SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday November 24th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Andy Williams 4
Kevin van Veen 74
GRIMSBY TOWN 2
Charles Vernam 36
Harry Cardwell 80
Attendance: 5,594 (698 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Shaun McWilliams (sub Jay Williams 84), Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Jordan Turnbull (sub Shay Facey 56), David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Sam Foley, Sam Hoskins, Andy Williams (sub Daniel Powell 69), Kevin van Veen
Subs not used: Lewis Ward, Hakeem Odoffin, Jack Bridge, Billy Waters
Grimsby: James McKeown, Danny Collins, Jake Hessanthaler, Harry Clifton, Charles Vernam (sub Ahkeem Rose 77), Andrew Fox, Elliot Embleton, Harry Davis, Luke Hendrie, Ben Pringle (sub Alex Whitmore 87), Wes Thomas (sub Harry Cardwell 72)
Subs not used: John Welsh, Mitch Rose, Jordan Cook, Martyn Woolford
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Grimsby: Luke Hendrie (90)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Grimsby: Danny Collins (86)
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.
Ash Taylor, Andy Williams and Sam Foley, back from suspension, came into the side as boss Keith Curle made three changes for the visit of Grimsby Town.
The Cobblers started the game on the front foot and took the lead inside five minutes, Andy Williams with an emphatic finish at the far post after Grimsby failed to clear their lines from a corner. Credit also to Sam Foley who did well to keep the ball alive.
There was no let up in the home side’s tempo despite the early breakthrough and with their foot still firmly on the gas Kevin van Veen saw a shot blocked while David Buchanan also went close, his perfectly timed strike from the edge of the area turned behind by James McKeown.
Referee Trevor Kettle was unmoved as he waved away the Cobblers appeals for a penalty for first handball and then for what appeared to be a foul on Ash Taylor before a fine first-time strike from Hoskins whistled just wide from 20-yards, the Cobblers looking hungry for a second goal.
Grimsby equalised on 36 minutes, Charles Vernam with a neat finish at the back post. Vernam ‘s strike came against the run of play but visibly lifted the Mariners and it needed a goal line clearance from Hoskins to prevent Jake Hessanthaler turning the game around immediately.
It had been a remarkable couple of minutes but the Cobblers nearly re-took the lead just before half-time, McKeown pulling off a terrific save to keep out a Williams header.
Shay Facey replaced Jordan Turnbull following a quiet start to the second half. Daniel Powell came on for Williams in the Cobblers second change.
Kevin van Veen curled in a free-kick from 20-yards to put the Cobblers back in front with just over fifteen minutes to play, the Dutchman finding the bottom right-corner with a superbly taken set-piece.
Parity was once again restored six minutes later, substitute Harry Cardwell turning the ball home from close range after the Cobblers failed to clear Ben Pringle’s initial free-kick. Another Mariners substitute, Ahkeem Rose, then had a chance to put Grimsby in front for the first time only to head over the bar.
Grimsby’s Danny Collins was shown a straight red card after bringing down van Veen when the striker was clear on goal, van Veen was just wide with the subsequent free-kick. The game then became somewhat fragmented as the points were shared.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (4) 4
FOULS: (6) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
GRIMSBY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 3:46, 35:01, 73:38, 79:06