SKY BET LEAGUE 2     
Tuesday October 25th, 7.45pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Marc Leonard 15
Mitch Pinnock 37

SUTTON UNITED 2
Omar Bugiel 47
Donovan Wilson 61

Attendance: 4,800 (159 away fans)

Cobblers: Lee Burge, Akin Odimayo (sub Aaron McGowan 83), Harvey Lintott, Jon Guthrie, Ryan Haynes (sub Max Dyche 68), Shaun McWilliams (sub Sam Hoskins 68), Jack Sowerby, Marc Leonard, Mitch Pinnock, Kieron Bowie, Louis Appere
Subs not used: James Dadge, Liam Cross, Josh Tomlinson, Peter Abimbola
 
Sutton: Lewis Ward, Sam Hart (sub Kylian Kouassi 46), Coby Rowe, Enzio Boldewijn, Omar Bugiel, Will Randall, Adam Lovatt, Josh Neufville, Joe Kizzi, Rob Milsom, Donovan Wilson
Subs not used: Brad House, Craig Dundas, Tope Fadahunsi, Luke Gambin, Charley Kendall,  Kwame Thomas

Referee: Ross Joyce

Booked:
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (73, 4th of the season)
Sutton: Rob Milsom (24), Sam Hart (38)

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:
Cobblers: none      
Sutton: none

Jon Brady was still without a number of players for the midweek visit of Sutton United but top goalscorer Sam Hoskins was back on the bench. Ryan Haynes and Marc Leonard came in for Ali Koiki and Sam Sherring who both picked up knocks in the win at Stevenage while Danny Hylton was suspended following an unsuccessful appeal against his sending off in that game. Also still unavailable for selection were Ben Fox (suspended), Jonny Maxted (personal reasons), and Tyler Magloire and Josh Eppiah (both injured).

Former Cobblers duo Aaron Pierre and Harry Beautyman were both missing for Sutton due to injury but Lewis Ward, who had a loan spell at Sixfields in 2018/19, started in goal for Matt Gray’s side.

After a fairly quiet opening fifteen minutes it was the Cobblers who made the breakthrough, Brighton loanee Marc Leonard finding the bottom corner with a low strike from the edge of the area.

Lewis Ward saved from Jack Sowerby, Kieron Bowie had a shot deflected behind and Shaun McWilliams also went close with a shot just wide as the Cobblers pressed for a second goal.

That second goal was duly delivered by Mitch Pinnock on 37 minutes, the midfielder blasting a shot beyond Ward after some excellent approach play by Louis Appere.

The Cobblers had largely dominated the first half playing at a high tempo but Sutton did have a chance to pull a goal back in stoppage time, only for Joe Kizzi to head over from close range.

The visitors were however right back in the game at the start of the second half when Omar Bugiel headed home a left wing cross.

Boosted by that goal Matt Gray’s side were back on level terms just after the hour mark, Donovan Wilson with a sharp finish.

Sam Hoskins and Max Dyche came on in a double change and Hoskins was quickly involved in the action, forcing Ward into a smart save with a cross/shot the Sutton keeper had to tip over the bar. Neither side were settling for a point and it needed a good block from Harvey Lintott to deny Will Randall a clear strike on goal.

Aaron McGowan came on for Akin Odimayo before Bowie blazed wide when perhaps playing in Hoskins was the better option. Coby Rowe then headed over from a corner in a good chance for Sutton to win it but in the end the points were shared.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 5         
FOULS: (3) 7       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

SUTTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4 
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1