Northampton Town v Crawley Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday April 19th, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Ricky Holmes 48 pen
John-Joe O'Toole 80
CRAWLEY TOWN 1
Gwion Edwards 85
Attendance: 5,327 (50 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Josh Lelan, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Danny Rose, Ricky Holmes (sub Ryan Cresswell 90), Nicky Adams (sub Alfie Potter 66), Sam Hoskins, John Marquis (sub Lawson D'Ath 81)
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, James Collins, Jason Taylor, Joel Byrom
Crawley: Jack Rose, Lanre Oyebanjo (sub Lewis Young 88), Joe McNerney, Sonny Bradley, Gwion Edwards, Jimmy Smith, Lee Barnard, Shamir Fenelon (sub Roarie Deacon 81), Andy Bond, Frankie Sutherland (sub Jon Ashton 81), Charles Dunne
Subs not used: Simon Walton, Callum Preston, Josh Yorwerth, Lyle Della
Referee: Mr I Williamson
Booked:
Cobblers: Alfie Potter (72, 1st of the season), Rod McDonald (84, 4th)
Crawley: Sonny Bradley (58), Charles Dunne (90)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Crawley: Andy Bond (86)
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.
The Champions returned to Sixfields where they welcomed Crawley Town for the penultimate home game of an incredible season.
Sam Hoskins and Josh Lelan came into the side, replacing Lawson D’Ath and Brendan Moloney. Lelan was making his first start since late November with Moloney (knee) rested as a precaution.
A blocked shot from Hoskins brought the first corner of the game on 13 minutes and it wasn’t long before John-Joe O’Toole tested Crawley keeper Jack Rose.
Another good Cobblers move lead to Danny Rose firing over while no one gambled in the box on a chance created by Ricky Holmes.
Sam Hoskins spurned a good chance just before half-time as the first 45 ended goalless.
Adam Smith made a good save to deny Gwion Edwards at the start of the second half before the Cobblers were awarded a penalty when Nicky Adams was fouled. Ricky Holmes stepped up to score from the spot.
Crawley were struggling to contain Holmes and the winger soon went close to a second goal when his shot deflected just wide.
Alfie Potter came on for Nicky Adams in the Cobblers first change, Potter’s first appearance in 2016 after an injury-interrupted season.
A fierce volley from Rod McDonald looked set to double the Cobblers lead but a touch from John-Joe O’Toole diverted the defender’s effort onto the bar.
The Cobblers were threatening a second goal and Ricky Holmes nearly obliged with a delightful free-kick.
It was 2-0 on 80 minutes, John-Joe O’Toole eventually scoring from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Crawley pulled a goal back through a Gwion Edwards free-kick but soon after the visitors were down to ten men, Andy Bond shown a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Sam Hoskins.
Five minutes of injury time followed but there were no more goals as the league Champions added another three points to their tally.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 11
CORNERS: (4) 8
FOULS: (4) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
CRAWLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (3) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta