SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday August 20th 7.45pm
County Ground
SWINDON TOWN 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Andy Williams 67'
Attendance: 7,203 (345)
Swindon: Luke McCormick, Rob Hunt, Dion Conroy (Capt.), Mathieu Baudry, Zeki Fryers (Tyler Reid 61), Jordan Lyden, Michael Doughty, Adam May (Scott Twine 73), Lloyd Isgrove, Kayne Woolery, Eoin Doyle.
Subs not used: Will Henry, Tom Broadbent, Ellis Iandolo, Taylor Curran, Markus Ifill.
Cobblers: David Cornell, Shaun McWilliams, Charlie Goode (Capt.), Scott Wharton (Billy Waters 70), Joe Bunney, Nicky Adams, Chris Lines, Jordan Turnbull, Ryan Watson, Sam Hoskins, Andy Williams (Vadaine Oliver 83).
Subs not used: Bradley Lashey, Jay Williams, Matt Warburton, Junior Morias, Harry Smith.
Referee: Craig Hicks
Booked:
Swindon: Adam May (65)
Cobblers: Chris Lines (54, 1st of the season), Jordan Turnbull (71, 1st of the season)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Swindon: 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.
Andy Williams, Chris Lines and Joe Bunney came into the side as boss Keith Curle made three changes for the trip to early Sky Bet League 2 pacesetters Swindon Town. Harry Smith and Matt Warburton dropped to the bench with Joe Martin ruled out through injury.
In a fairly quiet opening twenty minutes in terms of clear cut chances for either side, Charlie Goode had a header cleared from a Nicky Adams free-kick while Lloyd Isgrove curled over from distance for the home side.
Jordan Turnbull was alert to the danger with Eoin Doyle sniffing out an opportunity before the Cobblers enjoyed a spell of pressure with only some last-ditch defending preventing Sam Hoskins playing in Scott Wharton. The game was now starting to open up and Goode made an important challenge to block a shot from Doyle behind for a corner.
With half-time approaching Turnbull made a driving run into the opposition box after winning possession inside the Cobblers half only to drag his shot wide as the first 45 ended goalless.
Swindon started the second half strongly and Goode was again in the right place at the right time to clear a low drilled cross from Kayne Woolery, Bunney also made an important block and David Cornel showed good reactions to tip over a flashed header from Jordan Lyden.
Cornell made another good save to deny Dion Conroy and moments later the Cobblers were in front, Andy Williams onto a long ball forward from Ryan Watson before finishing superbly from a tight angle. There was then a discussion between the referee and the linesman as the Swindon players appealed for off-side but the goal stood.
The home side had a chance to equalise when Adam May blazed a shot over the bar with Keith Curle having just been forced into a change, Scott Wharton replaced by Billy Waters after picking up a knock.
Woolery headed wide from a corner after Robins substitute Tyler Reid had a shot deflected behind. Goalscorer Williams then made way for Vadaine Oliver in the Cobblers second change.
Six minutes of stoppage time were signalled by the fourth official but the Cobblers remained assured in their defending to close the game out and claim a 1-0 victory, a Michael Doughty free-kick curled just over the bar the closest Swindon came to grabbing an equaliser.
SWINDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (3) 9
FOULS: (8) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (7) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2