SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday March 24th, 3.00pm
Highbury
FLEETWOOD TOWN 2
Kyle Dempsey 18
Cian Bolger 83
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 3,049
Fleetwood: Alex Cairns, Lewie Coyle, Ashley Eastham, Nathan Pond, Kyle Dempsey, Conor McAleny (sub Bobby Grant 66), Cian Bolger, Toumani Diagouraga, Paddy Madden (sub Jordy Hiwula 80), Ashley Hunter, Jack Sowerby (sub George Glendon 89)
Subs not used: Chris Neal, Wes Burns, Gethin Jones, Harrison Biggins
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Shay Facey, Brendan Moloney, Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Bunney, Hildeberto Pereira, Shaun McWilliams (sub Gboly Ariyibi 70), Matt Grimes, Boris Mathis (sub Kevin Luckassen 46), Kevin van Veen (sub Chris Long 79)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Sam Foley, Sam Hoskins
Referee: Mr Robert Lewis
Booked:
Fleetwood: Jack Sowerby (70)
Cobblers: Kevin Luckassen (90, 1st of the season)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Fleetwood: 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.
Shaun McWilliams replaced the suspended John-Joe O’Toole in the only change to the side, Sam Foley coming onto the bench. Matt Crooks served the final game of his three-match ban.
After a cagy opening ten minutes Boris Mathis drew a comfortable save from Alex Cairns after a good driving run from McWilliams.
It was Fleetwood who broke the deadlock on 18 minutes though, Kyle Dempsey with a first-time finish from the edge of the area. The game was scrappy and the goal came out of nothing, Toumani Diagouraga providing the assist for Dempsey.
Ashley Eastham headed over from a Jack Sowerby free-kick while Kevin van Veen couldn’t keep his shot down after some good work by Hildeberto Pereira.
Kevin Luckassen came on for the second half with Mathis, who appeared to pick up a knock in the first half, the player to make way.
The Cobblers were almost back on level terms when Pereira made a good run before playing the ball wide to van Veen but with Luckassen lurking agonisingly no one could quite get on the end of his devilish ball across the six-yard box. Luckassen then headed wide from a Matt Grimes corner as the Cobblers continued to press hard for an equaliser.
A good save from Richard O’Donnell denied Fleetwood substitute Jordy Hiwula but from the subsequent corner Cian Bolger stabbed home from close range to double the home side’s lead. There was no way back for the Cobblers after that and it was Fleetwood who claimed the three points.
FLEETWOOD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (1) 6
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (0) 6
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1