SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 21st, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Jon Guthrie 21
ROCHDALE 3
Max Taylor 17
Josh Andrews 73
Abraham Odoh 90
Attendance: 4,870 (including 221 away supporters)
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Joseph Mills, Sid Nelson, Jon Guthrie, Sam Hoskins, Paul Lewis, Shaun McWilliams (sub Dylan Connolly 78), Mitch Pinnock, Nicke Kabamba (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 63), Kion Etete (sub Danny Rose 63)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Ali Koiki, Jordan Flores, Scott Pollock
Rochdale: Jay Lynch, Corey O’Keeffe, Max Taylor, Eoghan O’Connell, Stephen Dooley, Aaron Morley, Alex Newby, Sam Graham (sub Jeriel Dorsett 46), Matty Done (sub Jimmy Keohane 46), Abraham Odoh, Josh Andrews (sub Danny Cashman 78)
Subs not used: Jimmy McNulty, Ethan Brierley, Joe Dunne, Joel Coleman
Referee: Carl Brook
Booked:
Cobblers: Sid Nelson (46, 1st of the season), Colin Calderwood (58), Sam Hoskins (66, 2nd)
Rochdale: none
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
Rochdale: 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.
Sid Nelson replaced the suspended Fraser Horsfall with the fit again Jordan Flores back on the bench for the visit of Rochdale.
On a wet and grey August afternoon at Sixfields the Cobblers were on the front foot from the start, Sam Hoskins seeing an early volley blocked by Dale defender Max Taylor. Nelson also headed wide with Town once again posing a real threat from set plays.
It was Rochdale however who made the breakthrough from a well-worked free-kick, Alex Newby’s ball into the box headed home by Max Taylor.
The Cobblers were soon back on level terms from a free-kick of their own, Jon Guthrie heading in Mitch Pinnock’s cross, the defender on the scoresheet in consecutive games following his winner at Colchester the previous week. The remainder of the first half was fairly even with Corey O’Keeffe shooting just wide for Dale in stoppage time.
Jimmy Keohane and Jeriel Dorsett came on in a double change for Dale at half-time, replacing Matty Done and Sam Graham.
The Cobblers defended well as Alex Newby just failed to get his shot off following a scramble in the box before Nicke Kabamba almost capitalised on a slack back pass, Jay Lynch just about managing to snuff out the danger before Kabamba could tap home.
Danny Rose and Benny Ashley-Seal came on for Kion Etete and Kabamba as Jon Brady opted to freshen up his forward line for the final half an hour, the game still very much in the balance.
Rochdale re-took the lead on 73 minutes, Josh Andrews racing clear before slotting calmly past Liam Roberts. The goal stood despite some protestations of off-side. Dylan Connolly completed the Cobblers changes for the afternoon with Shaun McWilliams making way.
Substitute Danny Cashman, on for goalscorer Andrews, failed to turn in Keohane’s header at the back post as Dale looked to seal the win with a third goal.
Guthrie headed wide in stoppage time as the Cobblers pushed for an equaliser before Abraham Odoh sealed the three points on the break for Dale.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (10) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
ROCHDALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (7) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0)0
GOLDEN GOAL PEEL AND REVEAL TIMES: 16:23, 20:00, 72:05, ADTM2