SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday November 19th, 3.00pm
University of Bradford Stadium
BRADFORD CITY 1
Andy Cook 90 pen
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Mitch Pinnock 29
Shaun McWilliams 31
Sam Sherring 59
Attendance: 18,666 (539 Cobblers fans)
Bradford: Harry Lewis, Brad Halliday, Yann Songo’o, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood, Andy Cook, Alex Gilliead (sub Ryan East 79), Scott Banks (sub Dion Pereira 79), Matty Foulds, Harry Chapman (sub Vadaine Oliver 62), Abo Eisa (sub Tyreik Wright 62)
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Timi Odusina, Levi Sutton
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Aaron McGowan, Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Akin Odimayo (sub Ryan Haynes 87), Ben Fox (sub Max Dyche 76), Jack Sowerby, Shaun McWilliams, Mitch Pinnock (sub Harvey Lintott 87), Louis Appere (sub Marc Leonard 72), Kieron Bowie (sub Danny Hylton 87)
Subs not used: James Dadge, Josh Eppiah
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Booked:
Bradford: Matty Platt (57)
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Bradford: none
Cobblers: none
The fit again Louis Appere replaced the suspended Sam Hoskins in the only change to the Cobblers starting eleven for the trip to the University of Bradford Stadium. Kieron Bowie was able to play after being released from the Scotland under-21s squad while Josh Eppiah was back on the bench following an injury lay-off. Former Cobblers striker Vadaine Oliver was amongst the substitutes for Bradford who went into the game fourth in Sky Bet League 2, one place and two points behind Jon Brady’s side.
On a grey wet November afternoon in West Yorkshire, Harry Chapman fired over in the opening exchanges. In a high octane start from both sides the Cobblers were posing a threat on the break but Lee Burge was the first keeper tested, saving low from Abo Eisa.
Burge made another good save to turn behind a Scott Banks free kick while Kieron Bowie headed just wide in the first real chance of the afternoon for the Cobblers.
With the half-hour mark approaching the Cobblers made the breakthrough, Mitch Pinnock driving home after capitalising on a slack back-pass.
Two minutes later and it was 2-0 Town, Shaun McWilliams making a terrific run before finishing off a delightful one-two with Bowie from close range.
There was no let up from the Cobblers after those two quickfire goals with Bowie testing Harry Lewis and McWilliams, sent clean through by Pinnock, sent a shot wide.
An on-the-stretch Mitch Pinnock fired over from a Kieron Bowie lay-off at the start of the second half while Alex Gilliead went close for the home side, his rasping 20-yard drive kissing the cross bar. Bradford were trying to find a way back into the game and Lee Burge made a good save to hold onto a low shot from Abo Eisa with Bantams top goalscorer Andy Cook lurking for any potential re-bound.
Referee Anthony Backhouse turned down the Cobblers appeals for a penalty when Harry Lewis appeared to catch Louis Appere in the area before Ben Fox fired over.
The Cobblers had been threatening a third goal and it duly came on 59 minutes, Sam Sherring heading in a cross from Akin Odimayo.
Lewis denied Appere from a tight angle as the Cobblers pushed for a fourth goal while former Cobbler Vadaine Oliver and Tyreik Wright came on in an attempt from Bantams boss Mark Hughes to turn the tide. Marc Leonard and Max Dyche came on in a couple of staggered changes by Jon Brady, replacing Appere and Fox.
Bowie looked to be in for a goal only to be denied by a finger tip save from Lewis who also denied McWilliams a brace as the Cobblers looked to add another coat of gloss to an already impressive scoreline.
Andy Cook pulled a goal back for Bradford from the penalty spot in injury time but despite no clean sheet. It had been a terrific performance from the Cobblers against one of their promotion rivals and Jon Brady’s side, who could have won by more goals, were thoroughly deserving of all three points.
BRADFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 6
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2