SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday April 6th, 3.00pm
Meadow Lane
NOTTS COUNTY 2
Mitch Rose 27
Kane Hemmings 52
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Daniel Powell 44
Sam Hoskins 50
Attendance: 7,129 (934 Cobblers fans)
Notts Co: Ryan Schofield, Matt Tootle, Richard Duffy, Enzio Boldewijn (sub Ross Fitzsimons 49), Kane Hemmings (sub Craig Mackail-Smith 87), Sam Stubbs, Jim O’Brien, Robert Milsom, Mitch Rose, Jon Stead (sub Pierce Bird 70), Michael Doyle
Subs not used: Ben Barclay, Lewis Alessandra, David Vaughan, Virgil Gomis
Cobblers: David Cornell, Charlie Goode, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Jordan Turnbull (sub Dean Bowditch 57), Sam Foley, Timi Elsnik (sub Marvin Sordell 71), Jack Bridge (sub Andy Williams 57), Daniel Powell, Sam Hoskins
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, John-Joe O’Toole, Junior Morias, Joe Powell
Referee: Ben Toner
Booked:
Notts Co: Richard Duffy (45), Kane Hemmings (62), Mitch Rose (63)
Cobblers: Charlie Goode (4, 10th of the season), Jordan Turnbull (39, 4th), David Cornell (55, 3rd), Sam Hoskins (77, 9th), Aaron Pierre (83, 8th)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Notts Co: Ryan Schofield (47)
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.
Jordan Turnbull, back from an ankle injury, Daniel Powell and on-loan Derby County midfielder Timi Elsnik all came into the side for the trip to Notts County with Junior Morias, recovered from appendicitis, named on the bench.
County, in need of a result to get themselves out of the relegation zone, came out of the blocks quickly with Charlie Goode shown an early yellow card for a foul on the lively Kane Hemmings. The Cobblers were posing a threat of their own though and it needed a vital interception to prevent Jack Bridge playing in Sam Hoskins.
Turnbull shot wide from the edge of the area before Notts County made the breakthrough, midfielder Mitch Rose finding the bottom corner with a strike from fully 25-yards.
A vital tackle from Aaron Pierre denied Enio Boldewijn a shooting chance inside the box as County looked to double their lead before half-time but it was the Cobblers who levelled following a quick counter-attack, Daniel Powell side-footing home a Hoskins cross/shot from close range.
Ryan Schofield brought down Powell who was through on goal at the start of the second half, resulting in a red card for the County goalkeeper and a free-kick award to the Cobblers just outside the area. Magpies substitute goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons replaced Enzio Boldewijn but he couldn’t keep out Sam Hoskins' deflected free-kick as the Cobblers took the lead.
It wasn’t long before the home side were back on level terms though, Kane Hemmings turning in Jon stead’s cross to make it 2-2. Dean Bowditch and Andy Williams then came on in a double change, Turnbull and Bridge making way.
Another free-kick for the Cobblers in a dangerous position nearly saw them re-take the lead, Bowditch’s strike coming back off Fitzsimons before bouncing off a County defender and back into the grateful arms of the substitute stopper.
Hoskins volleyed straight at Fitzsimons and Bowditch was also denied in a flurry of chances for the Cobblers, County also twice clearing off the line before Marvin Sordell came on for Timi Elsnik in the third and final change made by Keith Curle.
Fitzsimons saved from Sam Foley as the Cobblers continued to press forward with Bowditch also seeing a shot deflected wide as the game entered six minutes of stoppage time. Magpies substitute Craig Mackail-Smith then lined up a shot from distance but his effort flashed wide and the points were shared.
NOTTS COUNTY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (3) 10
FOULS: (8) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0