynn on 8 minutes but Chris Dunn was in the right place to deal with his right foot volley. For the Cobblers Adebayo Akinfenwa teed up Courtney Herbert on 14 minutes but his effort was always rising over the bar.

Dunn held a shot from Albert Jarrett that bounced awkwardly in front of him on 23 minutes, while a minute later Peter Gilbert was well positioned on the far post to head off the line after Ismail Yakubu had risen well to meet a Jarrett corner.

The first half ended with Joe Benjamin and Dean Sinclair involved in a spot of pushing and shoving - both players were cautioned.

Ian Sampson made a change at half time with Billy McKay replacing Courtney Herbert.

Luke Guttridge had a real chance to give the Cobblers the lead on 47 minutes when found in space by Akinfenwa but the midfielder shot wide of the near post.

Dean Sinclair was booked for a second time after 59 minutes after hauling down Peter Gilbert as the full back went beyond the Bees midfielder. Ian Hendon reacted by bringing Ahmed Deen on for Yakubu. After the dust had settled Gilbert curled the resulting free kick wide.

McKay then forced a good save out of Jake Cole, the Barnet keeper beating the ball away. As the Cobblers kept the pressure on, McKay went close again when he sent the ball across the face of goal.

Ian Hendon made a 67th minute double change with Albert Adomah and Yannick Bolasie coming on for John O'Flynn and Craig McAllister. As the teams adjusted Joe Benjamin forced a flying save from Cole.

The changes continued with Alex Dyer on for Benjamin for the Cobblers, before the lively McKay then poked just beyond the far post as he pounced on some defensive hesitancy.

A Guttridge drive was tipped around the post on 76 minutes, while Cole saved from Dyer as he shot through a crowd of players.

Adebayo Akinfenwa had the ball in the net on 88 minutes but the referee awarded a free kick for an alleged foul on keeper Cole.

Paul Rodgers was booked in stoppage time and although the Cobblers continued to press, they could not find a way through.

BARNET MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (5) 5
FOULS: (9) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 11
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (5) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4

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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