SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday October 2nd, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
SUTTON UNITED 2
Joe Kizzi 41
Donovan Wilson 46
Attendance: 4,789 (224 away supporters)
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Ali Koiki, Fraser Horsfall, Shaun McWilliams (sub Kion Etete 56), Sam Hoskins, Jack Sowerby (sub Jordan Flores 65), Paul Lewis, Nicke Kabamba (sub Michael Harriman 74), Danny Rose, Mitch Pinnock
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Benny Ashley-Seal, Scott Pollock, Max Dyche
Sutton: Dean Bouzanis, Ben Goodliffe, Louis John, David Ajiboye (sub Harry Beautyman 90), Craig Eastmond, Enzio Boldewijn, Joe Kizzi, Rob Milsom, Donovan Wilson (sub Will Randall 89), Richie Bennett (sub Omar Bugiel 67), Alistair Smith
Subs not used: Ben Wyatt, Coby Rowe, Ricky Korboa, Harry Palmer
Referee: Rebecca Welch
Booked:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (37, 4th of the season), Danny Rose (38, 5th), Ali Koiki (71, 2nd), Jordan Flores (85, 2nd)
Sutton: Dean Bouzanis (89)
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
Sutton: 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.
Manager Jon Brady was dealt a defensive blow ahead of Northampton Town’s first ever league fixture against Sutton United with Jon Guthrie unavailable for selection after testing positive for Covid-19. Aaron McGowan moved to centre-back in Guthrie’s absence with Shaun McWilliams switched to right-back. Ricky Korboa and Harry Beautyman, both former Cobblers players, were named on the Sutton bench.
On a wet and windy afternoon at Sixfields not only was it the first meeting between these two sides but Rebecca Welch became the first female referee to take charge of a Cobblers fixture.
Liam Roberts made a good early save to deny Donovan Wilson from an acute angle while Paul Lewis dragged a shot wide in a fairly even opening twenty minutes. Wilson then had a good chance to put Sutton in front but under pressure from McGowan headed wide.
Richie Bennett saw a header superbly saved by Roberts in a good spell for the visitors before Danny Rose fired wide from 12-yards.
Sutton had posed a real threat in the first half and they made the breakthrough on 41 minutes when an Enzio Boldewijn corner was headed home by Joe Kizzi.
Donovan Wilson doubled the visitors lead at the start of the second half, Wilson with a composed finish after being played in by his strike partner Bennett.
Boldewijn whistled a shot just wide as Sutton went close to a third goal with Kion Etete now on for the Cobblers in place of Shaun McWilliams.
Roberts saved from Alistair Smith and Etete had a shot blocked at close range as both sides traded chances. McGowan then made a vital block to deny Kizzi his second goal of the afternoon and Roberts saved superbly with his legs from Boldewijn to ensure the margin of defeat remained 2-0.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
SUTTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
GOLDEN GOAL PEEL & REVEAL TIMES: 40:02, 45:25