COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday April 19th, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Dalepak

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Cobblers World

PROGRAMME SPONSOR
Uptonaway Media

Attendance: 5,171 (374 away fans)

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Gabor GYEPES, Chris DOIG, Daniel JONES, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Colin LARKIN 74), Giles COKE* , Danny JACKMAN, Poul HUBERTZ, Adebayo AKINFENWA, Andy HOLT
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Liam DOLMAN, Jonathan HAYES, Alex DYER

* Dalepak man of the match

Oldham: Mark CROSSLEY, Neal EARDLEY, Stefan STAM, Mark ALLOTT, Jason JARRETT (sub Lewis ALESSANDRA 67), Kelvin LOMAX, Reuben HAZELL, Sean GREGAN, Matt WOLFENDEN, Andy LIDDELL (sub Aaron CHALMERS 67), Deane SMALLEY
Substitutes not used: Richard O'DONNELL, Ashley KELLY, Paul BLACK

Referee: Mr D Drysdale

Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan GILLIGAN (45, 11th of the season), Adebayo AKINFENWA (58, 4th)
Oldham: Neal EARDLEY (53) 

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Oldham: none

Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above total. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

A bitterly cold April afternoon was the setting at Sixfields for Northampton Town's visit from Oldham Athletic. Stuart Gray made three changes to the team that had drawn at Southend United in the previous game with Danny Jackman, Giles Coke and Poul Hubertz replacing Colin Larkin, Liam Dolman and Alex Dyer. Mark Bunn made his 100th appearance for the club.

In the 5th minute former Oldham man Andy Holt rose well at the far post to meet a Jason Crowe cross but headed over the bar. Four minutes later Adebayo Akinfenwa's header from a Daniel Jones corner was cleared off the line by Neal Eardley with keeper Mark Crossley beaten.

Akinfenwa forced a good 24th minute save from Crossley, the Oldham keeper beating away his drive after the Cobblers striker had held off two defenders. Crossley was at it again moments later, clawing back a Poul Hubertz header from underneath the bar.

Giles Coke shot wide when breaking from midfield after Danny Jackman had won the ball back for the Cobblers a minute before half time.

Ryan Gilligan was then booked for a foul on Mark Allott in what proved to be the last action of a goalless first half where the visitors failed to register a shot at goal.

The Cobblers began the second half on top again, and they had the lead on 51 minutes. Andy Holt did well to keep a Danny Jackman corner alive and Giles Coke drove home through a crowded area, the ball possibly taking a slight deflection.

Eardley was booked for Oldham after fouling Daniel Jones, before the visitors first effort at goal arrived on 58 minutes with Smalley shooting wide from outside the area.

Akinfenwa was then booked after showing his frustration after the latest in a string of decisions had gone against him.

Ryan Gilligan doubled the Cobblers lead on 63 minutes. Andy Holt intelligently released Gilligan clear of the Latics defence and although Mark Crossley saved his initial effort, the Cobblers midfielder volleyed home the rebound.

John Sheridan made a double change at the midway point of the second half, with Lewis Alessandra and Aaron Chalmers replacing Andy Liddell and Jason Jarrett.

Holt then burst down the Cobblers left and teed up Jackman who saw his shot blocked, before Daniel Jones fired wide from 20 yards after breaking powerfully down the left.

Colin Larkin came on for Gilligan with 16 minutes to go, before the Latics registered their first shot on target, Bunn comfortably saving from Wolfenden's long range effort.

Danny Jackman had an 88th minute effort cleared off the line by Stam after Holt had played him in, the midfielder's shot beating Crossley before being volleyed away.

That was that. Mark Bunn celebrated his 100th game with a clean sheet, and rarely can he have claimed an easier shut out.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 7
CORNERS: (4) 7
FOULS: (9) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

OLDHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 3

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.

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