SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday February 8th, 3.00pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

PORT VALE 1
David Worrall 72 

Attendance: 5,583 (461 away supporters)

Cobblers: David Cornell, Charlie Goode, Lloyd Jones, Scott Wharton, Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Mark Marshall, Ryan Watson (sub Chris Lines 85), Paul Anderson (sub Matt Warburton 72), Vadaine Oliver, Callum Morton (sub Andy Williams 61)
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Michael Harriman, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Martin
 
Port Vale: Scott Brown, James Gibbons, Luke Joyce, Leon Legge, David Worrall, Tom Conlon, Cristian Montano, Scott Burgess (sub Nathan Smith 85), Richard Bennett (sub Tom Pope 58), Mitch Clark, Shaun Brisley 
Subs not used: Manny Oyeleke, Will Atkinson, Mark Cullen, Rhys Browne, Jonny Maddison

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Booked:
Cobblers: Paul Anderson (44, 5th of the season), Sam Hoskins (45, 8th)
Port Vale: Cristian Montano (44), Mitch Clark (49), Tom Conlon (76), James Gibbons (84)

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

Sent off:
Cobblers: none      
Port Vale: 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.

Lloyd Jones, Mark Marshall and Callum Morton came back into the Cobblers side after being ineligible for the Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay at Derby County in midweek while the fit again Jordan Turnbull was named on the bench for the visit of Port Vale.

David Worrall fired an early warning shot for the visitors and Scott Brown saved Marshall’s header in an even start to the contest.

Jones, on his home debut, saw a shot blocked behind, a tantalising cross from Sam Hoskins just evaded Morton and Nicky Adams tested Brown from 20-yards as the Cobblers pressed for the opening goal, Charlie Goode also agonisingly close to connecting with a sumptuous Adams free-kick.

Port Vale had a chance to take the lead in first half stoppage time from a free-kick of their own but Richard Bennett couldn’t keep his header down and the first half ended goalless.

Morton found the side netting, Vadaine Oliver headed wide and Adams also went close at the start of the second half.

The Cobblers were building up a good spell of pressure and it needed a spectacular save from Brown to deny Hoskins the opening goal.

David Cornell saved comfortably from James Gibbons in a rare opening for Vale before Oliver forced Brown into another smart stop after being played in by Marshall.

With 72 minutes on the clock the deadlock was broken and it was Port Vale who took the lead, David Worrall on the end of a dangerous Conlon cross to head home from close range.

Brown made another fine save to keep out a well-struck volley from Adams as the Cobblers mounted an immediate response to falling behind but despite some late pressure they couldn’t force an equaliser and Vale held on for the victory.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 6 
CORNERS: (3) 11           
FOULS: (10) 13         
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

PORT VALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3  
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (8) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1 

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 71:46