SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday October 8th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
SALFORD CITY 1
Ethan Galbraith 45
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Harvey Lintott (sub Liam Cross 84), Ali Koiki, Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Jack Sowerby (sub Ben Fox 84), Marc Leonard, Kieron Bowie, Mitch Pinnock, Danny Hylton (sub Josh Eppiah 66), Sam Hoskins
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Ryan Haynes, Max Dyche, Akin Odimayo
Salford: Tom King, Ibou Touray, Elliot Watt, Ryan Watson, Callum Hendry (sub Matt Smith 76), Odin Bailey (sub Matthew Lund 80), Ethan Galbraith, Luke Bolton, Ryan Leak, Josh O’Brien (sub Ash Eastham 62), Theo Vassell
Subs not used: Elliot Simoes, Jacob Chapman, Lorent Tolaj, Jack Jenkins
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 5,577 (107 away supporters)
Booked:
Cobblers: Mitch Pinnock (53, 2nd of the season), Ben Fox (87, 1st)
Salford: none
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
Salford: none
Northampton Town welcomed Salford City to Sixfields for this fixture as both sides went in to the game in the top five of the Sky Bet League 2 table.
Cobblers boss Jon Brady was again without the injured trio of Aaron McGowan, Shaun McWilliams and Tyler Magloire, with Louis Appere also missing, becoming the latest player to be affected by illness. Former Cobbler Ryan Watson lined up for the visitors.
On a sunny, autumnal afternoon at Sixfields, the game began with both sides looking to move the ball well. The first half chance came after ten minutes, Danny Hylton meeting a Mitch Pinnock cross and heading wide.
Good link up play from Kieron Bowie and Sam Hoskins led to Salford keeper Tom King claiming a dangerous cross at the second attempt, while on 27 minutes Bowie produced a fine save from King, the keeper going down low to his left to stop a powerful first time effort on the turn.
Bowie and Hoskins were linking up well and the former teed up the latter but his low shot was held by the keeper with 31 minutes played, while with half time approaching, a Cobblers free kick saw Sam Sherring have an effort tipped over the bar from a Jack Sowerby cross.
Salford had moved the ball well and looked a threat, and they opened the scoring with their second effort on goal of the afternoon, Ethan Galbraith firing home low from the edge of the area in first half added time.
Lintott’s cross was headed goalwards by Hylton in the opening seconds of the second half but King was in the right place to save, while Bowie curled a powerful effort just wide a few minutes later.
Josh Eppiah replaced Danny Hylton as the second half reached its midway point, before Bowie headed a Pinnock free kick over the bar with 72 minutes on the clock.
Salford substitute Matt Smith headed an Ibou Touray cross wide of the back post soon after coming on, before Guthrie headed wide from a Hoskins corner as the game entered the final ten minutes.
Liam Cross and Ben Fox replaced Harvey Lintott and Jack Sowerby and although the Cobblers kept pushing for an equaliser, it was the visitors who claimed the points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (7) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
SALFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 3
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (3) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4