SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Monday April 1st, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Mitch Pinnock 34
Shaun McWilliams 90
PORT VALE 0
Attendance: 6,739 (736 away fans)
Cobblers: Lee Burge, Aaron McGowan (sub Akin Odimayo 79), Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Liam Moore (sub Manny Monthe 46), Marc Leonard, Ben Fox (sub Shaun McWilliams 70), Sam Hoskins (sub Jack Sowerby 70), Louis Appere (sub Tyreece Simpson 70), Mitch Pinnock, Kieron Bowie
Subs not used: Louie Moulden, Tony Springett
Port Vale: Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity, Ryan Loft (sub Uche Ikpeazu 58), Ethan Chislett (sub Jensen Weir 46), Funso Ojo, Alex Iacovitti, James Plant (sub Conor Grant 46), Baylee Dipepa (sub Rhys Walters 72), Jesse Debrah (sub Gavin Massey 58)
Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Jason Lowe
Referee: Lee Swabey
Booked:
Cobblers: Lee Burge (78), Shaun McWilliams (90)
Port Vale: Ben Garrity (16), Jensen Weir (64)
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Port Vale: none
Jon Brady made three changes for the Easter Monday clash with Port Vale at a sunny Sixfields. Lee Burge, back from injury, was in goal for the first time since February with Liam Moore and Kieron Bowie also coming into the side. Akin Odimayo was named on the bench following a lengthy injury lay off.
Sam Hoskins was inches away from an early goal when his volley from an Aaron McGowan cross flew just over the bar while Vale also had an early chance with Burge making a good save to deny Ethan Chislett.
As the first half neared the midway point Burge made another good save to parry a shot from Chislett, Jon Guthrie making a vital clearance with Baylee Dipepa looking to follow-up.
Mitch Pinnock broke the deadlock on 34 minutes, the Postman delivering a fine left-footed finish after being played in by Bowie.
Jon Brady made a change at half-time with Manny Monthe on for Liam Moore.
Marc Leonard had Connor Ripley scrambling at the start of the second half when he took a chip from 40-yards but the Vale keeper just managed to get back in time.
Burge made a good one-on-one save to deny Vale substitute Uche Ikpeazu before Akin Odimayo made his playing return, Aaron McGowan making way in the Cobblers fifth and final change of the afternoon.
The Cobblers sealed the points with a second goal in stoppage time as two substitutes combined, Shaun McWilliams applying the finishing touch to Tyreece Simpson’s cutback.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (4) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
PORT VALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
