SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Tuesday March 20th, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Shay Facey 45
SHREWSBURY TOWN 1
Jon Nolan 67
Attendance: 4,788 (615 away fans)
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Shay Facey, Brendan Moloney, Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Bunney, Hildeberto Pereira (sub Shaun McWilliams 82), John-Joe O’Toole, Matt Grimes, Boris Mathis (sub Gboly Ariyibi 74), Kevin van Veen (sub Kevin Luckassen 59)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Chris Long, Sam Hoskins
Shrewsbury: Dean Henderson, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Abu Ogogo, Carlton Morris (sub Lenell John-Lewis 88), Bryn Morris, Luke Hendrie (sub Stefan Payne 59), Jon Nolan, Aristote Nsiala, Alex Rodman
Subs not used: Max Lowe, Nathan Thomas, Arthur Gnahoua, Craig MacGillivray, Sam Jones
Referee: Andy Davies
Booked:
Cobblers: Joe Bunney (66, 7th of the season), Brendan Moloney (90, 3rd)
Shrewsbury: Omar Beckles (31), Jon Nolan (85)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: John-Joe O'Toole (64)
Shrewsbury: Abu Ogogo (64)
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.
Second-placed Shrewsbury Town were the visitors to Sixfields for the Cobblers final midweek home game of the season. Everton loanee Boris Mathis made his first start with Kevin van Veen and Shay Facey also both back in the starting line-up. Matt Crooks served the second game of his three-match ban.
There was a good atmosphere inside Sixfields as the Cobblers started brightly, Jo Bunney putting in a dangerous cross that was gathered in well by Dean Henderson.
Van Veen had a shot from distance turned behind by Henderson after some more good work from Bunney while Abu Ogogo saw a header deflected just wide and Brendan Moloney made an important block to deny Alex Rodman.
The Cobblers took the lead just before half-time, Shay Facey applying the finishing touch to Bunney’s left-wing cross, Mathis also doing well to feed the ball to Bunney in the build-up.
Van Veen had a shot blocked by Nsiala and Henderson saved from Hildeberto Pereira as the Cobblers continued to press Shrewsbury at the start of the second half.
Both sides were down to ten men when referee Andy Davies sent off John-Joe O’Toole and Abu Ogogo following a flashpoint between the two players.
Not long after the double sending off Shrewsbury were back on level terms, Jon Nolan with a low strike from the edge of the area.
As the game entered the final five minutes it needed a Vital interception from Ash Taylor to block a shot from Shrews substitute Stefan Payne before Omar Beckles header from the subsequent corner rattled the woodwork.
The game was still in the balance going into stoppage time but despite some nervy moments for both sides in the end the points were shared.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 1
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
SHREWSBURY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (5) 7
FOULS: (2) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1