SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Tuesday December 7th, 7.45pm
St James Park

EXETER CITY 1
Padraig Amond 50

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Jack Sowerby 33
Mitch Pinnock 74

Attendance: 3,823 (159 Cobblers fans)

Exeter: Cameron Dawson, Jake Caprice, George Ray (sub Kyle Taylor 79), Matt Jay, Archie Collins, Padraig Amond (sub Josh Coley 79), Josh Key, Jevani Brown, Pierce Sweeney, Harry Kite (sub Ben Seymour 83), Alex Hartridge
Subs not used: Scott Brown, Jack Sparkes, Colin Daniel, Jonathan Grounds

Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Jack Sowerby, Shaun McWilliams (sub Jordan Flores 46, sub Nicke Kabamba 89), Sam Hoskins, Paul Lewis, Mitch Pinnock, Danny Rose (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 88)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Scott Pollock, Dylan Connolly, Max Dyche

Referee: John Busby

Booked:
Exeter: Josh Key (56), Jake Caprice (79)
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (35, 6th of the season), Jon Guthrie (72, 2nd)

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

Sent off:
Exeter: 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.

After a ten day break, Northampton Town returned to action in a top of the table clash at Exeter City. Jon Guthrie and Shaun McWilliams came back into the Cobblers side but Kion Etete missed the midweek trip to St James Park. Town started the night second in Sky Bet League 2, looking to end third-placed Exeter’s long unbeaten run at home which stretched back to the middle of March.

Six minutes into the contest there was a period of applause with the game also paused temporarily as players and fans remembered the tragic passing of six-year old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

Aaron McGowan made a vital interception to deny Padraig Amond while Cameron Dawson saved a Paul Lewis header in a tight opening half hour.

Jack Sowerby broke the deadlock on 33 minutes, the midfielder finding a low finish from range after Dawson’s initial save to deny Ali Koiki.

Mitch Pinnock went close to a second before half-time but having been played in perfectly by Danny Rose his effort was just wide, much to the relief of Exeter.

Jordan Flores replaced McWilliams at half-time and having started the second half strongly, Exeter equalised through Padraig Amond, the on-loan Newport striker heading home past Liam Roberts.

Roberts saved from Matt Jay as the Grecians pressed for a second goal, the Cobblers keeper also pulling off a fine save to tip over a shot from Jevani Brown. Pierce Sweeney then went close from a tight angle in a good spell of pressure from the home side.

It was the Cobblers though who re-took the lead with just over 15 minutes to play, Mitch Pinnock claiming the final touch to Sam Hoskins free-kick.

As you would expect for a side unbeaten at home in nearly nine months, Exeter refused to lie down but despite some late pressure and substitute Josh Coley spurning a good chance in six minutes of stoppage time the Cobblers held on to claim a terrific victory.

EXETER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 6
CORNERS: (1) 4        
FOULS: (3) 11       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (2) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2