SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday December 21st, 3.00pm      
One Call Stadium

MANSFIELD TOWN 1
Andy Cook 74

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Harry Smith 84

Attendance: 4,496 (474 Cobblers fans)

Mansfield: Bobby Olejnik, Mal Benning, Matt Preston, Neal Bishop, Alex MacDonald, Will Tomlinson (sub Alistair Smith 80), Ryan Sweeney, Andy Cook (sub Craig Davies 82), James Clarke, CJ Hamilton, Danny Rose (sub Nicky Maynard 68)
Subs not used: Conrad Logan, Krystian Pearce, Otis Khan, Jimmy Knowles
 
Cobblers: David Cornell, Michael Harriman (sub Joe Martin 80), Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Scott Wharton, Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Ryan Watson, Alan McCormack (sub Andy Williams 63), Paul Anderson (sub Harry Smith 62), Vadaine Oliver
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Matt Warburton, Reece Hall-Johnson, Shaun McWilliams

Referee: Alan Young

Booked:
Mansfield: James Clarke (36), Mal Benning (59), Andy Cook (72), Neal Bishop (90), Matt Preston (90)
Cobblers: Alan McCormack (12, 5th of the season), Jordan Turnbull (38, 6th), Paul Anderson (56, 2nd)

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

Sent off:
Mansfield: 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.

Alan McCormack was back for the Cobblers for the pre-Christmas trip to Mansfield who had Graham Coughlan in charge for the first time following his appointment earlier in the week. McCormack replaced Chris Lines who missed the game through illness.

In a lively start the Cobblers almost took the lead inside 20 seconds, Sam Hoskins rattling the cross bar after a neat flick on from Vadaine Oliver while for Mansfield Will Tomlinson let fly from 30-yards but his fierce volley whistled wide.

Bobby Olejnik made a smart save to deny Nicky Adams with David Cornell saving comfortably from Danny Rose at the other end. The Cobblers were creating chances and Ryan Watson had a shot from 20-yards deflected just wide with Scott Wharton’s header from the subsequent corner landing on the roof of the net. Andy Cook headed over following a counter-attack from the home side.

With half-time approaching the Cobblers had another chance to make the breakthrough when a teasing cross in to the box from Michael Harriman almost found Watson but the midfielder couldn’t quite get his head to the ball and the score remained goalless going in at the break.

The home fans thought Danny Rose had opened the scoring on 57 minutes but his flick from Mal Benning’s free-kick fell just wide. CJ Hamilton then also went close before Keith Curle made a double change, Harry Smith and Andy Williams on for Paul Anderson and Alan McCormack.

Mansfield took the lead with just over fifteen minutes to play, Andy Cook beating Cornell with a shot from the edge of the area.

Cornell made a good save to prevent Alex MacDonald making it 2-0 and a Craig Davies shot over on the follow-up proved costly when the Cobblers equalised on 84 minutes, Harry Smith heading home a Nicky Adams cross.

Smith’s goal took the sting out of the home side and despite seven minutes of stoppage time 1-1 was how it finished.

MANSFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 12
CORNERS: (0) 0       
FOULS: (9) 17        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 4
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (5) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2