Cobblers: Lee Burge (sub Louie Moulden 46), Aaron McGowan (sub Harvey Lintott 35), Jordan Willis, Jon Guthrie, Patrick Brough, Dom Gape (sub Ben Fox 63), Marc Leonard, Will Hondermarck (sub Tony Springett 77), Mitch Pinnock, Kieron Bowie, Louis Appere (sub Tyreece Simpson 77)
Subs not used: Manny Monthe, Peter Abimbola

Bolton: Joel Coleman, Gethin Jones, George Thomason, Josh Sheehan (sub Aaron Morley 83), Dion Charles (sub Cameron Jerome 77), Victor Adeboyejo (sub Aaron Collins 46), Eoin Toal, Calvin Ramsay (sub Carlos Mendes Gomes 46), Caleb Taylor (sub Jack Iredale 76), Kyle Dempsey, Zac Ashworth
Subs not used: Jon Bodvarsson, Paris Maghoma

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Bolton: Victor Adeboyejo (23), Josh Sheehan (54), Gethin Jones (90)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Bolton: George Thomason (27)

Dom Gape made his Northampton Town debut as boss Jon Brady made three changes for the visit of promotion chasing Bolton Wanderers. The other two changes saw vice-captain Aaron McGowan return from injury and Louis Appere replace Sam Hoskins (hamstring) up front. There was also a late change to the bench with Peter Abimbola replacing Ryan Haynes after the defender picked up an injury in the warm-up.

The Cobblers took an early lead at a damp Sixfields, Marc Leonard’s free-kick striking the post before McGowan’s ball back into the area was fired home by Kieron Bowie. In a pulsating start to the contest, a vital interception from Jon Guthrie then denied Bolton an immediate equaliser while Dion Charles shot just wide from an acute angle and McGowan fired wide from 20-yards after making a good run.

George Thomason was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on McGowan on 27 minutes with a member of the Trotters coaching staff also shown a yellow card for his reaction in a fractious few minutes.

In a blow for Brady and the Cobblers, McGowan was unable to continue after going down on 35 minutes with Harvey Lintott coming on. Joel Coleman made a good save to turn behind a shot from Will Hondermarck and Patrick Brough fired over from 30-yards as the Cobblers looked to double their lead but, after six minutes of stoppage time and a late flurry of Bolton corners, the first half ended 1-0.

After an eventful first half the drama continued at half-time with Bolton boss Ian Evatt sent off in the tunnel. Both sides made changes for the second half with on-loan Wolves goalkeeper Louie Moulden coming on for his Cobblers debut in place of Lee Burge while the Trotters brought on Aaron Collins and Carlos Mendes Gomes in a double change.

Bolton started the second half on the offensive but survived a penalty appeal when Hondermarck was sandwiched in the box. Dom Gape then received a standing ovation as he made way for Ben Fox.

After a slight lull in the action, Moulden made a good save to tip over a 35-yard strike from Eoin Toal but Bolton were back on level terms from the subsequent corner when half-time substitute Carlos Mendes Gomes headed home via the post.

Tyreece Simpson and Tony Springett came on for Hondermarck and Appere before Jon Guthrie headed straight at Coleman from a corner. Neither side was settling for a point and a combination of Moulden and some terrific defensive blocks denied Bolton a second goal.

Coleman saved from Fox and Guthrie headed wide deep in stoppage time but, in a season of late winners for the Cobblers, on this occasion it wasn’t to be and the points were shared following an extremely hard fought contest.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

BOLTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (8) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4