SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday October 21st, 3.00pm
MEMS Priestfield Stadium

GILLINGHAM 1
Lee Martin 62

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Daniel Powell 45
Matt Grimes 73

Attendance: 4,640 (293 Cobblers fans)

Gillingham: Thomas Holy, Sean Clare, Gabriel Zakuani, Max Ehmer, Connor Ogilvie, Jake Hessenthaler, Billy Bingham, Josh Parker, Lee Martin, Elliott List, Tom Eaves (sub Bradley Garmston 76)
Subs not used: Stuart Nelson, Scott Wagstaff, Mark Byrne, Ben Chapman, Greg Cundle, Conor Wilkinson

Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Regan Poole, David Buchanan, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Shaun McWilliams, Matt Grimes, Daniel Powell, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Sam Foley 64), Sam Hoskins (sub Billy Waters 75), Chris Long (sub Marc Richards 90)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Dean Bowditch, Yaser Kasim, George Smith

Referee: Mr Ross Joyce

Booked:
Gillingham: Gabriel Zakuani (89)
Cobblers: David Buchanan (9, 1st of the season), Shaun McWilliams (69, 3rd), Matt Grimes (86, 3rd)

5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension       
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Gillingham: none
Cobblers: none

Sendings off: 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.

Sam Hoskins and Shaun McWilliams came back into the side for the trip to Gillingham and John-Joe O’Toole started a game for the first time since April as he continued his return from a groin injury. McWilliams filled in at right-back with Brendan Moloney (knee) unavailable for selection. Marc Richards, back from a thigh strain, was named on the bench.

Gabriel Zakuani, who spent the 2016/17 season at Sixfields, started for Gillingham who also included two former Cobblers loanees in their side, Lee Martin and Josh Parker.

Matt Grimes went close with an early free-kick with Storm Brian making conditions difficult for both sides on a blustery afternoon in Kent. Jake Hessenthaler flashed a header wide in the first chance of the game for the Gills. Thomas Holy saved from Daniel Powell with Matt Ingram tested by a shot from Martin.

A block from Zakuani saw a shot from Chris Long deflected behind and Hoskins volleyed just over the bar as the first half reached the midway point. Ash Taylor meanwhile made a vital tackle to deny a clean through on goal Tom Eaves.

The Cobblers took the lead just before half-time, Daniel Powell with a powerful drive from 25-yards that gave Holy in the Gills goal no chance.

Holy made a good save to prevent Aaron Pierre making it 2-0 as the Cobblers began the second half on the front foot.

It was Gillingham who scored the game’s next goal though, Lee Martin with the equaliser from 10-yards after a neat turn inside the area.

The Cobblers were back in front on 73 minutes, Matt Grimes with a terrific free-kick from 25-yards that went in via the post.

Substitute Sam Foley headed wide from a corner as the Cobblers looked to put the result beyond doubt, Powell also nearly capitalising on a poor back pass to make it 3-1 in stoppage time. Two goals in the end proved to be enough though as the Cobblers claimed a three-point haul on the road.

GILLINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 8
CORNERS: (7) 9
FOULS: (7) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 8
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1