SKY BET LEAGUE 1      
Tuesday December 29th, 7.45pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Sam Hoskins 31 pen
Danny Rose 35
Alan Sheehan 47

GILLINGHAM 1
Kyle Dempsey 45

Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Lloyd Jones, Cian Bolger, Alan Sheehan (sub Fraser Horsfall 77), Shaun McWilliams, Ryan Watson, Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Nicky Adams (sub Michael Harriman 70), Danny Rose (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 70), Benny Ashley-Seal (sub Ricky Holmes 90)
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Christopher Missilou, Mark Marshall
 
Gillingham: Jack Bonham, Ryan Jackson, Connor Ogilvie, Jack Tucker, Kyle Dempsey, Robbie McKenzie, John Akinde, Alex MacDonald (sub Trae Coyle 74), Josh Eccles (sub Matty Willock 60), Scott Robertson (sub Vadaine Oliver 46), Thomas O’Connor 
Subs not used: Christian Maghoma, Declan Drysdale

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Booked:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (82, 2nd of the season), Benny Ashley-Seal (84, 2nd)
Gillingham: none

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

Sent off:
Cobblers: none      
Gillingham: 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.

Gillingham were the visitors to the PTS Academy Stadium for Northampton Town’s final game of 2020. Defender Lloyd Jones came straight into the Cobblers side having re-signed for the club with Alan Sheehan and Shaun McWilliams back from injury and suspension respectively. Former Cobblers striker Vadaine Oliver was named on the Gills bench.

With Northamptonshire having been moved into Tier 3 under Covid-19 restrictions fans were once again not permitted to attend.

Cian Bolger headed wide from an early Nicky Adams free-kick and Benny Ashley-Seal had a shot blocked at close range following a good run into the Gills penalty area as the Cobblers started brightly on a cold night at the PTS. Hoskins also headed wide as the clock ticked past the 20-minute mark while Josh Eccles fired wide from distance for the visitors.

Kyle Dempsey was fed in by John Akinde as the Gills sought an opening but Sheehan was there to make a terrific block.

Sheehan’s interception was made even more valuable soon after when the Cobblers were awarded a penalty, referee Carl Boyeson pointing to the spot after a challenge from Connor Ogilvie on Danny Rose. Sam Hoskins stepped up and made no mistake, blasting the ball into the roof of the net.

Having won the penalty, Danny Rose then doubled the Cobblers lead, keeping his cool to finish on the follow-up after Jack Bonham had saved Ashley-Seal’s initial effort. It was another surging run from Ashley-Seal into the area with the Gills keeper only able to parry his shot into the path of Rose who snaffled up the chance.

Gillingham were back in it before the break however, Kyle Dempsey curling in a free-kick from just outside the area to halve the Kent club’s arrears going in at half-time.

The Cobblers restored their two goal lead early in the second half, Alan Sheehan’s free-kick beating everybody to find the bottom corner.

Hoskins went agonisingly close to making it 4-1 when his shot came back off the post with Rose, who had moments earlier seen a shot deflected behind, denied by a block on the follow-up.

Gillingham pressed for a way back into the game with Thomas O’Connor seeing a shot deflected just wide and Akinde having an effort blocked at close range by Bolger. The Cobblers were defending resolutely and were able to close the game out to end the year with a well-earned three points.


COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (0)  1         
FOULS: (10) 18       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

GILLINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (8) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0