SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday September 25th, 3.00pm
Peninsula Stadium
SALFORD CITY 2
Matthew Lund 24
Ash Eastham 90
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Paul Lewis 16
Mitch Pinnock 77
Attendance: 2,037 (including 677 Cobblers fans)
Salford: Tom King, Jason Lowe, Ash Eastham, Corrie Ndaba, Matthew Lund (sub Kelly N'mai 87), Tom Elliott, Ash Hunter, Josh Morris (sub Tyreik Wright 75), Jordan Turnbull, Liam Shephard, Brandon Thomas-Asante (sub Aramide Oteh 75)
Subs not used: Zach Jeacock, Donald Love, Matty Willock, Andy Smith
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Ali Koiki, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Sam Hoskins, Shaun McWilliams (sub Mitch Pinnock 59), Jack Sowerby, Paul Lewis, Dylan Connolly (sub Nicke Kabamba 59), Danny Rose (sub Kion Etete 87)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Michael Harriman, Jordan Flores, Scott Pollock
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Booked:
Salford: Ash Hunter (8), Jason Lowe (90)
Cobblers: Danny Rose (45, 4th of the season)
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:
Salford: none
Cobblers: 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.
Paul Lewis and Dylan Connolly came into the Cobblers side for the trip to Salford City, replacing Mitch Pinnock and Kion Etete. Former Cobbler Jordan Turnbull started for Salford.
There was an early chance for Salford from a corner when Turnbull’s header across goal found Brandon Thomas-Asante but his shot from point blank range was well kept out by Liam Roberts. Tom King was then forced into a save at the other end when Jack Sowerby and Ali Koiki combined to play in Danny Rose. King then made a good block on the edge of the area as Sam Hoskins closed in on goal.
The Cobblers had been pressing and they took the lead on 16 minutes, Paul Lewis heading home after a Hoskins long throw was flicked on.
Rose had a shot blocked as the Cobblers looked for a quick second goal but it was the home side who struck next, Matthew Lund scoring on the half-volley from the edge of the area from Tom Elliott's knock back.
Roberts saved comfortably from Thomas-Asante towards the end of the first half which ended with Hoskins appealing for a penalty after going down under a challenge.
The Cobblers survived a goalmouth scramble as Salford started the second half on the offensive before Jon Brady made a double change, Mitch Pinnock and Nicke Kabamba on for Shaun McWilliams and Dylan Connolly.
In a second half of few clear cut chances it was the Cobblers who regained the lead on 77 minutes, substitute Mitch Pinnock heading home Aaron McGowan’s inch-perfect cross from close range
Salford weren’t done though and the game ended 2-2, Ash Eastham scoring from close range in stoppage time to snatch a point for the home side.
SALFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 3
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1