SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Wednesday December 26th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Andy Williams 6
SWINDON TOWN 1
Keshi Anderson 63
Attendance: 5,759 (841 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Hakeem Odoffin (sub Sam Foley 70), Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan (sub Jack Bridge 70), Shaun McWilliams, Matt Crooks, Dean Bowditch (sub Daniel Powell 80), Andy Williams, Kevin van Veen
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, Sam Hoskins, Billy Waters, Junior Morias
Swindon: Lawrence Vigouroux, Kyle Knoyle, Michael Doughty, Sid Nelson, Jermaine McGlashan (sub Elijah Adebayo 48), James Dunne (sub Jak McCourt 60), Keshi Anderson (sub Ellis Iandolo 89), Kaiyne Woolery, Dion Conroy, Matt Taylor, Luke Woolfenden
Subs not used: Marc Richards, Martin Smith, Luke McCormick, Scott Twine
Referee: Antony Coggins
Booked:
Cobblers: Kevin van Veen (31, 6th of the season), Jordan Turnbull (39, 2nd), Dean Bowditch (43, 3rd), Daniel Powell (90, 2nd)
Swindon: Matt Taylor (43), Dion Conroy (45)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Swindon: 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.
Andy Williams and Hakeem Odoffin came into the Cobblers side as boss Keith Curle made two changes for the Boxing Day visit of Swindon Town. Ex-Cobblers Matt Taylor and Keshi Anderson started for the Robins with Marc Richards and Jak McCourt named on the bench.
On a seasonably mild but grey afternoon the Cobblers made the early breakthrough, Kevin van Veen providing the inch-perfect cross for Andy Williams to volley home from close range.
The opening goal came on 6 minutes and it was almost 2-0 when Lawrence Vigouroux made a smart save to deny van Veen with Matt Crooks unable to finish on the follow-up.
Williams was almost in for a second after being played in by Crooks but Vigouroux on the stretch was able to make the save at the second attempt. A flowing move from the home side then set up a shooting chance for Jordan Turnbull but his effort flew just wide.
The Cobblers looked dangerous going forward and it needed a goal line clearance from Sid Nelson to prevent Williams doubling his tally on the half hour mark. A swift Swindon counter-attack found Kaiyne Woolery inside the Cobblers penalty area but an alert David Cornell was there to make the save.
Swindon made a change early on in the second half, Elijah Adebayo replacing Jermaine McGlashan. Former Cobblers midfielder Jak McCourt then came on for James Dunne with the Cobblers pressing hard for a second goal, Aaron Pierre having gone close with a shot deflected behind.
At only 1-0 the Robins were still in the game though and parity was restored on 63 minutes, Keshi Anderson rounding off a move involving substitute Adebayo and Kaiyne Woolery. Keith Curle responded soon after by bringing on Sam Foley and Jack Bridge, Hakeem Odoffin and David Buchanan making way.
There was a moment of controversy when referee Antony Coggins appeared to award the Cobblers a penalty following handball only to change his mind and award Swindon the free-kick after a brief break in play.
Both sides then went close, Pierre’s goal line clearance denying Kaiyne Woolery before Bridge crashed a shot against the crossbar. It was a high octane finish to a pulsating game but despite the end to end action neither side managed to grab a late winner.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 9
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (14) 26
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
SWINDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 5:57, 62:15