SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday January 19th, 3.00pm
Abbey Stadium
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3
Jevani Brown 45
George Taft 64
David Amoo 90
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Aaron Pierre 27
Junior Morias 48
Attendance: 4,849 (918 Cobblers fans)
Cambridge: Dimitar Mitov, Brad Halliday, Greg Taylor, George Taft, Jake Carroll (sub Harrison Dunk 64), David Amoo, Gary Deegan, George Maris (sub Louis John 90), Jevani Brown, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (sub Ade Azeez 76), Jabo Ibehre
Subs not used: Kevin Pilkington, Emmanuel Osadebe, Harry Darling, Paul Lewis
Cobblers: David Cornell, Shay Facey, Jay Williams, Aaron Pierre, Jordan Turnbull, George Cox (sub David Buchanan 46), Shaun McWilliams (sub Scott Pollock 43), Jack Bridge, Sam Hoskins, Junior Morias (sub Daniel Powell 59), Andy Williams
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, Hakeem Odoffin, Jack Newell, Camron McWilliams
Referee: Martin Coy
Booked:
Cambridge: none
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (17, 4th of the season), Jay Williams (24, 2nd), Shay Facey (52, 3rd), David Buchanan (55, 2nd), Jordan Turnbull (63, 3rd)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cambridge: 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.
Junior Morias replaced Sam Foley for the trip to Cambridge United, managed by former Cobblers boss Colin Calderwood. Academy graduate Jack Newell was named on a youthful looking bench with Foley, Dean Bowditch, Ash Taylor and John-Joe O’Toole all sidelined through injury.
Jevani Brown fired an early shot wide and George Maris clipped the cross bar with a curled effort from the edge of the area in a bright start from Cambridge, who included ex-Cobblers players Gary Deegan and Greg Taylor in their starting line-up. Brown then spurned a good chance to put the home side in front, heading wide when well-placed in front of goal.
Dimitar Mitov could only parry a fierce shot from Jack Bridge but with Morias following-in the off-side flag was already raised.
The Cobblers were working their way into the game and duly took the lead on 27 minutes, Aaron Pierre firing the ball home from 10-yards after a Sam Hoskins header had come back off the woodwork.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy couldn’t keep his shot down after a quick break from the home side saw the game open up for the Aston Villa loanee. David Cornell then came out well to deny Maris a shooting opportunity.
An injury to Shaun McWilliams forced Keith Curle into making a change before half-time with youth team midfielder and former Football & Education programme student Scott Pollock coming on to make his debut.
Mitov saved from Hoskins as the Cobblers looked to double their lead before the break but deep in to first half stoppage time Cambridge equalised, Jevani Brown curling a shot into the top corner.
Another enforced change saw David Buchanan replace George Cox for the second half.
Junior Morias restored the Cobblers lead on 48 minutes, finishing on the follow-up after an initial effort from Buchanan had been blocked, Bridge also heavily involved in the build-up.
Referee Martin Coy awarded Cambridge a penalty following a trip although TV replays seemed to suggest the offence was committed well outside the area. However, despite sending Cornell the wrong way, Jevani Brown’s spot-kick struck the post.
The home side were back on level terms for a second time on 64 minutes, centre-back George Taft heading home from a free-kick to make it 2-2.
Both sides continued to attack and it needed a vital interception from Shay Facey to deny David Amoo a shot on goal while an Andy Williams rising strike went just over the bar as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time.
Cambridge appealed for a penalty for a handball against Jay Williams and Cornell saved from Maris as the action continued and there was to be a late winner for the home side, David Amoo finding the back of the net to snatch the three points.
CAMBRIDGE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 11
CORNERS: (0) 3
FOULS: (3) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2