-SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday December 11th, 3.00pm
The EnviroVent Stadium
HARROGATE TOWN 1
Jack Diamond 23
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Fraser Horsfall 7
Jon Guthrie 49
Attendance: 2,166 (574 Cobblers fans)
Harrogate: Mark Oxley, Lewis Page, Josh Falkingham, Warren Burrell, George Thomson, Nathan Sheron (sub Ryan Fallowfield 71), Alex Pattison, Lloyd Kerry (sub Jack Muldoon 80), Connor Hall, Jack Diamond, Luke Armstrong
Subs not used: Danillo Orsi, Joe Cracknell, Simon Power
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins (sub Jordan Flores 88), Paul Lewis, Mitch Pinnock, Danny Rose (sub Dylan Connolly 85), Nicke Kabamba
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Benny Ashley-Seal, Scott Pollock, Max Dyche
Referee: Carl Brook
Booked:
Harrogate: Warren Burrell (51)
Cobblers: Aaron McGowan (55, 2nd of the season), Danny Rose (69, 6th), Jack Sowerby (83, 3rd)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Harrogate: 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.
Nicke Kabamba came into the Northampton Town side for their first ever meeting with Harrogate Town, replacing the injured Shaun McWilliams who had to come off at half-time against Exeter in midweek. McWilliams absence meant a re-shuffle for boss Jon Brady who was also still without on-loan Spurs striker Kion Etete.
Sam Hoskins went agonisingly close to giving the Cobblers an early lead when his curled free-kick struck the inside of the post while Luke Armstrong volleyed over in the first sight at goal for Harrogate.
The Cobblers had started brightly and Fraser Horsfall made the breakthrough on 7 minutes, the defender turning home Mitch Pinnock’s corner.
Warren Burrell escaped a possible red card when he appeared to bring down Kabamba who was clear through on goal but referee Carl Brook was unmoved.
Harrogate equalised midway through the first half, Jack Diamond finding the top corner with a fine strike from the edge of the area. The goal lifted the home side and Alex Pattison then forced Liam Roberts into a smart save.
With half-time approaching Roberts made a terrific double save to ensure the teams went in at the break level, Luke Armstrong and George Thomson the players denied.
Mark Oxley saved from Kabamba one-on-one early in the second half and it wasn’t long after that before the Cobblers were back in front, Pinnock’s free-kick headed home by Jon Guthrie.
Aaron McGowan shot just wide, Hoskins went close with a deflected effort following a well-worked free-kick and Kabamba drew a good save from Oxley as the Cobblers looked to double their lead.
The home side applied some late pressure in a bid to rescue a point but the Cobblers held the hosts at arms length for the most part to claim their second away win of the week.
HARROGATE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (5) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (8) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0