SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday March 20th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
Owen Dale 74
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Peter Kioso, Lloyd Jones, Fraser Horsfall, Joseph Mills, Shaun McWilliams (sub Alex Jones 78), Bryn Morris, Ryan Watson, Mickel Miller (sub Ryan Edmondson 72), Mark Marshall (sub Danny Rose 55), Sam Hoskins
Subs not used: Dylan Berry, Michael Harriman, Ricky Korboa, Cian Bolger
Crewe: Will Jaaskelainen, Harry Pickering, Donervon Daniels, Tom Lowery, Chris Porter (sub Mikael Mandron 86), Charlie Kirk (sub Rio Adebisi 90), Callum Ainley (sub Ryan Wintle 71), Olly Lancashire, Owen Dale, Luke Murphy, Omar Beckles
Subs not used: Dave Richards, Stephen Walker, Anthony Evans, Nathan Wood
Referee: Sam Allison
Booked:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (47, 7th of the season)
Crewe: Luke Murphy (45), Omar Beckles (45)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Crewe: 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.
Caretaker boss Jon Brady made two changes for the visit of Crewe Alexandra with Mark Marshall and Bryn Morris replacing Ryan Edmondson and Jack Sowerby who missed out through injury.
Crewe had the first real chance of the afternoon when Charlie Kirk was played in on goal but his shot was saved by Jonathan Mitchell at the near post with Shaun McWilliams completing the clearance. Marshall meanwhile had a shot blocked on the edge of the area as chances prove hard to come by for both sides in a tight first half.
With half-time approaching referee Sam Allison waved away the Cobblers appeal for a penalty when Miller looked to have been fouled in the area, the ball then falling for Morris who was unable to find the target on the follow-up.
The second half began in much the same way as the first and it wasn’t too long before Brady made a change, Danny Rose on for Marshall.
Mitchell was alert to the danger to punch away a Harry Pickering free-kick before Ryan Edmondson, on for Miller, chipped the ball wide after being played in by Ryan Watson.
Moments after that chance for Edmondson it was Crewe who broke the deadlock, Owen Dale keeping his cool on the counter-attack to finish past Mitchell.
Alex Jones came on for McWilliams as the Cobblers tried to rescue a point but Crewe held on to claim the victory.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (6) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
CREWE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 0
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (10) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2