SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday February 9th, 3.00pm
Sincil Bank
LINCOLN CITY 1
Bruno Andrade 27
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Aaron Pierre 45
Attendance: 9,352 (482 Cobblers fans)
Lincoln: Grant Smith, Michael O’Connor (sub Mark O'Hara 80), Jason Shackell, Lee Frecklington (sub Tom Pett 33), Bruno Andrade, Harry Toffolo, Danny Rowe, Neal Eardley, Cian Bolger, Harry Anderson, John Akinde (sub Lee Angol 74)
Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Matt Rhead, James Brown, Jordan Roberts
Cobblers: David Cornell, Shay Facey (sub Daniel Powell 54), Charlie Goode, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Jordan Turnbull, John-Joe O’Toole, Shaun McWilliams (sub Timi Elsnik 62), Jack Bridge (sub Junior Morias 80), Sam Hoskins
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, Andy Williams, Joe Powell, Dean Bowditch
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Booked:
Lincoln: none
Cobblers: David Buchanan (13, 3rd of the season), Charlie Goode (39, 5th), Ash Taylor (61, 4th), Timi Elsnik (67, 3rd)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Lincoln: Harry Anderson (41)
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.
Boosted by the midweek win at Tranmere, John-Joe O’Toole replaced West Ham United loanee Joe Powell in the only change to the Cobblers side for the trip to league leaders Lincoln City.
On a blustery afternoon at a packed out Sincil Bank Sam Hoskins almost added to his brace earlier in the week with a shot blocked behind in a fairly even start to the contest.
Lincoln took the lead on 27 minutes with their first shot on goal of the afternoon, John Akinde providing the assist for Bruno Andrade to finish neatly into the bottom corner. The Imps were then forced into making a change, Tom Pett coming on after Lee Frecklington picked up an injury.
In what had been a fairly cagey opening 45 minutes the home side were reduced to ten men with half-time approaching, Harry Anderson shown a straight red card by referee Michael Salisbury for a dangerous challenge on David Buchanan.
Hoskins saw a free-kick turned behind by Grant Smith deep in first half stoppage time and from the subsequent corner the Cobblers equalised, Aaron Pierre well-placed to turn in Jack Bridge’s low cross.
Akinde curled a shot just wide after making a strong run into the penalty area at the start of the second half while a left-footed half-volley from Jordan Turnbull had Smith scrambling in the Lincoln goal.
Ash Taylor headed wide from a corner as Timi Elsnik came on for Shaun McWilliams in the Cobbblers second change, Daniel Powell having earlier replaced Shay Facey.
Imps substitute Tom Pett warmed the gloves of David Cornell before a quick break from the Cobblers saw a dangerous ball in from Hoskins just evade Bridge at the far post. Elsnik then saw a shot deflected agonisingly wide as Keith Curle’s side pressed forward.
Powell also went close with an effort deflected over the bar in the last minute of normal time while Lincoln had penalty appeals for handball turned down in stoppage time as the points were shared.
LINCOLN MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (5) 7
FOULS: (7) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 5
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (4) 8
FOULS: (6) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3