COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO
Tuesday August 18th, 7.45pm
Livingstone Road

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0

Attendance: 1,561 (Accrington did not confirm the number of Cobblers fans in attendance)

Accrington Stanley: Alan Martin, Darren Kempson, Andrew Procter, John Miles, Luke Joyce, Billy Kee (sub Sean McConville 57), Paul Mullin, Robert Grant, Phil Edwards, James Ryan, Dean Winnard. Subs not used: Ian Dunbavin, Gary King, Chris King, Peter Murphy, Michael Symes, Chris Turner.

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Paul Rodgers, Chris McCready, Dean Beckwith, Craig Hinton, Ben Marshall, Ryan Gilligan, John Curtis, Andy Holt, Steve Guinan, Adebayo Akinfenwa (sub Billy McKay 56). Subs not used: Paul Walker, Alex Dyer, Joe Benjamin, Michael Jacobs, Romone Rose, Abdul Osman.

Referee: Mr S Bratt

Booked:
Accrington Stanley: Luke Joyce (82)
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:
Accrington Stanley: 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.

Stuart Gray made one change to the Northampton Town side that travelled to meet Accrington Stanley, bringing Ryan Gilligan in to replace Abdul Osman. The Cobblers were still without Danny Jackman, Luke Guttridge, Gary Mulligan and Liam Davis, with Seb Harris yet to receive the necessary clearance.

The Cobblers started well, and their long wait for a goal was over after just 3 minutes. Ryan Gilligan played the ball into the feet of Cobblers striker Steve Guinan 25 yards from goal and after taking a touch he curled a superb finish beyond Accrington keeper Alan Martin, who was rooted to the spot as the ball hit the top corner of the net.

John Miles sent an early 8th minute effort over the bar for the home side, while for the Cobblers Akinfenwa was off target with a first time 15th minute snap shot.

The Cobblers were awarded a 17th minute penalty when Stanley defender Phil Edwards hauled Adebayo Akinfenwa to the ground inside the area, the referee pointing straight to the spot. The Cobblers striker picked himself up to send the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.

Steve Guinan was close to extending that lead further on 23 minutes, but his dipping volley struck the underside of the cross bar and bounced away to safety.

Billy Kee sent a curling shot wide of Chris Dunn's goal on forty minutes, before Akinfenwa and Guinan linked well with Alan Martin going down low to save Akinfenwa's drive.

The home side were close to pulling a goal back in the opening moments of the second half, Dean Winnard heading a dangerous free kick narrowly wide of the far post. The Cobblers had a set piece of their own at the other end but Ben Marshall curled over the bar.

Stuart Gray's first change saw Billy McKay come on for Akinfenwa, while Stanley responded by bringing Sean McConville on for Billy Kee.

Chris Dunn got behind an effort from Robert Grant as the game reached the hour mark, before Ryan Gilligan and Andy Holt both had shots blocked inside the Stanley penalty area after Steve Guinan had fed Ben Marshall to start a Cobblers break.

The Cobblers keeper made a superb 70th minute save to finger tip away a free kick from James Ryan, the touch sending the ball onto the post. Dunn was in action again moments later, beating away an effort from Winnard before Paul Mullin fired over the bar after the home side had again hit the woodwork to end a frantic few minutes in the Cobblers penalty area.

Stuart Gray's side wrapped the game up on 78 minutes. Andy Holt picked out Billy McKay with a long throw from the left and he took a touch before drilling a low finish from 20 yards beyond Martin for his first senior goal.

Luke Joyce was booked after a trip on McKay, before the home side were awarded a penalty when Steve Guinan tripped James Ryan. Ryan himself took the spot kick but shot wide, much to the delight of the Cobblers fans behind the goal.

McKay was then denied by Martin when one on one with the keeper, but it did not matter as Stuart Gray's side had already done enough to sew this particular match up and end Stanley's winning run at home.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 12
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (3) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (6) 19
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 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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