Oxford United v Northampton Town
NPOWER LEAGUE 2
Saturday November 24th, 3pm
Kassam Stadium
OXFORD UNITED 2
James Constable 14
Jon-Paul Pittman 79
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Clive Platt 76
Attendance: 6,635 (1073 Cobblers fans)
Oxford: Ryan Clarke, Michael Raynes, Jake Wright, James Constable, Sean Rigg (sub Harry Worley 83), Alfie Potter, Andy Whing, Tony Capaldi, Jake Forster-Caskey (sub Jon-Paul Pittman 56), Lee Cox, Peter Leven.
Subs not used: Wayne Brown, Adam Chapman, Simon Heslop, Luke O'Brien, Liam Davis
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Ben Tozer, Kelvin Langmead, Clarke Carlisle, Danny East, Lewis Hornby, Ben Harding, Chris Hackett, Jake Robinson, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Ishmel Demontagnac (sub Clive Platt 61).
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Anthony Charles, Henoc Mukendi, Emyr Huws, Louis Moult
Referee: Mr S Mathieson
Booked:
Oxford: Jake Forster-Caskey (54), James Constable (90)
Cobblers: Ishmel Demontagnac (52, 4th of the season), Jake Robinson (66, 2nd), Clarke Carlisle (72, 2nd), Kelvin Langmead (90, 2nd)
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:
Oxford: none
Cobblers: Clarke Carlisle (90, 1 match ban)
Sending offs: 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.
With Joe Widdowson suspended, Danny East came back into the side at left-back. Former Cobbler Liam Davis started on the bench for Oxford.
Lee Nicholls was caught in possession on 7 minutes but East did well to cover. Ishmel Demontagnac then saw a shot deflected behind while U's goalkeeper Ryan Clarke parried a Chris Hackett drive to safety.
Oxford went ahead against the run of play on 15 minutes, James Constable, who appeared to be in an off-side position, side-footing home from close range after a neat cross from Alfie Potter.
As the Cobblers looked for a quick response, a good cross in from Jake Robinson saw Adebayo Akinfenwa thwarted by a fine save by Clarke.
Sean Rigg rattled the underside of the Cobblers crossbar midway through the first half before Jake Forster-Caskey smashed a shot against the post on 29 minutes.
Nicholls then made a superb save to deny Andy Whing.
Nicholls made another good save to deny Rigg on 49 minutes before some fine defensive work from Ben Harding and Danny East cleared the danger. U's substitute Jon-Paul Pittman then fired wide on 57 minutes after Demontagnac was dispossessed.
Clive Platt replaced Demontagnac just after the hour mark as the Cobblers made their first change. Jake Robinson was booked for a lunging challenge on Lee Cox before Hackett fired just over from 25-yards.
The Cobblers were back on terms on 76 minutes, Clive Platt rising well to head home a pin-point cross from Hackett.
Jon-Paul Pittman then put Oxford back in front, racing onto a long through ball before finding the net with a good finish.
Clarke palmed away a shot from Hackett as the game entered the final few minutes.
Clarke Carlisle was sent off on 89 minutes after harshly receiving a second yellow card.
There was to be no stoppage time drama and Oxford claimed a narrow victory.
OXFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (3) 10
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 13
CORNERS: (6) 8
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.