Northampton Town 2 Cardiff City 1 - the match report
CAPITAL ONE CUP FIRST ROUND
Tuesday August 14th, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
David Artell 36
Alex Nicholls 48
CARDIFF CITY 1
Heidar Helguson 4 pen
Attendance: 2,819 (388 away fans)
Cobblers: Dean Snedker, John Johnson, Joe Widdowson, Kelvin Langmead, David Artell, Chris Hackett (sub Henoc Mukendi 56), Ben Tozer, Luke Guttridge, Ben Harding, Clive Platt (sub Adebayo Akinfenwa 70), Alex Nicholls.
Subs not used: Lewis Wilson, Jake Robinson, Ishmel Demontagnac, Anthony Charles, Ben Heath (youth).
Cardiff: Joe Lewis, Craig Conway, Joe Mason (sub Jordon Mutch 48), Joe Ralls, Heidar Helguson (sub Nat Jarvis 61), Dekal Keinan, Ben Nugent, Adedeji Oshilaja, Kevin Sainte-Luce, Stephen McPhail (sub Tommy O'Sullivan 19), Declan John.
Referee: Mr D Phillips
Booked:
Cobblers: David Artell (4, 1st of the season), Luke Guttridge (68, 1st) Adebayo Akinfenwa (86, 1st)
Cardiff: Kevin Sainte-Luce (17), Adedeji Oshilaja (74)
5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Cardiff: 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.
Northampton Town got their 2012/13 campaign underway against Cardiff City at Sixfields in the first round of the newly named Capital One Cup.
In a break with tradition the cup tie came before the first league fixture with the Football League having agreed to push back the start of the regular league season due to the London 2012 Olympics.
Competitive debuts were handed to promising young goalkeeper Dean Snedker and summer signings Joe Widdowson, Chris Hackett, Clive Platt and Alex Nicholls.
Recent arrival David Artell also came straight into the side, partnering the captain Kelvin Langmead in central defence.
Heidar Helguson gave Cardiff the lead from the penalty spot after just 4 minutes, the spot kick award seemingly harsh on the Cobblers with John Jonson adjudged to have fouled Helguson at the far post with the ball on its way out of play.
David Artell, booked for his protestations at the penalty award, then went close with a header as Town looked to respond forthwith. Chris Hackett saw a shot deflected behind while Luke Guttridge shot wide.
Debutant Artell equalised with a sumptuous header on 36 minutes, the goal created by a Ben Tozer long throw.
The Cobblers took the lead at the start of the second half, Alex Nicholls heading in direct from a Ben Harding corner.
As Aidy Boothroyd’s side looked to press home the advantage, Kelvin Langmead had a close range shot well saved by Joe Lewis. Henoc Mukendi then came onto make his debut, the on-loan Liverpool youngster replacing Chris Hackett.
Clive Platt made way for Adebayo Akinfenwa as the game reached the 70-minute mark.
Cardiff pushed players forward in the closing stages but much to the credit of the Cobblers players they rarely threatened Dean Snedker’s goal.
There was no concerted spell of pressure from last season’s finalists and it was the Cobblers who deservedly booked their place in round two.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (2) 9
FOULS: (6) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
CARDIFF MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 3
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.