SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday March 25th, 3.00pm
Eco-Power Stadium
DONCASTER ROVERS 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Mitch Pinnock 2
Sam Hoskins 52
Attendance: 6,469 (911 Cobblers fans)
Doncaster: Jonathan Mitchell, James Brown (sub Kyle Hurst 42), Tom Anderson, Joseph Olowu, Luke Molyneux, Tommy Rowe, Charlie Seaman, Todd Miller (sub Adam Long 78), Liam Ravenhill (sub Zain Westbrooke 78), Caolan Lavery (sub Kieran Agard 49), Ben Close
Subs not used: Ben Bottomley, Aidan Barlow, Bobby Faulkner
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Harvey Lintott, Aaron McGowan (sub David Norman 90), Jon Guthrie, Ryan Haynes (sub Paul Osew 90), Marc Leonard, Jack Sowerby, Will Hondermarck (sub Tete Yengi 66), Sam Hoskins, Louis Appere (sub Kieron Bowie 66), Mitch Pinnock
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, D'Margio Wright-Phillips, Peter Abimbola
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Booked:
Doncaster: Tom Anderson (37), Todd Miller (72)
Cobblers: Jack Sowerby (72), Marc Leonard (76), Kieron Bowie (80)
Sent off:
Doncaster: none
Cobblers: none
With ten players out injured and Tom King away on international duty, Jon Brady’s squad continued to be stretched to the limit as the Cobblers travelled to Doncaster Rovers.
Sam Sherring (ankle) was the latest casualty meaning a shift to centre-half for Aaron McGowan who was back from suspension while new signing defender David Norman was named on the bench. Kieron Bowie, back early from international duty with Scotland under 21s was also amongst the substitutes. Goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell, who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Sixfields, started for Doncaster whose side also included Liam Ravenhill, son of former Cobblers midfielder Ricky.
The Cobblers got off to the perfect start and took an early lead following a well-worked corner, Mitch Pinnock with a low drilled shot from the edge of the area to beat Mitchell.
Louis Appere, under pressure from Joseph Olowu, had a shot saved by Mitchell while for the home side Caolan Lavery headed straight at Lee Burge and Kyle Hurst, on for the injured James Brown, was unable to turn home a good ball in from Charlie Seaman.
Todd Miller had a shot deflected behind in a fast start to the second half from Doncaster but it was the Cobblers who struck on 52 minutes, Sam Hoskins capitalising on a slack clearance from Mitchell before firing home to become the first Cobblers player to net 20 league goals in a season since Richard Hill in 1986/87.
Tete Yengi, on in a double change with Kieron Bowie, fired over after combining well with the Fulham loanee as the Cobblers pressed for a third goal to seal the victory. Yengi then had another chance when he was played in by Ryan Haynes but one-on-one with the Rovers keeper, Mitchell saved with his legs.
Tommy Rowe spurned a good chance to get the home side back in it with time ticking away but his header went wide and it was to be another clean sheet and another three points for Jon Brady’s side. There was also a debut for David Norman who came on in stoppage time.
DONCASTER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (4) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2