SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday May 1st, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
BLACKPOOL 3
Luke Garbutt 19
Jerry Yates 75, 86
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Peter Kioso, Lloyd Jones, Fraser Horsfall, Joseph Mills (sub Michale Harriman 10), Shaun McWilliams (sub Ryan Edmondson 46), Bryn Morris, Ryan Watson (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 74), Sam Hoskins, Mickel Miller (sub Mark Marshall 74), Alex Jones (sub Danny Rose 46)
Subs not used: Charlie Woods, Cian Bolger
Blackpool: Chris Maxwell, James Husband (sub Marvin Ekpiteta 79), Jordan Thorniley, Ethan Robson (sub Jordan Gabriel 36), Jerry Yates (sub Demetri Mitchell 87), Elliot Embleton (sub Keshi Anderson 87), Kenny Dougall, Ellis Simms (sub Brad Holmes 87), Ollie Turton, Danny Ballard, Luke Garbutt
Subs not used: Stuart Moore, Nathan Shaw
Referee: Peter Wright
Booked:
Cobblers: Peter Kioso (45, 6th of the season), Ryan Edmondson (67, 3rd)
Blackpool: James Husband (54)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Blackpool: none
Jon Brady named an unchanged side for Northampton Town’s final home game of the season against Blackpool. The Cobblers went into the game needing a result to keep their hopes of staying in League 1 alive while Blackpool, who were forced into a late change after Sullay Kaikai picked up an injury in the warm-up, needed the points to secure a play-off place.
Town started brightly and from an early corner had a big shout for a penalty turned down when Peter Kioso appeared to be pushed over. Brady was then forced into a change when Joseph Mills picked up an injury with Michael Harriman coming on.
Blackpool broke the deadlock on 19 minutes, Luke Garbutt cutting inside before beating Jonathan Mitchell with a powerful strike into the far corner of the net.
Harriman had a shot blocked at close range following a teasing Mickel Miller cross and Sam Hoskins fired wide as the Cobblers responded to falling behind. Mitchell meanwhile made an important sae to prevent Jerry Yates doubling the Seasiders' lead.
Ryan Edmondson and Danny Rose came on in a double change at half-time and Edmondson and Kioso combined early in the second half to set up a chance for Hoskins who volleyed just over the bar. The game was opening up and Harriman headed off the line when Danny Ballard connected with a corner, Elliot Embleton saw a shot blocked and Kenny Dougall drew a smart save from Mitchell.
Caleb Chukwuemeka and Mark Marshall came on with just over a quarter of an hour to play but the Cobblers task was made even more difficult when Blackpool scored a second goal, Jerry Yates finishing from close range after Mitchell had initially denied Everton loanee Ellis Simms.
The Cobblers having to throw caution to the wind were then stung by a third goal, Jerry Yates again on hand to convert from close range despite the best efforts of Fraser Horsfall to clear Luke Garbutt’s shot off the goal line. The match petered out somewhat after that with the final whistle confirming relegation for the Cobblers.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (10) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5
BLACKPOOL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (2) 8
FOULS: (3) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5