SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday September 21st, 3.00pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Chris Lines 15 pen
Shaun McWilliams 64

CRAWLEY TOWN 2
Ashley Nathaniel-George 70
Josh Doherty 90 

Attendance: 5,121 (233 away supporters)

Cobblers: David Cornell, Michael Harriman, Joe Martin, Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull, Shaun McWilliams, Chris Lines (sub Matt Warburton 88), Nicky Adams (sub Vadaine Oliver 60), Sam Hoskins, Andy Williams (sub Egli Kaja 75)
Subs not used: Andrew Fisher, Scott Pollock, Billy Waters, Jay Williams
 
Crawley: Glenn Morris, Lewis Young (sub David Sesay 54), Josh Doherty, Tom Dallison, Reece Grego-Cox, Ollie Palmer, Nathan Ferguson (sub Dannie Bulman 46), George Francomb, Mason Bloomfield, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Bez Lubala (sub Ashley Nathaniel-George 67)
Subs not used: Tarryn Allarakhia, Jamie Sendles-White, Brian Galach, Michael Luyambula

Referee: Andy Haines

Booked:
Cobblers: Andy Williams (71, 1st of the season) 
Crawley: Josh Doherty (49)

5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension       
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none      
Crawley: 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.

On the club’s designated Community Day, the Cobblers, looking to make it three wins on the bounce, took on another in-form side in Crawley Town, who started the afternoon 7th in Sky Bet League 2. Keith Curle’s side were again unchanged with Harry Smith serving a one-match ban following his sending off at Stevenage in midweek. Former Cobbler Lewis Young captained Crawley.

It was another warm and sunny September afternoon at the PTS Academy Stadium as the game got underway with the home fans in good voice.

Chris Lines put the Cobblers in front from the penalty spot after an encouraging start, the spot kick awarded for a trailing leg from Nathan Ferguson on Charlie Goode following a scramble in the box. Lines' penalty was tucked well into the corner, giving Glenn Morris in the Crawley goal no chance.

A vital challenge from Jordan Turnbull and a subsequent goal line clearance from Goode denied Bez Lubala an equaliser as the visitors looked to mount a response to falling behind. Crawley looked a threat but the Cobblers had a chance to double their lead when Sam Hoskins fired over from the edge of the area, Shaun McWilliams and Andy Williams combining to set up the chance.

David Cornell made a good low save to deny Reece Grego-Cox with half-time approaching before Hoskins slid a shot across the face of goal and just wide of the far post in stoppage time.

Four minutes into the second half and the Cobblers were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon, Michael Harriman brought down by Lubala. Chris Lines again stepped up but this time Morris made the save to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Lubala found the side netting via a deflection and the same player went close again just before the hour mark, curling a shot just wide of Cornell’s upright.

Shaun McWilliams scored his first Cobblers goal to double the home side’s lead on 64 minutes, Hoskins' cross to the back post met with a snappy volley from the academy graduate.

Crawley were back in the game soon after however, substitute Ashley Nathaniel-George finding the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The game was open and Morris saved from Williams as the Cobblers looked to restore their two-goal advantage, Hoskins also going close with a low shot just wide from 20-yards and McWilliams seeing an effort blocked following some good work by Vadaine Oliver.

Dannie Bulman fired wide from 30-yards with the 90 minutes almost up but with six additional minutes signalled by the fourth official the game was far from done and Crawley equalised deep in stoppage time through Josh Doherty’s deflected effort.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 5 
CORNERS: (1) 3          
FOULS: (4) 5        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

CRAWLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4  
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8 
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (4) 9 
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 14:05, 63:14, 69:02, ADTM2