SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday February 1st, 3.00pm
Moss Rose
MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Callum Morton 59
Attendance: 1,712 (475 Cobblers fans)
Macclesfield: Jonathan Mitchell, Fiacre Kelleher, Harry Hamblin, Arthur Gnahoua, Joe Ironside, Ben Stephens (sub Nathan Cameron 46), Connor Kirby (sub Jacob Blyth 74), Fraser Horsfall, Corey O'Keeffe, Danny Whitehead (sub Michael Rose 84), David Fitzpatrick
Subs not used: Reice Charles-Cook
Cobblers: David Cornell, Charlie Goode, Joe Martin, Lloyd Jones, Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Chris Lines, Ryan Watson, Mark Marshall, Vadaine Oliver, Callum Morton (sub Andy Williams 83)
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Matt Warburton, Reece Hall-Johnson, Paul Anderson, Scott Pollock, Morgan Roberts
Referee: J Busby
Booked:
Macclesfield: Connor Kirby (36)
Cobblers: David Cornell (90, 3rd of the season)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Macclesfield: 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.
Defender Lloyd Jones, signed on loan from Luton on deadline day, came straight into the Cobblers team for the trip to Macclesfield. Recent arrivals Mark Marshall and Callum Morton both made their first starts with Chris Lines also recalled, Michael Harriman and James Olayinka missing out after picking up knocks in the midweek win over Scunthorpe. Jacob Blyth and Nathan Cameron, two former Cobblers players, were on the Macclesfield bench with the home side unbeaten in the league at Moss Rose since August.
On a blustery afternoon Jonathan Mitchell saved from Sam Hoskins in the opening exchanges. It was the home side though who nearly drew first blood when Connor Kirby’s goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Charlie Goode, the Cobblers captain not for the first time this season in the right place at the right time to clear the danger.
Arthur Gnahoua saw a free-kick saved by David Cornell while Vadaine Oliver was nearly clear through on goal after a short back pass, the home side just able to recover and clear the ball in time. Chris Lines volleyed just over the bar in the final act of the first half.
Macclesfield made a change at half-time with centre-back Nathan Cameron, who had a loan spell at the Cobblers back in 2013, joining the action.
A cross from Morton created a chance for Hoskins at the start of the second half but his flick was saved by Mitchell. Morton then broke the deadlock himself, stabbing home a Nicky Adams corner that had been turned goalwards by Charlie Goode just before the hour mark.
Cornell made a good save to keep out a powerful header from Gnahoua before the Silkmen brought on another former Cobblers loanee, Jacob Blyth. Andy Williams then replaced goalscorer Morton in the Cobblers first change.
Mitchell denied Ryan Watson as the Cobblers looked to seal the victory with a second goal late on but Morton’s strike was sufficient to extend the Cobblers unbeaten run in 2020 with another crucial three points banked in the promotion race.
MACCLESFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (1) 8
FOULS: (4) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 7