Northampton Town 2 Luton Town 1 - the match report
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday March 28th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Ricky Holmes 64 pen
James Gray 86
LUTON TOWN 1
Alex Lawless 46
Attendance: 5,668 (913 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Brendon Moloney, Ryan Cresswell, Lee Collins, Tom Newey (sub Darren Carter 64), Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath, James Gray (sub Zander Diamond 89), Ricky Holmes, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Ivan Toney 64).
Subs not used: Shwan Jalal, Chris Hackett, Danny Clifton, Sam Warburton
Luton: Elliot Justham, Steve McNulty (sub Alex Lacey 57), Jonathan Smith, Alex Lawless (sub Cameron McGeehan 82), Andy Drury, Paul Benson, Mark Cullen (sub Ricky Miller 70), Michael Harriman, Nathan Doyle, Luke Wilkinson, Lewis Kinsella
Subs not used: Luke Guttridge, Jayden Stockley, Ryan Hall, Liam Gooch
Referee: Mr G Scott
Booked:
Cobblers: Brendon Moloney (41, 5th of the season)
Luton: Lewis Kinsella (11), Paul Benson (51), Michael Harriman (63), Nathan Doyle (89)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Luton: 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.
James Gray and John-Joe O’Toole came back into the Northampton Town side for the visit of Luton Town, Ivan Toney dropping to the bench and Diego De Girolamo unavailable for selection after picking up an injury whilst away on international duty with the Italy under 20 side.
In the opening 15 minutes Elliot Justham saved an early shot from Joel Byrom while O’Toole just failed to get his angles right from a well-worked Byrom free-kick. Luton’s first attempt on goal saw Matt Duke save comfortably from Mark Cullen.
A scrappy period of play followed with the strong wind making things difficult for both sides.
The Cobblers were looking the more likely to open the scoring though, O’Toole testing Justham with a well-struck volley from 8-yards after Luton failed to clear their lines from a corner.
Luton took the lead less than a minute into the second half, Alex Lawless curling shot from distance finding the top corner.
Ricky Holmes equalised for the Cobblers from the penalty spot on 64 minutes, the spot kick awarded for a handball against Michael Harriman.
Immediately following the goal Ivan Toney and Darren Carter came on in a double change, John-Joe O’Toole and Tom Newey going off.
With the Cobblers now in the ascendancy Justham pulled off a great save to deny Gray while Toney glanced a header across the face of goal.
The Cobblers pressure told on 86 minutes when they deservedly took the lead, James Gray finishing from close range having been set up by Brendon Moloney.
Gray’s strike proved decisive as the Cobblers saw out the remainder of the game to claim three crucial points against one of their play-off rivals.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 15
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4
LUTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 1
CORNERS: (4) 7
FOULS: (5) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta