SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Tuesday March 12th, 7.45pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Joe Powell 88

NEWPORT COUNTY 0

Attendance: 4,064 (98 away supporters)

Cobblers: David Cornell, Charlie Goode, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Joe Powell 86), Jordan Turnbull, Sam Foley, Daniel Powell, Sam Hoskins, Andy Williams (sub Jack Bridge 66)
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, Morgan Roberts, Dean Bowditch, Jay Williams, Timi Elsnik 
 
Newport: Joe Day, Dan Butler, Joss Labadie (sub Josh Sheehan 90), Robbie Willmott, Padraig Amond, Jamille Matt, Tyreeq Bakinson, Scot Bennett (sub Harry McKirdy 90), Mark O’Brien (sub Adebayo Azeez 90) Regan Poole, Mickey Demetriou
Subs not used: David Pipe, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Tyler Forbes, Nick Townsend 

Referee: Antony Coggins

Booked:
Cobblers: Aaron Pierre (56, 7th of the season)  
Newport: Joss Labadie (60)

10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension       
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none      
Newport: 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.

Andy Williams replaced Marvin Sordell in the only change to the Cobblers side for the second of back-to-back home games. Sordell wasn’t risked after taking a knock to the head in the weekend win over Exeter. Newport included former Cobblers loanee Regan Poole in their starting eleven.

The Cobblers pressed for an early opening goal, Sam Hoskins seeing a shot blocked at close range by Newport defender Mark O’Brien and also going close from the subsequent corner with the Exiles goalkeeper Joe Day making a save with his legs. Jamille Matt headed against the cross bar and Padraig Amond had a shot blocked before Joss Labadie fired into the side netting in a spell of pressure for Newport.

With the half hour mark approaching the Cobblers had strong appeals for a penalty turned down, a cross from Charlie Goode appearing to strike the raised arm of Joss Labadie. A low cross from Aaron Pierre then just evaded Andy Williams as the home side again went close to an opening goal.

Daniel Powell was denied one-on-one after being played through by John-Joe O’Toole shortly before half-time but it was to remain goalless, Pierre also heading wide from a corner.`

Williams tried a shot from a tight angle in the early stages of the second half but Day was there with a strong hand to make the save. A cagey period followed before Jack Bridge replaced Williams in the Cobblers first change of the night.

Mark O’Brien spurned a half chance for the visitors, slicing his shot wide under pressure from David Cornell. Matt then had a chance from close range but the former Fleetwood striker couldn’t keep his shot down.

Joe Powell came on for the final few minutes in place of John-Joe O’Toole and the West Ham United loanee was to make some impact on proceedings, smashing a volley in to the top corner from fully 25-yards to clinch the Cobblers fourth straight victory with a goal worthy of winning any game.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6 
CORNERS: (5) 10           
FOULS: (5) 12        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1  

NEWPORT MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 4  
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9 
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2 

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 87:33