Northampton Town v Rochdale
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday December 17th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Matt Taylor 16
Sam Hoskins 57
ROCHDALE 3
Matthew Lund 19, 62, 67
Attendance: 5,247 (261 away fans)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Aaron Phillips, David Buchanan, Gabriel Zakuani, Lewin Nyatanga, Jak McCourt (sub Marc Richards 49), Matt Taylor, Paul Anderson (sub Alfie Potter 74), Sam Hoskins, John-Joe O’Toole, Alex Revell
Subs not used: Adam Smith, Harry Beautyman, Rod McDonald, Kenji Gorre, Joe Iaciofano
Rochdale: Conrad Logan, Joe Rafferty (sub Harry McGahey 76), Jimmy McNulty, Matthew Lund, Callum Camps, Oliver Rathbone (sub Calvin Andrew 65), Joe Thompson, Keith Keane, Steven Davies (sub Nathaniel Mendez-Laing 76), Joe Bunney, Ian Henderson
Subs not used: Josh Lillis, Niall Canavan, Reuben Noble-Lazarus, Andrew Cannon
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
Booked:
Cobblers: John-Joe O'Toole (67, 11th of the season)
Rochdale: Keith Keane (6), Matthew Lund (39), Ian Henderson (71)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Rochdale: 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.
John-Joe O’Toole came back into the Cobblers side for their final home game of 2016, the visit of Rochdale. O’Toole replaced Marc Richards in the starting eleven after completing a two-match ban.
Sam Hoskins saw an early shot deflected behind while Matthew Lund fired over for Rochdale.
The Cobblers took the lead on 16 minutes, Matt Taylor with another fine free-kick, beating Dale keeper Conrad Logan at his near post.
Rochdale quickly got themselves back on level terms, Matthew Lund getting the final touch to Joe Bunney’s ball into the box.
Taylor curled another free-kick just wide on the half hour mark before former Cobbler Ian Henderson spurned a chance to test David Cornell. Steven Davies also failed to find the target when presented with a header close in on goal.
Marc Richards replaced Jak McCourt early in the second half as O’Toole almost restored the Cobblers lead when his shot from close range was turned behind.
Sam Hoskins fired the Cobblers back in front on 57 minutes, Richards involved in the build-up as Hoskins went on a terrific run before finishing calmly past Logan.
Again the lead didn’t last for long as Matthew Lund capitalised on a loose ball to make it 2-2 with just under half an hour to play.
Matthew Lund then completed his hat-trick in controversial fashion to put the away side in front for the first time, the goal given despite what looked like a foul on Cornell as the cross came in.
Logan then saved from Hoskins as the Cobblers responded well to falling behind. Dale had looked a threat going forward all afternoon and on 84 minutes Henderson curled a shot from 25-yards just wide.
Richards headed wide with time ticking away but the game wasn’t quite done yet with five minutes of stoppage time signalled by the fourth official. The Cobblers pressed hard in injury time but couldn’t force an equaliser as Rochdale held on for the three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (4) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
ROCHDALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 10
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (9) 20
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta