Northampton Town Football Club

Portsmouth: Will Norris, Connor Ogilvie, Marlon Pack, Colby Bishop, Joe Rafferty, Conor Shaughnessy, Tom Lowery (sub Owen Moxon 84), Paddy Lane (sub Abu Kamara 76), Myles Peart-Harris (sub Sean Raggett 57), Tom McIntyre, Callum Lang (sub Jack Sparkes 76)
Subs not used: Matt Macey, Christian Saydee, Josh Martin

Cobblers: Lee Burge, Harvey Lintott (sub Ben Fox 79), Jordan Willis (sub Tony Springett 69), Jon Guthrie, Manny Monthe, Patrick Brough, Will Hondermarck, Marc Leonard, Sam Hoskins (sub Louis Appere 40), Kieron Bowie (sub Tyreece Simpson 79), Mitch Pinnock
Subs not used: Louie Moulden, Dominic Gape, Sam Sherring

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Booked:
Portsmouth: Jack Sparkes (90)
Cobblers: Jon Guthrie (42)

Sent off:
Portsmouth: Tom McIntyre (54)
Cobblers: none

New signing Dominic Gape was named on the bench for the Cobblers trip to league leaders Portsmouth. Manny Monthe and Harvey Lintott came into the side as boss Jon Brady opted for a central back three while Ben Fox, out since September with an ankle injury, was amongst the substitutes alongside Sam Sherring, who was also making his return from injury.

Colby Bishop had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening five minutes at Fratton Park but the goal was correctly ruled out for off-side. It was only a brief reprieve for the Cobblers however with Pompey taking the lead soon after when Connor Ogilvie turned home a Marlon Pack free-kick.

Paddy Lane scored a superb solo goal to make it 2-0, curling a shot into the corner after latching onto a ball over the top from Pack.

Lintott drew a comfortable save from Will Norris at the end of a good move from the Cobblers but Pompey continued to look dangerous with every attack and it needed a vital interception from Jon Guthrie to prevent a third goal.

Brady was forced into a change when Sam Hoskins was unable to continue after failing to run off a knock with Louis Appere coming on for the final five minutes of the first half.

Portsmouth had a chance to increase their lead before the break when Lintott was penalised for a challenge but Lee Burge saved Colby Bishop’s spot-kick to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

The home side were reduced to ten men on 54 minutes with Tom McIntyre shown a straight red card following a late, high challenge on Mitch Pinnock.

Despite their numerical disadvantage Pompey increased their lead before the hour-mark, Paddy Lane finishing well after a swift counter-attack.

Callum Lang volleyed in at the back post to make it 4-0 before Kieron Bowie was denied by a good save from Norris. Ben Fox then made his return to action in a double change which also saw the introduction of Tyreece Simpson.

With the 90 minutes nearly up Norris made a good save to deny Appere but the Cobblers did bag a consolation thanks to a good finish from Marc Leonard whose fierce strike from 20-yards went in via the underside of the crossbar.

A few eyebrows were then raised when ten minutes of additional time were signalled by the fourth official but there were to be no more goals as Portsmouth clinched a 4-1 victory.