SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday March 14th, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Sam Hoskins 28 pen
MANSFIELD TOWN 0
Attendance: 6,301 (1,039 away fans)
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Harvey Lintott, Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Max Dyche, Ryan Haynes (sub Tete Yengi 77), Marc Leonard, Jack Sowerby, Will Hondermarck (sub D'Margio Wright-Phillips 83), Sam Hoskins, Louis Appere (sub Kieron Bowie 59)
Subs not used: Tom King, Paul Osew, Reuben Wyatt, Peter Abimbola
Mansfield: Christy Pym, Riley Harbottle, Lucas Akins, Ollie Clarke, Jordan Bowery, Danny Johnson (sub Rhys Oates 64), James Perch, Stephen Quinn, Kieran Wallace (sub Hiram Boateng 28), Alfie Kilgour, Davis Keillor-Dunn (sub Stephen McLaughlin 64, sub Jason Law 83)
Subs not used: Scott Flinders, James Gale, Taylor Anderson
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Booked:
Cobblers: Jon Brady (51), Ryan Haynes (66)
Mansfield: Kieran Wallace (4), Christy Pym (27), Jason Law (88)
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Mansfield: Stephen Quinn (66)
It was a chilly Tuesday night at Sixfields for the re-arranged fixture with Mansfield Town and with ten players unavailable for selection, boss Jon Brady was forced into making two changes to the side that started at Hartlepool. Max Dyche and Will Hondermarck replaced Josh Eppiah (knee) and Mitch Pinnock who was missing due to personal reasons, his partner having just given birth to the couple’s first child.
The first real chance of the night fell to Sam Hoskins but after a good forward run from the Cobblers top goalscorer his shot was blocked behind by Stags defender James Perch.
Danny Johnson shot wide for Mansfield midway through the first half but the Cobblers were awarded a penalty soon after when Christy Pym brought down Louis Appere. Hoskins stepped up to coolly slot home his 19th goal of the season and put the Cobblers in front.
Ollie Clarke spurned a good chance to equalise for the Stags but having broken clear of the Cobblers defence he failed to test Lee Burge. Mansfield then had another half chance just before half-time but Burge got down well to keep out a deflected header from Johnson.
Hoskins and Ryan Haynes both had shots deflected behind as the Cobblers looked to double their lead before a flashpoint midway through the second half saw Mansfield’s Stephen Quinn shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Kieron Bowie.
Stags substitute Rhys Oates was denied by a good save from Burge while Hoskins spurned a chance to make it 2-0 after getting on the end of a good ball into the box from Harvey Lintott. Substitute Tete Yengi, like Hoskins, also shot over after being played in by Bowie as the Cobblers looked to seal the win with a second goal.
Pym saved from Bowie and Lintott had a shot deflected behind as the Cobblers continued to press into six minutes of stoppage time. In the end though, Hoskins' first half penalty proved the difference in a well deserved victory for Jon Brady’s side who kept up the pressure on the top three with a big three points against one of their promotion rivals.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 6
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (4) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
MANSFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 5
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1