SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday October 5th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
LEYTON ORIENT 1
James Brophy 57
Attendance: 5,419 (960 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Michael Harriman, Joe Martin, Reece Hall-Johnson, Scott Wharton, Shaun McWilliams (sub Matt Warburton 69), Chris Lines, Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Andy Williams (sub Vadaine Oliver 69), Harry Smith (sub Alan McCormack 69)
Subs not used: Andrew Fisher, Scott Pollock, Billy Waters, Ryan Hughes
Leyton Orient: Dean Brill, Sam Ling (sub Marvin Ekpiteta 7), Joe Widdowson, Dale Gorman (sub George Marsh 80), Josh Coulson, Craig Clay, Conor Wilkinson, Daniel Happe, James Brophy, Matt Harrold (sub Jordan Maguire-Drew 77), Josh Wright
Subs not used: James Dayton, Sam Sargeant, Louis Dennis, Shadrach Ogie
Referee: Tony Harrington
Booked:
Cobblers: Alan McCormack (73, 2nd of the season)
Leyton Orient: Dale Gorman (21), Joe Widdowson (40), Conor Wilkinson (79)
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
Leyton Orient: 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.
Justin Edinburgh was on the front of the matchday programme on a day when Northampton Town and Leyton Orient again paid tribute to their former manager. Edinburgh tragically passed away in the summer aged just 49 after guiding Orient back into the English Football League and prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause as well as bucket collections outside the ground for the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation.
Looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches, the Cobblers were forced into making two changes with Jordan Turnbull (suspension) and captain Charlie Goode (illness) both unavailable. Harry Smith and Reece Hall-Johnson came into the side with Alan McCormack, back from an injury picked up in the opening game of the season, named on the bench. Joe Widdowson, who played for the Cobblers between 2012 and 2014, started for Leyton Orient.
Nicky Adams, skippering the side in Goode’s absence, drew an early save from Dean Brill before a moment of danger for the Cobblers when Conor Wilkinson’s flick came back off the post. Orient were then forced into making an early change, Marvin Ekpiteta on for the injured Sam Ling.
An Andy Williams header was comfortably saved by Brill while O’s midfielder Dale Gorman was maybe somewhat fortunate to only be shown a yellow card following a late challenge on Adams. David Cornell made a sharp save to turn behind a shot from Wilkinson and the Welshman was called upon again from the ensuing corner, tipping a header on to the bar. Hall-Johnson headed wide from a Chris Lines free-kick in a chance for the Cobblers but neither side could make the breakthrough before half-time.
Hoskins was denied by the woodwork at the start of the second half when his effort came back off the base of the post and it was Orient who opened the scoring on 57 minutes, James Brophy keeping his cool to slot home following a swift counter-attack.
Matt Harrold failed to test Cornell after being set up by strike partner Wilkinson as the Londoners looked to double their advantage. Keith Curle then made a triple change, Alan McCormack, Matt Warburton and Vadaine Oliver on for Andy Williams, Harry Smith and Shaun McWilliams.
Brill made a good save to tip over a shot from Scott Wharton as the Cobblers probed for an equaliser,, Adams also going close with an effort just wide. There were four minutes of stoppage time and despite some late pressure from the Cobblers the O’s held on to claim the three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (6) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
LEYTON ORIENT MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (10) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 56:09