SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday March 9th, 3.00pm
Cledara Abbey Stadium
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1
Elias Kachunga 16
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Jon Guthrie 82
Attendance: 6,942 (1,089 Cobblers fans)
Cambridge: Jack Stevens, Liam Bennett, Danny Andrew, Paul Digby, Michael Morrison, Ryan Bennett, James Brophy, Jack Lankester (sub Sullay Kaikai 62), Lyle Taylor, Elias Kachunga (sub Macauley Bonne 69), Jordan Cousins
Subs not used: Will Mannion, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Adam May, James Gibbons, Brandon Njoku
Cobblers: Louie Moulden, Harvey Lintott (sub Max Dyche 85), Liam Moore, Jon Guthrie, Patrick Brough, Ben Fox (sub Shaun McWilliams 69), Marc Leonard, Jack Sowerby (sub Will Hondermarck 85), Tyreece Simpson (sub Louis Appere 64), Kieron Bowie, Sam Hoskins (sub Tony Springett 69)
Subs not used: James Dadge, Manny Monthe
Referee: Declan Bourne
Booked:
Cambridge: Paul Digby (81)
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Cambridge: none
Cobblers: none
Jon Brady made four changes, some of them enforced, for the trip to Cambridge United. Liam Moore came in for his full Cobblers debut while Harvey Lintott, Ben Fox and Tyreece Simpson all returned to the side in place of Will Hondermarck, Sam Sherring (injured), Mitch Pinnock (illness) and Shaun McWilliams. Max Dyche was named among the substitutes having returned from his loan spell at Woking.
On a sunny, spring like afternoon in Cambridgeshire, the Cobblers had the first effort at goal, Patrick Brough heading Marc Leonard’s thirteenth minute corner just wide of the upright.
New manager Garry Monk was taking charge of his first game for the home side, and they had the lead in the sixteenth minute, Elias Kachunga turning home a low cross from close range.
Harvey Lintott had penalty appeals turned down with 29 on the clock, the full back making his way into the area having run beyond a number of Cambridge defenders, but it was United who had the final chance of the first half, goalscorer Kachunga volleying wide in the dying embers of the first 45.
Hoskins had a header held by home keeper Jack Stevens in the early exchanges of the second period, while as the game approached the hour mark, Ben Fox shot just wide from the edge of the area after good work by Kieron Bowie and Tyreece Simpson.
Stevens was in the right place to save a 66th minute curler from Bowie, as the Cobblers continued to crank up the pressure in their search for an equaliser.
Substitute Louis Appere saw a header saved by Stevens, before the leveller that Jon Brady’s side had been threatening arrived, Jon Guthrie heading home a Marc Leonard free kick.
Patrick Brough then had a shot deflected over the bar, while Bowie sent a powerful cross shot beyond the far post.
The fourth official showed there would be nine additional minutes at the end of the game, but there was to be no injury time drama, a point the very least the Cobblers deserved for a dominant second half performance.
CAMBRIDGE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (7) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (2) 8
FOULS: (4) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2