SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday April 15th, 3.00pm
Brunton Park

CARLISLE UNITED 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 8,282 (589 Cobblers fans)

Carlisle: Tomas Holy, Jack Armer, Owen Moxon (sub Ryan Edmondson 87), Paul Huntington, Jordan Gibson, Callum Guy, Omari Patrick (sub John-Kymani Gordon 61), Kristian Dennis (sub Joe Garner 73), Jon Mellish, Ben Barclay, Alfie McCalmont (sub Jamie Devitt 73)
Subs not used: Mick Kelly, Corey Whelan, Jack Robinson
 
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Sam Hoskins, David Norman, Jon Guthrie, Ryan Haynes, Marc Leonard, Will Hondermarck, Mitch Pinnock, Jack Sowerby (sub Shaun McWilliams 79), Louis Appere (sub Tete Yengi 86), Kieron Bowie
Subs not used: Tom King, Paul Osew, Danny Hylton, D’Margio Wright-Phillips, Josh Tomlinson

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Booked:
Carlisle: Jon Mellish (85)
Cobblers: Louis Appere (56), Mitch Pinnock (85), Will Hondermarck (90)

Sent off:
Carlisle: none      
Cobblers: none

Just three points separated Northampton Town in second and fourth-placed Carlisle United heading into the game at Brunton Park. Jack Sowerby replaced latest injury victim Harvey Lintott in the Cobblers starting XI while Shaun McWilliams, back from a two-month injury lay off, was named on the bench.

In front of a fervent crowd, Lee Burge was first to be tested with the Cobblers keeper getting down low to save from Omari Patrick. At the other end the Cobblers first effort was an audacious one with Marc Leonard trying a shot from just inside his own half when he spotted Tomas Holy off his line but the Carlisle stopper managed to get back in time to make the save. David Norman then fired wide from a corner in what was already proving to be an absorbing contest between two of the top sides in Sky Bet League 2.

Louis Appere was just unable to get on the end of a flashed ball across the box from Sam Hoskins and Mitch Pinnock had a shot blocked at close range in a good passage of play from the Cobblers but Carlisle went close to breaking the deadlock from a corner, Ben Barclay’s header going just wide.

Marc Leonard dragged a shot wide after a neat interchange between Will Hondermarck and Kieron Bowie before Pinnock fired over from 30-yards. Ryan Haynes then went close with a shot just over while for Carlisle Jon Mellish shot straight at Burge.

The Cobblers started the second half brightly and a well-placed Hoskins, just inside the area, drew a good save from Holy who was called upon again when Hondermarck was played through one on one by Pinnock.

Burge made a terrific double save at close range to deny Cumbrians top goalscorer Kristian Dennis but despite both sides creating chances the score remained goalless and the game on a knife-edge.

Shaun McWilliams replaced Jack Sowerby in Jon Brady’s first change with Tete Yengi then coming on for the final few minutes in place of Louis Appere. Carlisle meanwhile brought on former Cobblers loanee Ryan Edmondson for the closing stages.

Carlisle pressed for a winner in stoppage time but the Cobblers stood firm to ensure they returned home with a well-earned point.

CARLISLE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (1) 4       
FOULS: (1) 4      
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1)  2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (1) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0