SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday January 14th, 3.00pm
Edgeley Park

STOCKPORT COUNTY 2
Antoni Sarcevic 33
Ryan Johnson 68

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 8,732 (932 Cobblers fans)

Stockport: Ben Hinchliffe, Akil Wright, Neill Byrne, Paddy Madden (sub Kyle Knoyle 61), Antoni Sarcevic (sub Isaac Olafoe 80), Will Collar (sub Callum Camps 88), Ryan Johnson, Ryan Rydel, Ryan Croasdale, Kyle Wootton, Myles Hippolyte
Subs not used: Vitezslav Jaros, Connor Evans, Chris Hussey, Joe Lewis
 
Cobblers: Tom King, Aaron McGowan (sub Kieron Bowie 73), Sam Sherring (sub Ali Koiki 65), Max Dyche, Akin Odimayo, Marc Leonard, Ben Fox, Jack Sowerby (sub Danny Hylton 73), Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Louis Appere (sub Josh Eppiah 64)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Josh Harrop, Harvey Lintott

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Booked:
Stockport: Will Collar (25)
Cobblers: Mitch Pinnock (36)

Sent off:
Stockport: none      
Cobblers: none

New signing goalkeeper Tom King made his Cobblers debut at Stockport, replacing the injured Lee Burge between the sticks. Max Dyche came in at centre-half in place of Jon Guthrie (illness) while Jack Sowerby and Louis Appere also started with Josh Eppiah and Kieron Bowie dropping to the bench where they were joined by the fit again Ali Koiki.

Ben Hinchliffe made a good early save to deny Sam Hoskins from a tight angle and Sam Sherring headed over from a Mitch Pinnock corner in a bright start by Jon Brady’s side.

Kyle Wootton spurned a good chance for Stockport before Hinchliffe made a terrific save from Hoskins who had been found at the back post by a superb ball into the box from Aaron McGowan.

The Cobblers had been the better side in the opening half hour but it was Stockport who made the breakthrough, Antoni Sarcevic with a sharp finish that gave debutant keeper King no chance in the Cobblers goal.

Hoskins fired over after linking up with Louis Appere while King made a good save to keep out a Ryan Rydel long range effort.

The Cobblers top goalscorer was denied again by Hinchliffe at the start of the second half, the Stockport keeper saving with his legs to keep out Hoskins' fierce volley.

Myles Hippolyte had a shot deflected just wide before Josh Eppiah came on for Louis Appere. Brady was then forced into a defensive re-shuffle with Ali Koiki on for Sam Sherring.

Ryan Johnson doubled Stockport’s lead, heading home from a corner midway through the second half before Aaron McGowan and Jack Sowerby were replaced in a double change which saw the introduction of Danny Hylton and Kieron Bowie.

It had been a frustrating afternoon for the Cobblers and there was no way back for them following Stockport’s second goal.

STOCKPORT MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (2) 5       
FOULS: (3) 6       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (6) 5
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2