SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 28th, 3.00pm
The People's Pension Stadium
CRAWLEY TOWN 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 2,284 (415 Cobblers fans)
Crawley Town: Glenn Morris, Archie Davies, Ludwig Francillette, Tony Craig, Tom Dallison (sub Nicholas Tsaroulla 88), Jack Powell, Jake Hessenthaler, Will Ferry (sub Kwesi Appiah 59), Tyler Frost (sub Jack Payne 59), Sam Ashford, Ashley Nadesan
Subs not used: Blondy Nna Noukeu, Owen Gallacher, James Tilley
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Joseph Mills (sub Ali Koiki 71), Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Sam Hoskins, Paul Lewis, Jordan Flores, Mitch Pinnock, Danny Rose (sub Dylan Connolly 73), Kion Etete (sub Nicke Kabamba 79)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Shaun McWilliams, Benny Ashley-Seal, Sid Nelson
Referee: Lee Swabey
Booked:
Crawley: Jack Powell (83)
Cobblers: Dylan Connolly (90, 2nd of the season)
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:
Crawley: 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.
Danny Rose and Jordan Flores kept their places in the Northampton Town side for the trip to Crawley having both played in the Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon in midweek.
Kion Etete had an early chance but having been played in by Sam Hoskins, the on-loan Spurs striker was denied by a good save from Crawley goalkeeper Glenn Morris.
Tyler Frost saw a shot saved by Liam Roberts and also fired an effort over the bar as the game approached the half hour mark, Roberts also making a good low save to keep out a shot from Sam Ashford.
Hoskins went close with a half-volley from the edge of the area and Etete, under pressure, dragged a shot wide. The first half however ended goalless despite chances for both sides.
Jake Hessenthaler fired just over from 30-yards early in the second half before Morris denied Etete one-on-one with another good stop. Kwesi Appiah and Jack Payne came on in a double change for the home side.
The Cobblers were dealt a big injury blow when Joseph Mills had to be stretchered off following a nasty looking clash with a Crawley player, the Town skipper leaving the field in a leg brace. Ali Koiki replaced Mills with Dylan Connolly on for Rose. Jon Brady’s third and final change saw Etete make way for Nicke Kabamba with just over ten minutes plus stoppage time to play.
Morris turned behind a stinging drive from Mitch Pinnock and the Crawley keeper saved a Hoskins header deep into eight minutes of stoppage time but the sides couldn’t be separated.
CRAWLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (6) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2