SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday November 23rd, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Jon Guthrie 14
Kion Etete 38
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Carl Piergianni 54
Attendance: 4,059 (132 away supporters)
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Shaun McWilliams, Jack Sowerby (sub Danny Rose 79), Sam Hoskins (sub Dylan Connolly 88), Paul Lewis, Mitch Pinnock, Kion Etete (sub Nicke Kabamba 83)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Scott Pollock, Jordan Flores, Max Dyche
Oldham: Jayson Leutwiler, Sam Hart, Ouss Cisse (sub Dylan Bahamboula 46), Harrison McGahey, Carl Piergianni, Callum Whelan, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Zak Dearnley (sub Jamie Hopcutt 46), Dylan Fage, Jamie Bowden, Benny Couto (sub Hallam Hope 46)
Subs not used: Nicky Adams, Jack Stobbs, Faysal Bettache, Luke Southerington
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Booked:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (90, 5th of the season)
Oldham: Carl Piergianni (45), Harrison McGahey (90)
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
Oldham: 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.
It was the return of Keith Curle and co to Sixfields on Tuesday night as Northampton Town took on Oldham Athletic. Jon Brady was able to name an unchanged side while former Cobbler Nicky Adams was on the bench for the Latics.
On a chilly night in Northampton, Curle received a warm round of applause from the Cobblers fans as he made his way to the dugout before kick-off.
Jon Guthrie broke the deadlock 14 minutes in, his fourth goal of the season a close range finish after Oldham failed to clear from a Mitch Pinnock free-kick.
The goal boosted the Cobblers and they almost had a second when Ali Koiki produced a tantalising cross aiming for Kion Etete but a Latics defender managed to stick a leg out and turn the ball behind. Etete also headed over from an Aaron McGowan cross in a spell of Cobblers pressure.
Kion Etete did get himself on the scoresheet before half-time, the on-loan Spurs striker showing superb technique to volley in Pinnock’s perfectly weighted cross at the back-post.
Keith Curle responded to the first half by making a triple change with the former Cobblers boss bringing on Dylan Bahamboula, Jamie Hopcutt and Hallam Hope for the second half.
The changes lifted the visitors and they were back in the game on 53 minutes despite the best efforts of Liam Roberts, Carl Piergianni finishing at the third attempt.
Fraser Horsfall saw a header saved as the Cobblers tried to restore their two goal lead before Davis Keillor-Dunn dragged a shot wide in a chance for Oldham to level.
Callum Whelan couldn’t keep his shot down after Roberts denied Bahamboula and the Cobblers keeper saved from Sam Hart at his near post as Oldham continued to press for an equaliser.
Substitute Nicke Kabamba could have calmed some nerves in injury time but his shot was blocked and in the end it didn’t matter as the Cobblers got themselves over the line to claim the three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 8
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (2) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 4
OLDHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 4
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
GOLDEN GOAL PEEL & REVEAL TIMES: 13:42, 37:05, 53:15