SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Thursday December 26th, 3.00pm
People's Pension Stadium
CRAWLEY TOWN 4
Nathan Ferguson 27
Bez Lubala 63
Ollie Palmer 80
Mason Bloomfield 84
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 2,190 (430 Cobblers fans)
Crawley: Glenn Morris, Lewis Young, Josh Doherty, Joe McNerney, Ollie Palmer, Ashley Nadesan (sub Mason Bloomfield 76), Nathan Ferguson, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Dannie Bulman, Panutche Camara, Bez Lubala
Subs not used: Michael Luyambula, Ashley Nathaniel-George, Tom Dallison, David Sesay, Tarryn Allarakhia, Brian Galach
Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Joe Martin (sub Vadaine Oliver 73), Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Scott Wharton, Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Ryan Watson, Alan McCormack (sub Shaun McWilliams 51), Chris Lines (sub Andy Williams 62), Harry Smith
Subs not used: David Cornell, Matt Warburton, Paul Anderson, Michael Harriman
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Booked:
Crawley: none
Cobblers: Alan McCormack (44, 6th of the season), Scott Wharton (75, 4th)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Crawley: 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.
The Cobblers travelled to Crawley Town on Boxing Day with the match surviving a late pitch inspection before finally being given the go ahead by referee Sam Purkiss less than an hour before kick-off. Steve Arnold replaced David Cornell in goal with Joe Martin, Chris Lines and Harry Smith also coming into the side in place of Paul Anderson, Michael Harriman and Vadaine Oliver.
Arnold made a comfortable save from Ollie Palmer and Scott Wharton blocked an Ashley Nadesan shot from close range as Crawley looked for an early goal. The Cobblers first chance of the afternoon came from a Nicky Adams free-kick with Smith heading wide.
A quick Crawley counter-attack found a well-placed Panutche Camara inside the penalty area but he failed to find the target in what was a good chance for the hosts and a warning for the Cobblers.
The home side had been pressing and the breakthrough came on 27 minutes, Nathan Ferguson with a powerful shot following a quickly taken throw-in.
Sam Hoskins had a chance to equalise before half-time but his looping header landed on the roof of the net and Crawley led at the break.
Keith Curle made a change not long into the second half with Shaun McWilliams coming on for Alan McCormack.
The Cobblers appealed for a penalty soon afterwards when Charlie Goode went down in the area but the referee wasn’t convinced and waved play on.
Andy Williams came on for Chris Lines in the Cobblers second change but Crawley then doubled their lead with Bez Lubala curling a shot into the bottom corner after a flick on in the area from Palmer.
Palmer dragged a shot wide and a smart save from Arnold denied Lubala as Crawley looked to seal the game with a third goal. Vadaine Oliver then replaced Martin in the Cobblers final change before Arnold saved with his legs to prevent Palmer making it 3-0.
Goode made a vital interception to deny Crawley substitute Mason Bloomfield a clear shot on goal but Crawley and Ollie Palmer weren’t to be denied a third, Palmer turning home a cross from close range and things were to get worse when Mason Bloomfield rounded Arnold to make it 4-0.
To compound the Cobblers afternoon further McWilliams left the field on a stretcher in stoppage time and Harry Smith was similarly forced off, the Cobblers ending the afternoon with nine men having already made all three substitutions.
CRAWLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (6) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 0
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (2) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4