SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday October 19th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Sam Hoskins 35 pen
Jordan Turnbull 66
SALFORD CITY 0
Attendance: 4,886 (including 151 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Michael Harriman, Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull, Alan McCormack (sub Scott Pollock 56), Chris Lines, Nicky Adams (sub Paul Anderson 83), Sam Hoskins, Billy Waters (sub Shaun McWilliams 87), Andy Williams
Subs not used: Andrew Fisher, Reece Hall-Johnson, Harry Smith, Vadaine Oliver
Salford: Kyle Letheren, Scott Wiseman, Ibou Touray, Luke Armstrong, Lois Maynard, Adam Rooney(sub Mani Dieseruvwe 71), Cameron Burgess, Nathan Pond, Joey Jones (sub Danny Lloyd 71), Jake Jervis, Craig Conway (sub Danny Whitehead 81)
Subs not used: Oscar Threlkeld, Sam Hughes, William Evans, Alex Doyle
Referee: Lee Swabey
Booked:
Cobblers: Alan McCormack (41, 3rd of the season), Michael Harriman (47, 1st), Scott Wharton (61, 1st), Billy Waters (75, 1st)
Salford: Joey Jones (42)
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
Salford: 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.
Alan McCormack, Chris Lines, Andy Williams, Michael Harriman and Billy Waters came into the side as Keith Curle made five changes for EFL newcomers Salford City’s first ever visit to the PTS Academy Stadium while after re-signing for the club on Friday, winger Paul Anderson was named on the bench. Vadaine Oliver was also amongst the substitutes having had his red card at Scunthorpe overturned on appeal.
Waters fired over on the half-volley and Kyle Letheren saved a Lines header as the Cobblers started brightly. Sam Hoskins also went close with a shot just wide having earlier seen an effort blocked.
Salford started to grow into the game and it needed a smart low save from David Cornell to deny Adam Rooney the opening goal.
Sam Hoskins broke the deadlock from the penalty spot ten minutes before half-time after Charlie Goode was tripped, Hoskins keeping his cool to find the bottom corner.
A dipping free-kick from Ibou Touray went over the bar in a fragmented start to the second half. A dangerous cross from Touray then just evaded an onrushing Rooney in front of goal before the same player headed wide with the visitors pressing for an equaliser.
Jordan Turnbull doubled the Cobblers lead midway through the second half following a well-worked free-kick, taken by Nicky Adams and headed back across goal by Andy Williams who himself nearly made it three moments later with a lob that went over the bar.
The Cobblers were looking to put the game to bed and Letheren made a fine save to turn behind a sumptuous free-kick from Adams before Paul Anderson, on for his second debut, volleyed just over with his first touch. Seven minutes of stoppage time were then comfortably seen out as the Cobblers collected all three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 7
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (4) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
SALFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (4) 4
FOULS: (9) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 34:52, 65:33