SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday March 7th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Harry Smith 90
MANSFIELD TOWN 2
Danny Rose 12 pen
Willem Tomlinson 74
Attendance: 5,666 (767 away supporters)
Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Mark Marshall (sub Harry Smith 46), Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull, Nicky Adams, Sam Hoskins, Alan McCormack (sub Lloyd Jones 65), Ryan Watson, Vadaine Oliver, Callum Morton (sub Scott Pollock 68)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Paul Anderson, Chris Lines, Michael Harriman
Mansfield: Aidan Stone, Krystian Pearce, Neal Bishop, Nicky Maynard (sub Craig Davies 82), Kelland Watts (sub Hayden White 87), Willem Tomlinson, Ryan Sweeney, Joe Riley, CJ Hamilton, Harry Charsley, Danny Rose
Subs not used: Mal Benning, Jack Evans, Tyrese Sinclair, Jimmy Knowles, Maison Campbell
Referee: Peter Wright
Booked:
Cobblers: Charlie Goode (31, 7th of the season), Vadaine Oliver (54, 5th), Alan McCormack (62, 7th), Harry Smith (62, 2nd), Nicky Adams (90, 2nd)
Mansfield: Willem Tomlinson (31)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (10)
Mansfield: 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.
With ten games to go and the Cobblers in the play-off places heading into the season run-in, boss Keith Curle named an unchanged side for the visit of Mansfield.
Following advice from the EFL on Friday there were no traditional pre-match handshakes due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Aidan Stone saved an early Nicky Adams free-kick but after a bright start for the Cobblers came a big potential turning point when Mansfield were awarded a penalty after Sam Hoskins brought down Harry Charsley. Hoskins was shown a straight red card and Danny Rose tucked away the spot kick to put the Stags in front.
A well-timed tackle from Alan McCormack halted the advancing run of Nicky Maynard as Mansfield looked to make the most of their numerical advantage and it needed a terrific double save from Steve Arnold and follow-up goal line clearance from Charlie Goode to prevent the Stags doubling their lead.
Vadaine Oliver went close to an equaliser with an audacious overhead kick in first half stoppage time, the Cobblers still very much in the contest despite being down to ten men.
Harry Smith replaced Mark Marshall at half-time in an attacking change from Curle, Smith back in action for the first time since suffering ankle ligament damage in the game at Crawley on Boxing Day.
The Cobblers started the second half brightly and had a huge shout for a penalty turned down when Neal Bishop challenged Scott Wharton while a header from Smith back across goal just eluded the on-rushing Oliver and Callum Morton.
Willem Tomlinson went close from an acute angle and Smith fired over before Alan McCormack, having been booked, made way for Lloyd Jones.
Jones had a header tipped over by Stone as the Cobblers forced a couple of corners in quick succession but they were nearly punished on the break when CJ Hamilton shot into the side netting.
It was a warning sign for the Cobblers who were committing players forward as they had to do and Mansfield doubled their lead following another breakaway, Willem Tomlinson keeping his cool to finish one-on-one with Arnold.
The Cobblers had battled hard with ten men and pulled a goal back deep in stoppage time through a Harry Smith header but Mansfield claimed the three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 9
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (6) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
MANSFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (11) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 11:14, 73:33, ADTM2