COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Friday September 4th, 7.45pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Sixfields Events

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Parkers Decorating Limited

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Ben Marshall 30

BARNET 3
Ahmed Deen 51, Paul Furlong 68, John O'Flynn 71

Attendance: 4,206 (529 away fans)

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Craig Hinton (sub Abdul Osman 72), Robbie Threlfall, Chris McCready, Dean Beckwith, Ben Marshall, Ryan Gilligan *, Luke Boden (sub Joe Benjamin 87), Andy Holt, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Gary Mulligan. Subs not used: Paul Walker, Luke Guttridge, Alex Dyer, Michael Jacobs, Seb Harris.

* Sixfields Events man of the match

Barnet: Jake Cole, Mark Hughes, Ismail Yakubu, Albert Adomah (sub Albert Jarrett 58), Micah Hyde, Yannick Bolasie, Ryan O'Neill, Jake Hyde (sub John O'Flynn 64), Clovis Kamdjo, Ahmed Deen, Paul Furlong. Subs not used: Joe Devera, Kenny Gillet, Nicky Deverdics, Joe Tabiri, Phil Carpenter.

Referee: Mr P Tierney

Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan Gilligan (66, 3rd of the season)
Barnet: Ryan O'Neill (87) 

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
Barnet: 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.

Adebayo Akinfenwa replaced Abdul Osman as Stuart Gray made one change to his side to play Barnet at Sixfields in this Friday night fixture. Steve Guinan was ruled out with an ankle injury, but midfielder Luke Guttridge made a welcome return to the squad being named amongst the substitutes.

In the 6th minute a long ball from Chris McCready almost created the first opening of the night. Gary Mulligan looked to latch on to the pass but an unkind bounce led to him being penalised for handball when clear of the Barnet defence.

The visitors had appeals for a penalty waved away on 12 minutes when Jake Hyde went to ground in the area under a challenge from Craig Hinton. The tackle came in as the Barnet striker looked to meet a dangerous cross from Albert Adomah.

Ryan Gilligan curled a 28th minute free kick over the bar from distance, but in the next passage of play the Cobblers had the lead. Luke Boden appeared to be held as he broke forward but the referee allowed play to continue and the tenacity of Ben Marshall saw him win the ball back between two defenders and continue into the area, beating Jake Cole with a deflected effort.

Ismail Yakubu headed over the bar from a free kick as the Bees looked for an immediate response, but the Cobblers lead remained intact at the interval.

A left footed half volley from Ben Marshall drew a flying save from Jake Cole four minutes after the interval, the man on loan from Stoke meeting a half cleared corner very sweetly on the edge of the area.

Barnet drew level moments later when Ahmed Deen curled an indirect free kick over the wall and into the net.

The Cobblers thought they had regained the lead immediately but in a mad scramble the assistant referee ruled that the ball had not been forced over the line after Marshall's free kick had caused problems in the Barnet defence.

Ian Hendon's first change saw Albert Jarrett introduced for Albert Adomah just before the hour mark, before Marshall forced another good save from Cole, the Barnet keeper tipping away his drive through a crowd of players.

Ryan Gilligan was picked out by Luke Boden on 62 minutes, the Cobblers midfielder breaking into the area and only being denied by a brave block from Cole, and while the keeper was being treated for an injury picked up making that save, John O'Flynn came on for Jake Hyde.

Gilligan was booked for a foul on Hughes, before the visitors had the lead after a fine finish from Paul Furlong. The veteran striker delicately volleyed home from Yannick Bolasie's left wing cross.

John O'Flynn extended that lead further when he nipped in on Dean Beckwith's back header to slot under Chris Dunn.

A header from Luke Boden forced a save from Cole, before Ryan O'Neill was booked for holding back Marshall. Joe Benjamin then came on for Boden.

Cole got behind Mulligan's driven effort as the game entered stoppage time but there was to be no dramatic comeback - although Beckwith went close with a header - and the Cobblers suffered their first home defeat of the season.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (9) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

BARNET MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (4) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 7

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.