AFC Wimbledon v Northampton Town

AFC Wimbledon v Northampton Town

SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday March 11th, 3.00pm
The Cherry Red Records Stadium

AFC WIMBLEDON 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1

Matt Taylor 86 pen

Attendance: 4,512 (603 Cobblers fans)

AFC Wimbledon: James Shea, George Francomb (sub Jon Meades 68), Will Nightingale, Chris Robertson, Darius Charles, Dean Parrett, Jake Reeves, Tom Soares (sub Dannie Bulman 46), Andy Barcham, Dom Poleon, Lyle Taylor (sub Tom Elliott 69)

Subs not used: Joe McDonnell, Paul Robinson, Sean Kelly, Tyrone Barnett

Cobblers: Adam Smith, Aaron Phillips, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond (sub Rod McDonald 76), Lewin Nyatanga, Matt Taylor, John-Joe O’Toole, Luke Williams (sub Paul Anderson 79), Gregg Wylde (sub Keshi Anderson 56), Marc Richards, Michael Smith

Subs not used: Jak McCourt, Harry Beautyman, Brendan Moloney, David Cornell

Referee: Nigel Miller

Booked:
AFC Wimbledon: George Francomb (58)
Cobblers: Aaron Phillips (37, 5th of the season)

10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
AFC Wimbledon: none
Cobblers: 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 injured Gabriel Zakuani in the only change to the Cobblers side for the trip to AFC Wimbledon. Aaron Phillips kept his place at right-back with the fit again Brendan Moloney named on the bench.

Tom Soares went close with a well-struck shot from distance after only half chances for either side in the opening 15 minutes.

Dom Poleon raced onto a long through ball only to be denied by a brave challenge from Diamond, who was able to continue after receiving treatment. Matt Taylor curled a free-kick a fraction over as the game approached half-time.

AFC Wimbledon started the second half brightly, Lewin Nyatanga making an important block while Will Nightingale headed over the bar.

Dons keeper James Shea made a good save to keep out another testing free-kick from Taylor before first Adam Smith and then Aaron Phillips prevented the home side taking the lead.

The game was still very much in the balance and with just under a quarter of an hour to go Rod McDonald replaced Zander Diamond in what looked like an enforced change.

Matt Taylor put the Cobblers in front from the penalty spot on 86 minutes after a Dons defender had handled a corner clear.

Taylor’s penalty proved to be the game’s key moment and the Cobblers went on to claim another priceless three points,their first win on the road since Boxing Day.

AFC WIMBLEDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)

SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8
CORNERS: (3) 10
FOULS: (4) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 5

SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 6
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (3) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta

Match Reports