SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday February 2nd, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
COLCHESTER UNITED 4
Frank Nouble 25
Abobaker Eisa 50
Kane Vincent-Young 53
Sammie Szmodics 67
Attendance: 4,796 (405 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Shay Facey, Charlie Goode, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Jack Bridge, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Daniel Powell 56), Timi Elsnik, Shaun McWilliams, Junior Morias, Marvin Sordell (sub Andy Williams 65)
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, Dean Bowditch, David Buchanan, Jay Williams, Joe Powell
Colchester: Rene Gilmartin, Ryan Jackson, Luke Prosser, Frankie Kent, Courtney Senior (sub Brennan Dickenson 66), Harry Pell, Sammie Szmodics (sub Callum Roberts 80), Mikael Mandron (sub Abobaker Eisa 46), Kane Vincent-Young, Ben Stevenson, Frank Nouble
Subs not used: Tom Lapslie, Tom Eastman, Brandon Comley, Dillon Barnes
Referee: Ross Joyce
Booked:
Cobblers: Charlie Goode (59, 4th of the season)
Colchester: Mikael Mandron (40)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Colchester: 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.
Marvin Sordell (Burton Albion) and Charlie Goode (Scunthorpe United), signed on loan on transfer deadline day, both came straight in to the side for the visit of promotion chasing Colchester United. Junior Morias partnered Sordell in attack with the fit again John-Joe O’Toole and Shaun McWilliams also back in the starting line-up. Jordan Turnbull was however unavailable for selection through injury. One-time Cobblers loanee Luke Prosser captained the U’s.
A strong run and cross from Aaron Pierre created a chance for Marvin Sordell but the ball maybe just came a bit too quickly to him and he couldn’t keep his shot down. Sammie Szmodics curled a shot just over the bar in the first sight at goal for the visitors.
The Cobblers had made most of the running in the first part of the game but it was Colchester who opened the scoring from a corner, Frank Nouble’s shot from inside the six-yard box going in via a deflection.
Ash Taylor made an important block to deny Harry Pell as Colchester threatened to double their lead while Charlie Goode was also in the right place at the right time to prevent Courtney Senior getting a shot off.
Rene Gilmartin pulled off a fine save to turn behind a fierce volley from Taylor as the Cobblers went close to an equaliser.
Sordell was through on goal at the start of the second half but one-on-one with Gilmartin the Colchester keeper made the save. John-Joe O’Toole had a shot blocked at close range as the home side continued to press forward but they were caught on the break soon after, half-time substitute Abobaker Eisa finishing off a quick counter-attack to double the U’s lead.
Gilmartin made another good save to deny Morias and Colchester then took full advantage, Kane Vincent-Young scoring on the break to make it 3-0. Daniel Powell then replaced O’Toole in the Cobblers first change.
Andy Williams came on for Sordell before Sammie Szmodics added a fourth, turning in a cross from substitute Brennan Dickenson.
Goode headed over from a corner and Gilmartin made another save from Morias as the Cobblers tried to pull a goal back although Colchester continued to look dangerous on the break.
Harry Pell had a chance to increase Colchester’s lead further from the penalty spot after Jack Bridge fouled Callum Roberts but David Cornell dived the right way to make the save, ensuring the game ended 4-0.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 6
COLCHESTER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 3
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 24:29, 49:48, 52:43, 66:15