COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Saturday March 20th, 3.00pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Jackson Grundy

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Benfield Electrical Services

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Liam Davis 2, Ryan Gilligan 51

Attendance: 4,210 (129 away fans)

Cobblers: Jason Steele, John Johnson, Peter Gilbert, Craig Hinton*, Dean Beckwith, Paul Rodgers, Ryan Gilligan (sub Luke Guttridge 70), Abdul Osman, Liam Davis, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Billy McKay (sub Steve Guinan 82). Subs not used: Paul Walker, Seb Harris, Alex Dyer, Stephen O'Flynn, Gary Mulligan.

* Jackson Grundy man of the match

Morecambe: Barry Roche, Jim Bentley, Simon Hackney, Phil Jevons, Emmanuel Panther, Stewart Drummond, Mark Duffy (sub Wayne Curtis 57), Laurence Wilson, Paul Mullin, Andy Parrish, Will Haining (sub David Artell 32). Subs not used: Darren Moss, Craig Stanley, Garry Hunter, Neil Wainwright, Scott Davies.

Referee: Mr G Horwood

Booked:
Cobblers: Abdul Osman (6, 4th of the season)
Morecambe: Andy Parrish (60), Wayne Curtis (63)

10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Morecambe: 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 welcomed Ryan Gilligan back into his team to face Morecambe at Sixfields. Gilligan replaced Alex Dyer in an otherwise unchanged side. The fit again Steve Guinan was amongst the substitutes.

After an impeccably observed silence for Ben Collins and Tony Platt, the Cobblers were fast out of the traps. Billy McKay had an effort within the first 15 seconds but his shot was saved by visiting keeper Barry Roche, assisted by a covering defender.

Ian Sampson's side did have the lead inside two minutes though, Peter Gilbert feeding Liam Davis on the left hand side who fired a low shot under Roche.

Akinfenwa then saw a shot saved by the Shrimps stopper as the pace continued before Abdul Osman earned a booking for handling the ball as he slipped. The feet of Roche then came to the rescue of his side from Akinfenwa again on 10 minutes.

Paul Mullin poked a shot over the bar for Morecambe on 29 minutes, before Sammy McIlroy made a change with David Artell replacing the limping Will Haining.

The visitors came more into the game as the first half wore on, but the Cobblers led at the interval.

Ryan Gilligan's 11th goal of the season doubled the Cobblers advantage on 51 minutes. Peter Gilbert played a pass into Akinfenwa on the edge of the area and he released the midfielder who showed great composure before placing a shot beyond Roche.

McKay curled an effort wide moments later, while the second Morecambe change was Wayne Curtis for Mark Duffy.

Andy Parrish was booked for cynically tripping Liam Davis on the edge of the area, the free kick routine ended with a Gilligan shot deflected wide. Akinfenwa then drew a standing ovation from the crowd as he tracked a man for 50 yards before winning the ball back.

Curtis was booked for a foul on Rodgers, before Luke Guttridge replaced Ryan Gilligan in the first substitution for the Cobblers.

Davis had an effort superbly blocked by Jim Bentley on 76 minutes, while Steve Guinan made a welcome return to action as an 82nd minute replacement for Billy McKay.

Phil Jevons had an effort deflected wide on 87 minutes, but that was a rare foray forward. Such was the Cobblers dominance, Jason Steele was rarely tested and Ian Sampson's side chalked up their fifth successive victory.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 5
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (10) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 5

MORECAMBE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 0
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (3) 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.

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