SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday November 16th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 4
Scott Wharton 10, 18
Sam Hoskins 24 pen
Andy Williams 56
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
Chris Porter 37
Attendance: 5,236 (522 away fans)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Paul Anderson (sub Matt Warburton 89), Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull, Chris Lines, Alan McCormack (sub Scott Pollock 84), Sam Hoskins, Nicky Adams, Vadaine Oliver (sub Harry Smith 73), Andy Williams
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Reece Hall-Johnson, Billy Waters, Michael Harriman
Crewe: Will Jaaskelainen, Perry Ng, Harry Pickering, Ryan Wintle, Chris Porter, Charlie Kirk (sub Callum Ainley 65), Paul Green (sub Chuma Anene 75), Nicky Hunt, Tommy Lowery, Owen Dale (sub Daniel Powell 61), Christian Mbulu
Subs not used: Eddie Nolan, James Jones, Dave Richards, Oli Finney
Referee: Craig Hicks
Booked:
Cobblers: Scott Pollock (90, 1st of the season)
Crewe: Christian Mbulu (81)
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
Crewe: 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.
It was 9th vs 4th as the Cobblers took on Crewe Alexandra at the PTS Academy Stadium, looking to close the five-point gap between the two sides. David Cornell returned in goal after Steve Arnold played in the Emirates FA Cup first round win over Chippenham while Sam Hoskins and Andy Williams replaced Matt Warburton and Harry Smith. Daniel Powell, who swapped the PTS for Gresty Road in the summer, started the afternoon on the bench for the Alex.
Crewe started brightly on a chilly afternoon in Northampton with David Cornell saving an early shot from Paul Green. It was the Cobblers though who made the breakthrough on ten minutes, a Nicky Adams free-kick leading to some pinball in the Alex penalty area before Scott Wharton stabbed home.
The visitors looked dangerous going forward and Charlie Kirk spurned a good chance to draw them level, putting his shot wide from close range after a ball in from Tommy Lowery.
Crewe were made to pay for that miss soon after when Scott Wharton doubled the Cobblers lead with a terrific finish into the top corner, an Adams free-kick met perfectly on the volley by the on-loan Blackburn Rovers defender who was now on a hat-trick.
It was a masterclass from the Cobblers in terms of taking their chances and when Paul Anderson was fouled in the area, Sam Hoskins made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it 3-0.
Chris Porter headed over from a corner as Crewe tried to gain a foothold and it was Porter who pulled a goal back for David Artell’s side on 37 minutes, getting the final touch from a corner after Cornell made a smart save to turn behind a shot from Kirk.
You couldn’t take your eyes off this one for a second and the visitors went close again before half-time when a shot from Kirk rattled the post.
In a pulsating game there was no sign of either side letting up at the start of the second half and the Cobblers restored their three goal lead on 56 minutes, Andy Williams on the end of a Vadaine Oliver flick from a Chris Lines pass on to chip the ball over Crewe goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen.
Despite the 4-1 scoreline Crewe remained a real threat and it needed another top save from Cornell to keep out a header from Porter.
Oliver received a standing ovation from the home fans as Keith Curle brought on Harry Smith with just over fifteen minutes to play. Alex substitute Chuma Anene shot straight at Cornell as the visitors spurned another good opportunity before there was another standing ovation as Alan McCormack made way for Scott Pollock.
Unlike the rest of the 90, the final few minutes then passed without real incident as the Cobblers closed the game out, continuing their excellent recent run of results with a 4-1 victory.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 9
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (7) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
CREWE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 9
CORNERS: (6) 10
FOULS: (5) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 9:41, 17:39, 23:16, 36:34, 55:47