SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday January 22nd, 3.00pm
VBS Community Stadium
SUTTON UNITED 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 3,588 (500 Cobblers fans)
Sutton: Dean Bouzanis, Ben Goodliffe, Louis John, David Ajiboye (sub Enzio Boldewijn 72), Omar Bugiel (sub Richie Bennett 90), Will Randall, Craig Eastmond, Isaac Olaofe (sub Kenny Davis 77), Joe Kizzi, Rob Milsom, Alistair Smith
Subs not used: Jon Barden, Ben Wyatt, Stuart Nelson, Donovan Wilson
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki, Jack Sowerby, Shaun McWilliams, Sam Hoskins, Paul Lewis (sub Dylan Connolly 90), Mitch Pinnock, Chanka Zimba (sub Danny Rose 58)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Joseph Mills, Tyler Magloire, Michael Harriman, Jordan Flores
Referee: John Busby
Booked:
Sutton: none
Cobblers: Paul Lewis (56, 5th of the season), Fraser Horsfall (79, 5th), Danny Rose (80, 7th)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Sutton: Craig Eastmond (75)
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.
Chanka Zimba made his first start for the Cobblers as boss Jon Brady made one change for the promotion clash with Sutton United. Zimba replaced Dylan Connolly who dropped to the bench where he was joined by new loan signing Blackburn Rovers defender Tyler Magloire.
Dean Bouzanis gathered a Jon Guthrie header from a corner but as play quickly switched to the other end it was his opposite number Liam Roberts who pulled off a terrific finger-tip save to turn behind a shot from Alistair Smith.
Bouzanis reacted quickly as Zimba appealed for a push as he took aim in the penalty area. Shaun McWilliams also appealed for a penalty after appearing to be clipped in the area while Sam Hoskins saw a shot from distance comfortably saved by the Sutton keeper.
Roberts pulled off another terrific save to keep out a powerful header from Isaac Olaofe in a strong start to the second half from Sutton.
Mitch Pinnock curled a shot just wide and Pinnock was involved again when Sutton’s Craig Eastmond was sent off following a high challenge over the ball on the Cobblers midfielder. The incident was missed by referee John Busby but after discussions with fourth official Trevor Kettle he had no hesitation in producing the red card.
Danny Rose, on for Zimba, just failed to connect with a ball across the face of goal from Aaron McGowan and the Cobblers substitute volleyed just wide from 12-yards as the game moved into injury time. The game however was to end goalless despite the Cobblers Pushing hard for a late winner, Sam Hoskins seeing a header land on the roof of the net deep into stoppage time.
SUTTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (3) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 3