SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday September 18th, 2.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Fraser Horsfall 83
SWINDON TOWN 1
Tyreece Simpson 57
Attendance: 5,863 (962 away supporters)
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Ali Koiki, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Sam Hoskins, Shaun McWilliams, Jack Sowerby (sub Nicke Kabamba 76), Mitch Pinnock (sub Dylan Connolly 60), Danny Rose, Kion Etete (sub Paul Lewis 64)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Michael Harriman, Jordan Flores, Benny Ashley-Seal
Swindon: Jojo Wollacott, Akinwale Odimayo, Ellis Iandolo, Dion Conroy, Romoney Chrichlow, Tyreece Simpson, Jack Payne, Alex Gilbert (sub Jayden Mitchell-Lawson 75), Jonny Williams (sub Ben Gladwin 70), Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Louis Reed
Subs not used: Lewis Ward, Ryan East, Ricky Aguiar, Harry Parsons, Mohammed Dabre
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Booked:
Cobblers: Danny Rose (43, 3rd of the season), Jack Sowerby (44, 1st), Sam Hoskins (68, 3rd), Shaun McWilliams (84, 3rd)
Swindon: Dion Conroy (52)
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
Swindon: 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.
Kion Etete replaced Nicke Kabamba in attack in the only change made by Jon Brady for the home clash with Swindon Town. Paul Lewis, who missed the midweek win at Newport, was named on the bench. A big crowd was in attendance for the 2pm kick-off, the game moved forward an hour to avoid a direct clash with the Northampton Saints.
After an even start, it was the Cobblers who went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Danny Rose was denied by the woodwork, Mitch Pinnock’s pin-point cross finding Rose but his header came back off the post. Etete then had a chance to open the scoring but couldn’t quite place his header either side of the Swindon keeper Jojo Wollacott.
The Cobblers were now thoroughly in the ascendancy, Aaron McGowan and Etete almost combining after some terrific build-up play and Pinnock firing just over from 20-yards.
Jon Brady’s side thought they had made the breakthrough on 39 minutes when Danny Rose poked home Aaron McGowan’s cross but the goal was belatedly disallowed for what the fourth official seemed to judge as a foul on a defender in the build-up. The game was becoming a little tetchy towards the end of the first half but there was still time for Swindon to go close, Tyreece Simpson seeing his shot come back off the cross bar.
Etete couldn’t quite get on the end of Jon Guthrie’s header across goal from a Sam Hoskins corner at the start of the second half with another teasing cross into the box from McGowan also just eluding a Cobblers player.
Despite all the Cobblers pressure, it was Swindon who took the lead on 57 minutes, Tyreece Simpson scoring from close range after being found in the box by Kaine Kesler-Hayden. Ellis Iandolo then flashed a header just wide as the Robins went close to a second goal.
Dylan Connolly, on for Pinnock, had a header saved by Wollacott and Rose went close with an overhead kick as the Cobblers pressed for an equaliser but with the home side pressing forward there was a chance for Swindon on the break and it needed a smart stop from Liam Roberts to prevent Simpson doubling his tally.
The equaliser the Cobblers more than deserved came on 83 minutes, Fraser Horsfall rising superbly to head home from a Hoskins corner.
Wollacott did well to gather in Paul Lewis’s header and fellow substitute Nicke Kabamba headed wide with the Cobblers not settling for just a point. There was still danger at the other end though and it needed a terrific challenge from Jon Guthrie to deny goalscorer Simpson a clear cut opportunity. Hoskins also made a great block to deny Iandolo in stoppage time as a thoroughly entertaining game ended 1-1.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 10
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 4
SWINDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (6) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4
GOLDEN GOAL PEEL & REVEAL TIMES; 56:09, 82:19