SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Tuesday April 20th, 7.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Peter Kioso 8, 32
Ryan Watson 84
IPSWICH TOWN 0
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Peter Kioso (sub Michael Harriman 83), Lloyd Jones, Fraser Horsfall, Joseph Mills, Shaun McWilliams, Bryn Morris, Ryan Watson, Sam Hoskins, Caleb Chukwuemeka (sub Mark Marshall 55), Alex Jones (sub Danny Rose 82)
Subs not used: Charlie Woods, Mickel Miller, Ricky Korboa, Cian Bolger
Ipswich: Thomas Holy, Mark McGuinness, Stephen Ward, Luke Woolfenden, Gwion Edwards, Kayden Jackson (sub Aaron Drinan 67), Keanen Bennetts (sub Armando Dobra 57), Freddie Sears (sub Oli Hawkins 67), Flynn Downes, Andre Dozzell, Kane Vincent-Young
Subs not used: Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse, David Cornell, Myles Kenlock
Referee: James Bell
Booked:
Cobblers: Danny Rose (90, 5th of the season)
Ipswich: none
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Ipswich: 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.
Jon Brady handed a start to Caleb Chukwuemeka for the visit of Ipswich Town while Peter Kioso shook off a groin problem to replace Michael Harriman at right-back. Mickel Miller was named on the bench as he made his return to the matchday squad following a hamstring injury. Former Cobblers duo David Cornell and Luke Chambers were among the Ipswich substitutes.
Gwion Edwards struck the post with a sharp strike from 25-yards as Ipswich went close to an early goal. It was the Cobblers who took the lead however, Peter Kioso volleying home after getting on the end of a pin-point Joseph Mills corner.
A last-gasp block from Stephen Ward denied Chukwuemeka following some neat Cobblers build-up play involving Sam Hoskins while Alex Jones fired over from a tight angle.
Thomas Holy made a smart low save to keep out a shot from Ryan Watson and a goal line clearance from Mark McGuinness denied Mills as the Cobblers pressed for a second goal which duly came from another Mills corner, Peter Kioso heading home his second goal of the night.
Alex Jones flashed a header just wide as the Cobblers went close to a third before the woodwork again denied Ipswich when a looping header from Freddie Sears clipped the cross bar.
Ipswich started the second half on the offensive with Jonathan Mitchell pulling off a fine save to deny Kane Vincent-Young. Sears was also thwarted by the on-loan Derby keeper before Jon Brady brought Mark Marshall on for Chukwuemeka.
Oli Hawkins headed narrowly wide as Ipswich again went close but the Cobblers were still posing a threat on the counter-attack with both Sam Hoskins and Ryan Watson seeing shots blocked at close range.
Danny Rose replaced Alex Jones and Michael Harriman came on for Peter Kioso before the Cobblers increased their lead, a composed Ryan Watson with an accomplished strike from outside the area after Holy failed to get enough distance on his clearance.
Watson’s goal put the cap on a fine Cobblers performance which kept their hopes of staying in League 1 alive with three games to go.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (4) 4
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
IPSWICH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 7
CORNERS: (3) 11
FOULS: (7) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1