COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday October 24th, 3pm
Christie Park

MORECAMBE 2
Phil Jevons 26 pen, Stewart Drummond 40

Attendance: 2,041 (425 Cobblers fans)

Morecambe: Ben Smith, Danny Adams, David Artell, Jim Bentley, Garry Hunter, Phil Jevons, Ian Craney, Stewart Drummond, Mark Duffy (sub Craig Stanley 83), Laurence Wilson (sub Wayne Curtis 65), Paul Mullin (sub Aaron Taylor 82). Subs not used: Scott Davies, Darren Moss, Michael Twiss, Henry McStay.

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, John Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Craig Hinton, Dean Beckwith, Luke Guttridge, John Curtis (sub Ben Marshall 57), Ryan Gilligan, Andy Holt, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Steve Guinan (sub Billy McKay 84). Subs not used: Simon Brown, Chris McCready, Alex Dyer, Michael Jacobs, Pat Kanyuka.

Referee: Mr S Mathieson

Booked:
Morecambe: none
Cobblers: 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:
Morecambe: none
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.

Ian Sampson made one change for this long trip north to Morecambe, bringing Adebayo Akinfenwa into the side in place of Billy McKay. Courtney Herbert, Abdul Osman and Gary Mulligan joined Liam Davis on the injured list, while new signing Patrick Kanyuka was among the substitutes.

On a blustery but mild afternoon at Christie Park, the Cobblers made the early running. A superb through ball from John Curtis almost released Ryan Gilligan, but he was forced wide by the home defence. The Cobblers did score early though, Steve Guinan curling a superb right footed effort from 25 yards beyond Ben Smith in the Morecambe goal after 4 minutes.

Luke Guttridge shot over the bar before a first time Guinan volley from a Ryan Gilligan cross was held by Smith. Guttridge then bamboozled two defenders to open up a shooting opportunity on the edge of the area and he was only denied by a fine save from Smith who tipped the ball over the bar.

The home side won a 25th minute penalty in a rare foray forward, the referee pointing to the spot after Andy Holt was adjudged to have tripped Mark Duffy. Phil Jevons sent Chris Dunn the wrong way from the spot.

Dunn made a good 39th minute stop from Duffy, the Cobblers keeper pushing the ball away after the Morecambe man had arrived late to meet a deep left wing cross from Laurence Wilson. The home side were in front five minutes before half time, a header from Stewart Drummond from Ian Craney's cross finding the net.

Guinan curled narrowly over the bar before the referee denied the Cobblers a penalty when Dave Artell cleared the ball away from Adebayo Akinfenwa with his arm as the Cobblers striker went to meet an Andy Holt cross.

Akinfenwa fired just wide of the post on 52 minutes, before Smith denied Luke Guttridge with a fine stop after the Cobblers midfielder had picked up Andy Holt's deflected free kick.

Ben Marshall came on for John Curtis in the Cobblers first change. Ryan Gilligan's powerful drive from 15 yards was then straight into the midriff of the Shrimps keeper.

The Cobblers were dominating the second half, and on 61 minutes Smith did well to tip a John Johnson effort over the bar, the defender on loan from Middlesbrough played a one:two with Akinfenwa before sending in a curling effort that seemed destined for the net before the intervention of the home keeper.

Johnson then took a kick in the head as he went to meet a corner, anywhere else on the field a foul would surely have been given for high kicking but this was in the penalty area and play was allowed to continue.

Morecambe introduced Wayne Curtis for Wilson on 65 minutes, before Marshall curled an effort just over the bar as Ian Sampson's side continued to press.

The equaliser the Cobblers deserved arrived on 70 minutes. A deep cross from Ben Marshall was volleyed home right footed at the far post by Andy Holt.

Akinfenwa went to meet a Guinan cross on 72 minutes but was bundled over in the area - no penalty again the decision - but soon afterwards the Cobblers had the lead. John Johnson started the move, he found Akinfenwa who spread the ball wide to Ben Marshall. Marshall's cross shot was parried by Smith and John Johnson had made the run to be in the right place and he stabbed home from close range.

Paul Mullin came off for Aaron Taylor for the home side, while Craig Stanley was then brought on for Mark Duffy. Seconds after that change the Cobblers extended their lead further, Adebayo Akinfenwa held off Jim Bentley and fired home, scoring a deserved goal to send some of the Morecambe supporters heading for the exits. Billy McKay then came on for Guinan.

That was that, and the Cobblers recorded a thrilling victory to inflict Morecambe's first home defeat of the season.

MORECAMBE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (3) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 13
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (6) 10
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.