SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday May 5th, 5.30pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Matt Grimes 42 pen
Ash Taylor 45
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
George Edmundson 30
Thomas Haymer 55
Attendance: 6,511 (1,453 away supporters)
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Brendan Moloney, Leon Barnett, Ash Taylor, David Buchanan, Sam Foley (sub Jack Bridge 71), Shaun McWilliams (sub Morgan Roberts 90), Matt Grimes, Daniel Powell, John-Joe O’Toole, Sam Hoskins
Subs not used: David Cornell, Jordan Turnbull, Kevin van Veen, Kevin Luckassen, Regan Poole
Oldham: Johny Placide, Wilfried Moimbe, Dan Gardner (sub Kundai Benyu 74), Duckens Nazon (sub Aaron Holloway 82), Eoin Doyle, George Edmundson, Ben Pringle, Rob Hunt, Gevaro Nepomuceno (sub Craig Davies 56), Jack Byrne, Thomas Haymer
Subs not used: Zeus de la Paz, Patrick McEleney, Jamie Stott, Tope Obadeyi
Referee: Keith Stroud
Booked:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (84, 7th of the season)
Oldham: Dan Gardner (49)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Oldham: 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.
Sam Foley and Brendan Moloney came into the Cobblers side as the curtain came down on the 2017/18 season. Matt Crooks (hamstring) missed out while Morgan Roberts from the academy was named on the bench.
Ash Taylor headed wide from a Matt Grimes corner and Richard O’Donnell saved from Duckens Nazon as both sides traded chances midway through the first half.
Oldham took the lead as the game approached the half hour mark, George Edmundson with a shot from 10-yards.
Matt Grimes had the Cobblers back on level terms from the penalty spot before half-time, the spot-kick awarded when Oldham goalkeeper Johny Placide brought down Sam Hoskins. Grimes stepped up and fired his penalty into the top corner to make it 1-1.
The Cobblers then took the lead deep into first half stoppage time, Ash Taylor firing the ball home from close range after Leon Barnett's shot had been clawed on to the post as Oldham failed to clear a Grimes free-kick.
Thomas Haymer headed home from a free-kick to restore parity ten minutes into the second half. The goal came against the run of play but with Oldham needing a win to ensure their place in Sky Bet League 1 substitute Craig Davies spurned a good chance on a topsy-turvy evening at Sixfields.
Placide made a good save to keep out a Grimes free-kick as the game, and the season, entered the final ten minutes.
Oldham pressed for a late winner but the Cobblers defended well to ensure the game ended 2-2, 17-year old Morgan Roberts coming on in stoppage time to make his debut.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (3) 10
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
OLDHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (4) 4
FOULS: (10) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1