Northampton Town v Exeter City
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday September 14th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Jacob Blyth 6
EXETER CITY 2
Scot Bennett 34
John O'Flynn 90
Attendance: 4,036 (258 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Kevin Amankwaah (sub Ben Tozer 79), Matt Heath, Lee Collins, Joe Widdowson, Chris Hackett, Gary Deegan, Darren Carter (sub Matty Harriott 68), Roy O’Donovan (sub Danny Emerton 79), Clive Platt, Jacob Blyth.
Subs not used: Ben McNamara, Ivan Toney, JJ Hooper, Ian Morris.
Exeter: Artur Krysiak, Craig Woodman, Scot Bennett, Pat Baldwin, Danny Coles, Liam Sercombe, Matt Oakley, Alan Gow (sub John O'Flynn 73), Arron Davies, Jimmy Keohane (sub David Wheeler 82), Sam Parkin
Subs not used: Tommy Doherty, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Aaron Dawson, Jamie Reid, Christy Pym
Referee: Mr R Lewis
Booked:
Cobblers: Darren Carter (31, 2nd of the season), Gary Deegan (80, 5th, misses Mansfield)
Exeter: Craig Woodman (43)
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
Exeter: 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.
Boss Aidy Boothroyd made one change to the side for the visit of Exeter with Jacob Blyth replacing Danny Emerton. Ian Morris was named on the bench after recovering from a groin injury. Two former Cobblers players started for Exeter, midfielder Arron Davies and ex-loanee striker Sam Parkin.
A bright start from the Cobblers was rewarded on 6 minutes, Clive Platt setting up Jacob Blyth who opened the scoring with a cool finish past Artur Krysiak.
Blyth went close to making it 2-0 on 12 minutes, heading just wide from a Kevin Amankwaah cross. A chip from Blyth then clipped the outside of the post as the Cobblers continued to dominate proceedings.
With Hackett continuing to cause problems down the right, Platt was unfortunate not to double Town’s lead midway through the first half when his shot came back off the underside of the bar before the ball fell kindly into the arms of Krysiak.
Exeter equalised against the run of play on 34 minutes, Scot Bennett scrambling the ball home from the visitor’s first corner of the afternoon.
The Cobblers had a strong shout for a penalty just before half-time but referee Rob Lewis adjudged Bennett to have won the ball in a challenge on Blyth, although a goal kick rather than a corner was awarded.
A sublime left-wing cross from Joe Widdowson found Clive Platt in space on 58 minutes but the striker headed over the bar.
Matty Harriott came on for Darren Carter in the Cobblers first change.
With Town continuing to create chances, Krysiak made a good save to deny Platt on 69 minutes following a good flick on from Roy O’Donovan.
In a double change on 79 minutes, Danny Emerton and Ben Tozer replaced Amankwaah and O’Donovan.
Lee Collins came to the Cobblers rescue on 89 minutes, getting back well to clear Sam Parkin’s goalbound effort.
Exeter then stole all three points in stoppage time, substitute John O’Flynn heading home from David Wheeler’s cross.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 9
CORNERS: (1) 6
FOULS: (10) 19
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
EXETER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 5
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.