SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday March 4th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Jack Sowerby 79
CRAWLEY TOWN 0
Attendance: 5,450 (158 away supporters)
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Aaron McGowan, Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki (sub Harvey Lintott 46), Marc Leonard, Jack Sowerby (sub Tete Yengi 90), Mitch Pinnock, Sam Hoskins (sub Will Hondermarck 89), Louis Appere, Josh Eppiah (sub Ryan Haynes 75)
Subs not used: Tom King, Max Dyche, D’Margio Wright-Phillips
Crawley: Corey Addai, Kellan Gordon, Dion Conroy, Joel Lynch, Jack Powell, Ashley Nadesan, Brandon Mason (sub Mazeed Ogungbo 90), Dominic Telford (sub Jordon Mutch 67), Travis Johnson (sub Ludwig Francillette 78), Aramide Oteh, Tom Fellows (sub Jack Roles 67)
Subs not used: Ryan Schofield, Rafiq Khalell, Jack Spong
Referee: Ross Joyce
Booked:
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (70), Jon Guthrie (74), Harvey Lintott (90)
Crawley: Brandon Mason (23), Joel Lynch (39), Corey Addai (45), Aramide Oteh (60), Kellan Gordon (70)
Sent off:
Cobblers: Aaron McGowan (71)
Crawley: none
Lee Burge was back in goal for the first time since his injury lay off while Josh Eppiah replaced Will Hondermarck as boss Jon Brady made two changes for the visit of Crawley Town. Brady had confirmed in the week that Ben Fox and Tyler Magloire had been ruled out for the rest of the season and the Cobblers boss was also still without Shaun McWilliams, Akin Odimayo, Kieron Bowie, Danny Hylton and Josh Harrop.
Mitch Pinnock had an early chance to put the Cobblers in front but one-on-one with Corey Addai his shot was straight at the Crawley keeper. Louis Appere and Sam Hoskins also had early chances but Appere couldn’t quite get his shot away after breaking through into the area while Hoskins shot, like Pinnock’s, was straight at Addai.
The Cobblers were playing some slick football and following another flowing move Eppiah had a shot deflected behind after being played in by Appere.
Addai saved from Jon Guthrie who met a cross from Jack Sowerby while Appere, on the stretch, couldn’t keep his effort down after getting on the end of a ball into the box from Ali Koiki. Some last-ditch defending from Travis Johnson then denied Eppiah with the Leicester City loanee through on goal.
Crawley keeper Addai was booked in first half stoppage time for time wasting but despite having much the better of the first 45 minutes the Cobblers didn’t have the goals their first half performance deserved.
Brady made a change at half-time with Harvey Lintott on for Koiki. The second half started with a chance for Crawley but Dominic Telford’s snap shot went over the bar.
Guthrie headed wide from a Marc Leonard free kick while a low ball in from Lintott lead to a scramble in the box which Crawley some how survived.
With the game becoming a little tetchy referee Ross Joyce, after discussions with one of his assistants, showed Aaron McGowan a straight red card following an off the ball incident with Crawley substitute Jack Roles. Brady responded by bringing on Ryan Haynes for Eppiah, the Cobblers having to play out the final fifteen minutes down to ten men.
Despite their numerical disadvantage the Cobblers made the breakthrough on 79 minutes, Jack Sowerby with a superb volley from 25-yards that gave Addai no chance in the Crawley goal.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game and it proved enough for the Cobblers to clinch all three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (5) 7
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
CRAWLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (10) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1