Northampton Town 2 Morecambe 1 - the match report
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday February 7th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Joel Byrom 1
Marc Richards 54
MORECAMBE 1
Jamie Devitt 41
Attendance: 4,307 (128 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Brendon Moloney, Zander Diamond (sub Ben Tozer 45), Lee Collins, Evan Horwood, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Chris Hackett 81), Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath, Marc Richards, Ricky Holmes (sub Tom Newey 89)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Billy Bodin, Darren Carter, Ivan Toney.
Morecambe: Andreas Arestidou, Shaun Beeley, Jamie Devitt, Mark Hughes, Ryan Edwards, Jack Redshaw, Alan Goodall, Andrew Fleming (sub Jack Sampson 88), Laurence Wilson, Andy Parrish (sub Kevin Ellison 46), Padraig Amond (sub Paul Mullin 67)
Subs not used: Lee Jones, Alex Kenyon,Ryan Williams, Aaron McGowan
Referee: Mr R Lewis
Booked:
Cobblers: Brendon Moloney (90, 2nd of the season)
Morecambe: Andy Fleming (69)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Morecambe: 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.
Zander Diamond replaced the suspended Ryan Cresswell in the heart of the Northampton Town defence for the visit of Morecambe. The Cobblers went into the game having picked up 13 points in an unbeaten January while their opponents were on a run of five consecutive draws.
Boss Chris Wilder wanted a quick start from his side and he certainly got it, Joel Byrom opening the scoring after just 28 seconds. Lawson D’Ath and John-Joe O’Toole played a part in the build up before Brendon Moloney laid the ball off for Byrom to fire home.
O’Toole shot over on 18 minutes after some great play from Holmes and D’Ath, Holmes showing some terrific skill to play the ball through the legs of the Morecambe defender.
The Cobblers continued to press for a second goal, Byrom blasting a shot over the bar following another slick passing move and Holmes finding the side netting.
Morecambe equalised on 41 minutes however, Jamie Devitt’s looping header going in off the post after Matt Duke had initially saved with his legs to deny Jack Redshaw.
Holmes then almost immediately restored the Cobblers lead and would have done but for Mark Hughes goalline clearance. The unfortunate Zander Diamond then had to be replaced by Ben Tozer after picking up an injury.
The Cobblers re-took the lead on 54 minutes, top goalscorer Marc Richards tucking home his 16th of the season after getting on the end of an Evan Horwood cross-shot.
Matt Duke made a terrific double save to preserve Town’s lead, denying first Shrimps half-time substitute Kevin Ellison and then Jack Redshaw.
Ellison was again denied by Duke as Morecambe continued to press before the Cobblers were awarded a penalty when Ricky Holmes was bundled over in the area.
Marc Richards spot kick struck the post however with the Morecambe goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou possibly getting a touch.
Shaun Beeley was denied by the woodwork as the game entered the final 15 minutes, his shot cannoning back off the base of the post.
It had been a thoroughly pulsating afternoon at Sixfields and the Cobblers saw the game out to make it five wins out of five.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (8) 12
CORNERS: (2) 7
FOULS: (6) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
MORECAMBE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (3) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta