SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Wednesday January 1st, 3.00pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Andy Williams 90

STEVENAGE 0

Attendance: 4,613 (252 away supporters)

Cobblers: David Cornell, Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Scott Wharton, Michael Harriman (sub Chris Lines 46), Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Ryan Watson (sub Matt Warburton 65), Paul Anderson, Vadaine Oliver, Scott Pollock (sub Andy Williams 46)
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Reece Hall-Johnson, Joe Martin, Billy Waters

Stevenage: Paul Farman, Paul Digby, Chris Stokes, Tom Soares, Jason Cowley (sub Craig Mackail-Smith 58), Ben Kennedy, Dean Parrett, Ben Nugent, Charlie Lakin, Elliott List (sub Terence Vancooten 89), Michael Timlin 
Subs not used: Sacha Bastien, Paul Taylor, Liam Smith, Luis Fernandez

Referee: Mr Trevor Kettle

Booked:
Cobblers: Michael Harriman (40, 2nd of the season), Paul Anderson (45, 2nd), Sam Hoskins (57, 6th), Scott Wharton (78, 5th)
Stevenage: Michael Timlin (28), Tom Soares (51), Elliott List (74)

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

Sent off:
Cobblers: none      
Stevenage: 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.

Scott Pollock came into the side in place of Andy Williams in the only change made by boss Keith Curle for the New Year’s Day fixture with Stevenage, who were dealt a blow in the warm-up when their captain Scott Cuthbert picked up an injury and had to be replaced in the starting line-up by Chris Stokes.

Vadaine Oliver had an early header saved by Paul Farman with the Stevenage stopper also saving a header from Charlie Goode in the opening ten minutes, both chances created by Nicky Adams.

Ben Kennedy drew a good save from David Cornell before Farman was again called upon to tip over another header from Oliver. Goode’s header from the subsequent corner was also saved with Farman also making a smart low save to tip away a shot from Sam Hoskins.

The Cobblers were creating chances but it was Stevenage who almost went in front on 32 minutes, Kennedy hitting the cross bar with a powerful strike from just outside the area.

Andy Williams and Chris Lines replaced Michael Harriman and Scott Pollock in a double change from Keith Curle at half-time.

Michael Timlin cracked a shot just wide as Ryan Watson made way for Matt Warburton in the Cobblers final change. There was then a chance for Williams but he couldn’t keep his shot down and the score remained goalless.

Oliver went desperately close to breaking the deadlock with a header while the dangerous Kennedy saw a shot tipped over by Cornell.

With the 90 minutes nearly up Goode headed against the post from an Adams corner before it needed an important challenge from Scott Wharton to deny Kennedy a shooting opportunity in stoppage time.

It looked like it was going to finish 0-0 but the Cobblers and Andy Williams had other ideas and after cutting inside Williams produced a fine finish to seal all three points and start 2020 in the best way possible.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7 
CORNERS: (3) 6          
FOULS: (7) 12         
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

STEVENAGE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6 
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (6) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: ADTM2