SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday March 1st, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Mitch Pinnock 4
WALSALL 1
Conor Wilkinson 50
Attendance: 4,861 (385 away supporters)
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Tyler Magloire, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Joseph Mills (sub Ali Koiki 66), Paul Lewis (sub Josh Eppiah 80), Shaun McWilliams, Mitch Pinnock, Sam Hoskins, Louis Appere (sub Danny Rose 90)
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Benny Ashley-Seal, Peter Abimbola, Beryly Lubala
Walsall: Carl Rushworth, Hayden White, Joss Labadie, Donervon Daniels, Manny Monthe, Liam Kinsella, Conor Wilkinson (sub Lee Tomlin 75), Emmanuel Osadebe, George Miller (sub Devante Rodney 67), Jack Earing, Tyrese Shade
Subs not used: Jack Rose, Stephen Ward, Brendan Kiernan, Sam Perry, Rollin Menayese
Referee: Paul Howard
Booked:
Cobblers: Tyler Magloire (48, 3rd of the season), Joseph Mills (61, 2nd), Paul Lewis (70, 7th)
Walsall: Joss Labadie (29)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Walsall: 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.
Joseph Mills and Louis Appere came into the Northampton Town side for the midweek visit of Walsall, replacing Ali Koiki and Josh Eppiah. Jon Brady was still without Jack Sowerby as well as loanees Chanka Zimba and Idris Kanu due to injury.
The Cobblers started on the front foot and had the lead inside five minutes, Mitch Pinnock keeping his composure to find the bottom corner after Carl Rushworth’s clearance went straight to the midfielder. Pinnock appeared to be fouled by Jack Earing as he went through but referee Paul Howard played advantage and the goal followed.
Walsall had a chance to level almost immediately but Conor Wilkinson headed wide. George Miller had a shot blocked at close range and Liam Roberts pulled off a fantastic save to keep out a drilled effort from Joss Labadie as the Saddlers responded to falling behind.
Louis Appere, on the stretch, went close to a second goal for the Cobblers after getting on the end of a ball in from Aaron McGowan while Jon Guthrie saw a header go just wide and Sam Hoskins warmed the gloves of Rushworth with a curler from the edge of the area. Pinnock then shot straight at Rushworth after some more good build-up play from Appere as the Cobblers led 1-0 at the break.
Conor Wilkinson equalised for the Saddlers five minutes into the second half, finding the bottom corner with a strike from the edge of the area.
Wilkinson went close to a second with a shot just wide from a corner and Miller headed narrowly off-target from an Emmanuel Osadebe free-kick before Mills, on his first start since August, made way for Ali Koiki in the Cobblers first change of the night.
The Cobblers appealed for handball and a penalty in stoppage time and Hoskins almost won it with a header against the post but despite the late drama the game ended all-square.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (4) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
WALSALL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
GOLDEN GOAL PEEL & REVEAL TIMES: 3:55, 49:05