SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday January 12th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Jack Bridge 48, 62
Junior Morias 72
CARLISLE UNITED 0
Attendance: 4,875 (484 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Shay Facey, Jay Williams, Aaron Pierre, Jordan Turnbull, George Cox (sub David Buchanan 75), Sam Foley, Shaun McWilliams, Jack Bridge, Sam Hoskins (sub Junior Morias 64), Andy Williams (sub Daniel Powell 64)
Subs not used: Luke Coddington, Hakeem Odoffin, Morgan Roberts, Dean Bowditch
Carlisle: Adam Collin, Danny Grainger, Gary Liddle, Anthony Gerrard, Tom Parkes, Hallam Hope (sub Regan Slater 90), Jamie Devitt, Macaulay Gillesphey (sub Richie Bennett 73), Jack Sowerby, Kelvin Etuhu, Liam McCarron (sub Connor Simpson 63)
Subs not used: Gary Miller, Jason Kennedy, Mike Jones, Louis Gray
Referee: Lee Swabey
Booked:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (54, 3rd of the season)
Carlisle: Kelvin Etuhu (31), Hallam Hope (77)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Carlisle: 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.
George Cox, signed on loan from Brighton at the start of the week, made his debut as the Cobblers took on in-form Carlisle United. Aaron Pierre, making his 50th appearance for the club, captained the side in the absence of the injured Ash Taylor.
Sam Hoskins had a shot blocked at close range and Jack Bridge curled a free-kick just wide in a bright start from the Cobblers. Adam Collin made a good save from Andy Williams before a quick Carlisle counter-attack found Hallam Hope well-placed in front of goal but the one-time Cobblers loanee failed to find the target.
Cox, looking bright on his debut, curled a free-kick over the bar and Jack Sowerby tested David Cornell after combining with Hope. The Cobblers keeper pulled off a fine save to push away a fierce effort from Jamie Devitt, Pierre then alert to block the follow-up effort from Danny Grainger.
Shaun McWilliams saw a shot saved by Collin as the first half ended goalless.
The Cobblers made the breakthrough early in the second half, Jack Bridge firing the ball home after Hoskins' initial effort from Shay Facey’s cross had been blocked.
Centre-back Anthony Gerrard headed over from a free-kick in a half-chance for Carlisle while a deflected effort from Hoskins nearly fell kindly for Bridge. .
It wasn’t long before Jack Bridge did have his second goal of the afternoon though, Sam Foley providing the assist as the Cobblers doubled their lead. Junior Morias and Daniel Powell then came on in a double change for the Cobblers with Connor Simpson on for Carlisle.
Bridge turned provider to set up the Cobblers third goal, playing the ball through to Junior Morias who kept his cool to finish with aplomb. Debutant Cox then received a standing ovation as he was replaced by David Buchanan.
Substitute Simpson spurned a good chance to pull a goal back for Carlisle and the Cobblers closed the game out to claim an impressive 3-0 victory against a side who started the day fifth in Sky Bet League 2 on the back of six straight wins.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (1) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
CARLISLE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 7
CORNERS: (3) 3
FOULS: (7) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 47:19, 61:22, 71:53