SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday September 14th, 3.00pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Andy Williams 5
Sam Hoskins 72

NEWPORT COUNTY 0

Attendance: 4,616 (289 away fans)

Cobblers: David Cornell, Michael Harriman, Joe Martin, Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull, Shaun McWilliams (sub Egli Kaja 53), Chris Lines, Nicky Adams (sub Matt Warburton 87), Sam Hoskins, Andy Williams (sub Harry Smith 77)
Subs not used: Andrew Fisher, Scott Pollock, Billy Waters, Vadaine Oliver
 
Newport: Tom King, Ryan Haynes, Joss Labadie, Kyle Howkins, Robbie Willmott, Matthew Dolan (sub Corey Whitely 63), Padraig Amond (sub Jamille Matt 62), Josh Sheehan, Dan McNamara (sub Dominic Poleon 75), Tristan Abrahams, Mark O’Brien 
Subs not used: Daniel Leadbitter, Scot Bennett, Taylor Maloney, Nick Townsend

Referee:  Alan Young

Booked:
Cobblers: Jordan Turnbull (35, 3rd of the season)  
Newport: none

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      
Newport: Jamille Matt (90)

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.

It was a sunny September afternoon at the PTS Academy Stadium as the Cobblers took on unbeaten Newport County. Scott Wharton replaced Matt Warburton in the only change made by Keith Curle with recent signing Michael Harriman making his home debut.

Before kick-off there was a period of applause to remember Club President Bob Church MBE who sadly passed away earlier in the week with all the Cobblers players donning black armbands in tribute.

The game was scarcely underway when Newport had the ball in the back of the net but Joss Labadie’s header was ruled out for off-side. It was the Cobblers who then made the early breakthrough as Newport conceded in the league for the first time since the opening day of the season. Jordan Turnbull’s initial effort was blocked but Andy Williams was there on the follow-up, his shot crossing the line despite the best efforts of Exiles defender Mark O’Brien.

The Cobblers were on top and in search of a second goal a cross from Harriman found Sam Hoskins whose flicked header was saved by Tom King. Newport were starting to grow into the contest after the half hour mark and Labadie headed over from 8-yards following a free-kick.

Not long into the second half the Cobblers were forced into a change when Shaun McWilliams picked up an injury, winger Egli Kaja on for his debut.

A delightful cross from Nicky Adams nearly resulted in a Cobblers second goal when a Newport defender - under pressure from Williams - nearly put the ball into his own net. Exiles manager Michael Flynn then made a double change, bringing on Jamille Matt and Corey Whitely to pep up his side’s attack.

Sam Hoskins doubled the Cobblers lead on 72 minutes, rounding off a counter-attack. The move was started by Williams pressuring King into a hurried clearance before Charlie Goode played the ball out to Chris Lines whose low cross was tucked home by Hoskins.

Harry Smith came on for Williams before Kaja slid a shot just wide after being played in by Adams, who made way for Matt Warburton in Keith Curle’s final change.

Warburton drilled a shot across the face of goal as the Cobblers went close to a third and moments later Newport were down to ten men when substitute Jamille Matt was shown a second yellow card with the 90 minutes now nearly up. Six additional minutes were added, the Cobblers more than comfortable in closing out back-to-back home victories against a side unbeaten in their previous 17 league matches.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 5  
CORNERS: (2)  5        
FOULS: (8) 14        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0 

NEWPORT MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0)  0
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1)  3
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (3) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 4:41, 71:29