SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Friday March 30th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 4
Ben Reeves 14
Tariqe Fosu 19, 51
Josh Magennis 79
Attendance: 6,416 (1,208 away supporters)
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Shay Facey, Brendan Moloney (sub Gboly Ariyibi 40), Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, David Buchanan, Matt Crooks, Shaun McWilliams (sub Hildeberto Pereira 52), Matt Grimes, Chris Long, Kevin van Veen (sub Boris Mathis 68)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Sam Hoskins, Joe Bunney
Charlton: Ben Amos, Lewis Page, Patrick Bauer, Jason Pearce, Nicky Ajose (sub Stephy Mavididi 64), Ben Reeves, Tariqe Fosu (sub Sullay Kaikai 80), Joe Aribo, Jake Forster-Caskey, Michal Zyro (sub Josh Magennis 67), Anfernee Dijksteel
Subs not used: Mark Marshall, Dillon Phillips, Ezri Konsa, Naby Sarr
Referee: Gavin Ward
Booked:
Cobblers: Brendan Moloney (34, 4th of the season), Shaun McWilliams (45, 5th), Matt Crooks (87, 9th), Hildeberto Pereira (90, 4th)
Charlton: Jason Pearce (71)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Charlton: 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.
Chris Long, David Buchanan and Matt Crooks, back from a three-match ban, all came into the side for the visit of Charlton Athletic on Good Friday. John-Joe O’Toole (suspended) remained unavailable.
Before kick-off there was a period of silence as Sixfields paid tribute to Walter Tull to mark the 100th anniversary of his passing.
The Cobblers started on the front foot, Kevin van Veen forcing an early corner but it was play-off chasing Charlton who made the breakthrough on 14 minutes, Tariqe Fosu’s left-wing cross headed in by Ben Reeves.
Matt Grimes flashed a shot just wide before Tariqe Fosu found the bottom corner to double Charlton’s lead.
Richard O’Donnell saved from Fosu as Charlton continued to look dangerous while at the other end a cross come shot from Buchanan had Ben Amos backpedalling, the ball landing on the roof of the net. Gboly Ariyibi then replaced the booked Brendan Moloney as boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made a change before half-time.
Jake Forster-Caskey tested O’Donnell at the start of the second half and it wasn’t long before Charlton increased their lead, Tariqe Fosu beating a couple of defenders before scoring his second of the afternoon.
Joe Aribo set up a chance for Forster-Caskey but his shot was palmed behind by O’Donnell. Boris Mathis then came on for van Veen in the Cobblers final change, Hildeberto Pereira having already come on for Shaun McWilliams.
Fosu went close to completing his hat-trick with a fierce strike from 30-yards before substitute Josh Magennis completed the scoring after getting on the end of a Ben Reeves cross.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (13) 23
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
CHARLTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 13
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (4) 8
FOULS: (2) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2