Northampton Town v Torquay United
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 24th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Jacob Blyth 29
TORQUAY UNITED 2
Jordan Chapell 72, 78
Attendance: 4,088 (252 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Kevin Amankwaah, Ben Tozer, Lee Collins, Joe Widdowson, Gary Deegan, Darren Carter, Ian Morris (sub Clive Platt 74), Danny Emerton, Roy O’Donovan, Jacob Blyth (sub Ishmel Demontagnac 88)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Claudio Dias, Ivan Toney, JJ Hooper
Torquay: Martin Rice, Dale Tonge, Kevin Nicholson, Aaron Downes, Krystian Pearce, Lee Mansell, Ben Harding, Karl Hawley (sub Elliot Benyon 82), Courtney Cameron (sub Billy Bodin 61), Jordan Chapell (sub Niall Thompson 90), Callum Ball
Subs not used: Damon Lathrope, Thomas Cruise, Daniel Sullivan, Conor Thompson
Referee: Mr A Madley
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Torquay: none
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
Torquay: 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 welcomed Torquay United to Sixfields and looked to continue their good home form.
The Cobblers made only one change from the tip to Southend, with Ian Morris coming in for the suspended Chris Hackett. Ben Harding made his return to Sixfields starting in the centre of midfield for Torquay.
It was the Cobblers who saw the first opening of the game on 9 minutes after centre-back Aaron Downes mistimed a header for the visitors. Danny Emerton found himself one on one with Martin Rice but the Gulls keeper stood up tall and blocked Emerton’s effort well with his feet.
The home side kept up the pressure when moments later Amwankwaah advanced down the right side. He delivered a great cross for O’Donovan who met it well, but saw his glancing header just go wide of the post.
The game really came into life in the 20th minute as the Cobblers began to play some lovely football. Blyth and Morris both had good efforts on goal but couldn’t trouble the Gulls keeper.
The visitors on the other hand saw their first chance of the game on 25 minutes when Karl Hawley got in behind the defence, but his effort flashed past the frame of the goal.
Northampton made the most of their pressure on 29 minutes when they took the lead through Jacob Blyth. Emerton collected the ball wide on the right and produced a superb volleyed cross for the big striker, who rose above his marker at the back post and headed home.
The home side really kept the pressure up after taking the lead, but couldn’t find another goal and went in to the dressing room leading 1-0.
Torquay's Callum Ball had the first chance in the second half, curling an effort from 18 yards out that had Duke worried. A minute later, former Cobblers youngster Courtney Cameron interlinked well with Hawley to get through on goal, but his effort was straight at Duke.
Torquay really put the Cobblers under pressure in the first ten minutes of the half and forced Duke into a succession of saves.
On 60 minutes Courtney Cameron’s return to Sixfields was over when Billy Bodin came on to replace him.
On 72 minutes Torquay equalised. Karl Hawley, who looked bright all game for the visitors, played in Chapell who made no mistake and finished low to Duke’s right in front of the travelling supporters.
Minutes later, Clive Platt came on for Ian Morris.
Torquay weren’t content with just drawing level and took the lead on 78 minutes. Chapell, who was played in with a terrific cross field ball, jinked around Widdowson and curled the ball into the far corner with the outside of his boot to send the travelling supporters in to raptures.
On 82 minutes, Elliot Benyon came on to replace Karl Hawley, while in the 87th minute, Ishmel Demontagnac came on for goalscorer Jacob Blyth.
Demontagnac almost made the perfect impact as he lost his marker and crossed low and hard only for Rice in goal to parry. Emerton just couldn’t get on the end of the rebound and Torquay got the ball clear.
Torquay saw out the remaining minutes of the game and made the long journey home with all three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 10
CORNERS: (4) 7
FOULS: (8) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 6
TORQUAY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 6
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Opta.
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