SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday August 12th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
FLEETWOOD TOWN 1
Devante Cole 75
Attendance: 5,124 (103 away fans)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Regan Poole (sub Marc Richards 90), Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Aaron Phillips (sub Brendan Moloney 74), David Buchanan, Matt Crooks, Yaser Kasim (sub Shaun McWilliams 74), Chris Long, Billy Waters, Alex Revell
Subs: James Goff, Matt Taylor, Dean Bowditch, Leon Lobjoit
Fleetwood: Alex Cairns, Lewie Coyle, Amari’i Bell, Ashley Eastham, Nathan Pond, Jordy Hiwula (sub Devante Cole 67), Kyle Dempsey, Conor McAleny (sub Wes Burns 35), Bobby Grant, Cian Bolger, George Glendon (sub Aiden O'Neill 46)
Subs: Chris Neal, Godswill Ekpolo, Markus Schwabl, Ashley Nadesan
Referee: Mr Brett Huxtable
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Fleetwood: Ashley Eastham (65), Aiden O'Neill (79)
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Fleetwood: none
Northampton Town played their first home league game of the 2017/18 by welcoming last season’s play off beaten semi finalists Fleetwood Town to Sixfields. Boss Justin Edinburgh made one change to the side that was edged out of the Carabao Cup by Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in midweek, Regan Poole replacing the suspended Leon Barnett. The fit again Shaun McWilliams and Brendan Moloney were named among the substitutes.
The visitors began the game on the front foot, and David Cornell made a smart third minute save to keep out a Cian Bolger header from a corner. Jordy Hiwula then broke from midfield and the Cobblers keeper made another good stop, diving away to his left.
The Cobblers threatened the Fleetwood goal on 11 minutes, a Yaser Kasim free kick was deflected behind for a corner with Ash Taylor heading the resulting flag kick just over.
Kasim was involved again on 19 minutes, feeding Chris Long who tried his luck from an acute angle but keeper Alex Cairns turned the ball wide. From that corner, Regan Poole delivered a cross that Aaron Pierre volleyed powerfully just over the bar.
Kyle Dempsey was just off target with a low 33rd minute drive for the visitors, while a few minutes later Yaser Kasim curled a free kick over the bar.
The Cobblers could not believe they didn’t have the lead a minute before the break. A Billy Waters header from an Aaron Phillips cross was blocked on the line before Aaron Pierre was brilliantly denied three times by keeper Cairns from close range.
Alex Revell sent a 63rd minute drive over the bar for the Cobblers, while nine minutes later Chris Long cut in well from the right touchline but curled his shot wide.
The visitors had the lead with their first effort on target of the second half, Devante Cole keeping his cool when through to give Cornell no chance in the Cobblers goal.
Although the Cobblers saw plenty of the ball in the closing stages, the Fleetwood defence held firm to secure all three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 7
CORNERS: (6) 6
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4
FLEETWOOD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1