SKY BET LEAGUE 1      
Saturday September 19th, 3.00pm      
Montgomery Waters Meadow

SHREWSBURY TOWN 1
Shaun Whalley 54

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Mark Marshall 12
Sam Hoskins 65

Shrewsbury: Matija Sarkic, Marlon Fossey (sub Donald Love 85), Ethan Ebanks-Landell (sub Josh Daniels 6), Ro-Shaun Williams, Scott Golbourne, Brad Walker, Josh Vela, Scott High, Jason Cummings, Shaun Whalley, Rekeil Pyke (sub Daniel Udoh 69)
Subs not used: Harry Burgoyne, Ryan Sears, James Rowland, Louis Lloyd
 
Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Michael Harriman, Cian Bolger, Joe Martin, Joseph Mills, Mark Marshall (sub Morgan Roberts 90), Ryan Watson, Christopher Missilou, Sam Hoskins, Matt Warburton (sub Chris Lines 87), Benny Ashley-Seal (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 44)
Subs not used: Jonathan Mitchell, Ethan Johnston, Max Dyche, Josh Flanagan

Referee: Neil Hair

Booked:
Shrewsbury: Scott High (79)
Cobblers: Christopher Missilou (60, 1st of the season), Matt Warburton (83, 1st)

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:
Shrewsbury: none      
Cobblers: 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.

As one of the Government’s test events for the potential return of fans to grounds from the start of October, a thousand home fans were in attendance for Northampton Town's first away league game of the new season, a trip to Shrewsbury Town.

Luka Racic, Fraser Horsfall and Ricky Korboa joined the Cobblers lengthening injury list meaning a forced switch to a back four while Josh Flanagan and Max Dyche, son of former Cobblers defender and current Burnley boss Sean, were called up to the bench. New signing Jack Sowerby was unavailable for selection.

Shrewsbury, without former Cobblers defender Aaron Pierre due to suspension, were forced into an early change following a clash of heads between Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Benny Ashley-Seal, Josh Daniels coming on.

Mark Marshall put the Cobblers in front, finding the roof of the net with a controlled first time finish after a terrific ball in from Joseph Mills.

Steve Arnold, playing against one of his former clubs, pulled off a terrific save to deny Rekeil Pyke and preserve the Cobblers lead. Mills having set up the opening goal flashed a shot wide while it needed some crucial defending from the Cobblers to deny Shrewsbury an equaliser before half-time.

Ashley-Seal was unable to complete the first 45 after failing to shake off a knock and Caleb Chukwuemeka was brought on just before the break.

Arnold made a smart stop to deny Shaun Whalley early in the second half but Whalley wasn’t to be denied for long and the Shrews were back on level terms when his curling shot beat the Cobblers keeper.
 
The Cobblers re-took the lead through Sam Hoskins who did well to capitalise on a defensive mix-up after being played in by Matt Warburton, Joe Martin then made a vital block to deny Whalley a second goal for the home side while it needed an instinctive save from Sarkic to prevent Hoskins making it 3-1.
 
Mills also went close with a powerful drive just wide and Chukwuemeka had a shot saved in a flurry of chances for Keith Curle’s side.
 
Josh Daniels shot into the side netting for the Shrews before a curled cross/shot from Hoskins came back off the post. Whalley failed to test Arnold from close range and Scott High volleyed over from 30-yards as the Shrews tried to rescue a late point but the Cobblers defended valiantly to claim a hard fought victory.

SHREWSBURY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 10
CORNERS: (2) 4        
FOULS: (1) 8         
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2 

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5  
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (1) 3 
FOULS: (8) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1