SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday February 10th, 3.00pm
Kingsmeadow
AFC WIMBLEDON 1
Deji Oshilaja 47
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Matt Grimes 8 pen
Matt Crooks 62
Daniel Powell 72
Attendance: 4,485 (741 Cobblers fans)
AFC Wimbledon: George Long, Barry Fuller, George Francomb, Deji Oshilaja, Darius Charles, Harry Forrester (sub Egil Kaja 76), Liam Trotter, Tom Soares (sub Jimmy Abdou 76), Joe Pigott, Lyle Taylor, Andy Barcham
Subs not used: Joe McDonnell, Jon Meades, Paul Robinson, Cody McDonald, Dean Parrett
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Brendan Moloney, Joe Bunney, Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Sam Hoskins, Matt Crooks (sub Sam Foley 84), Matt Grimes, Daniel Powell (sub Hildeberto Pereira 89), John-Joe O’Toole, Kevin van Veen (sub Chris Long 78)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Gboly Ariyibi, Shaun McWilliams
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Booked:
AFC Wimbledon: Lyle Taylor (10)
Cobblers: Matt Crooks (37, 7th of the season), Sam Hoskins (66, 4th), Jordan Turnbull (83, 1st), Chris Long (90, 2nd)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 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.
After the home defeat to Rochdale, boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made four changes to the side that started at AFC Wimbledon. Kevin van Veen made his full debut with Sam Hoskins and Daniel Powell also coming back into the side. Brendan Moloney replaced Shay Facey (hamstring) at right-back. Going into the game AFC Wimbledon were one place and one point above the Cobblers in the Sky Bet League 1 table as 19th met 20th with around a third of the season remaining.
Joe Pigott had a chance to put the Dons ahead early on but failed to find the target from close range under pressure from Cobblers keeper Richard O’Donnell.
The Cobblers were awarded a penalty when John-Joe O’Toole was fouled and Matt Grimes kept his cool to score from 12-yards, his perfectly taken penalty giving George Long no chance.
Long saved from Hoskins when a pass to van Veen was an option as the Cobblers looked to double their lead on a cold and drizzly afternoon at Kingsmeadow.
Wimbledon equalised at the start of the second half, Deji Oshilaja getting the final touch from a corner.
Matt Crooks put the Cobblers back in front on 62 minutes, O’Toole laying the ball back for the midfielder who found the bottom corner.
Ten minutes later Daniel Powell doubled the Cobblers lead, curling a shot in low off the post following a quick counter-attack involving Crooks and O’Toole.
O’Donnell made good saves from Lyle Taylor and Liam Trotter as the home side tried to get themselves back into the game late on but the Cobblers stood firm to claim a vital victory.
AFC WIMBLEDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET (5) 9
CORNERS: (0) 6
FOULS: (2) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 6
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 3
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (10) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 5