COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday August 11th, 3pm
Sixfields
MATCH SPONSOR
Claret and White
MATCHBALL SPONSOR
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PROGRAMME SPONSOR
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NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Andy KIRK 9
SWINDON TOWN 1
Christian ROBERTS 44 pen
Attendance: 6,210 (1,338 away fans)
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE*, Danny JACKMAN, Mark HUGHES, Chris DOIG, Colin LARKIN (sub Poul HUBERTZ 52), Ryan GILLIGAN, Bradley JOHNSON, Andy HOLT, Andy KIRK (sub Joe BURNELL 76), Ian HENDERSON (sub Daniel JONES 52).
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Liam DOLMAN.
Swindon: Phil SMITH, Jack SMITH, Jamie VINCENT, Lee PEACOCK, Jerel IFIL, Christian ROBERTS (sub Kaid MOHAMMED 87), Sofian ZAABOUB (sub Miguel COMMINGES 69), Hasney ALJOFREE, Steve ADAMS, Michael POOK, Blair STURROCK (sub Ibon ARIETA 72).
Substitutes not used: Craig EASTON, Peter BREZOVAN.
Referee: Mr C Penton
Booked:
Cobblers: Poul HUBERTZ 57 (1st of season), Bradley JOHNSON 66 (1st)
Swindon: Ibon ARIETA 90
5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 8 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Swindon: none
Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
*SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH
After one of the wettest summers on record, it was perhaps to be expected that a warm, sunny day would greet the start of the 2007/2008 season. For the Cobblers, who were at home for the first time on the opening day since 2003, Danny Jackman, Colin Larkin and Ian Henderson all made their full debuts, while Poul Hubertz and Daniel Jones were on the bench.
A superb atmosphere greeted the kick off with both sets of fans getting right behind their teams. The newly promoted visitors had the first effort at goal, but Blair Sturrock's long range shot was wide of the post after 7 minutes.
Just 2 minutes later though, the Cobblers had the lead. New boys Colin Larkin and Ian Henderson combined well down the right hand side, with Larkin providing a pin point cross for Andy Kirk to clinically head beyond Phil Smith.
Kirk was nearly at it again 2 minutes later, but his header from Bradley Johnson's cross was saved by Smith.
Mark Bunn made his first save of the season after 11 minutes, doing well to palm away a powerful drive from Christian Roberts, while at the other end Ryan Gilligan drove narrowly wide following a half cleared corner.
Ian Henderson fired over the bar 4 minutes before the break, before the visitors were awarded a penalty when Colin Larkin was penalised for a handball in the area. The referee did not make the award, but went on the advice of his assistant. Christian Roberts scored from the spot.
Christian Roberts drilled a 25 yard effort against the post 2 minutes after the interval, while at the other end Smith got down well to save Bradley Johnson's driven free kick.
Stuart Gray made a double change on 52 minutes with Colin Larkin and Ian Henderson being replaced by Poul Hubertz and Daniel Jones.
Jason Crowe linked up well with Jones 2 minutes later, Crowe supplying the cross that was met well by Andy Holt only for Smith to make an excellent block at the near post.
Hubertz was booked on 57 minutes, for pushing Michael Pook as he was trying to take a quick free kick. Pook made a full recovery.
The Danish striker was close to scoring on 59 minutes, but his volley from Ryan Gilligan's cross was blocked again by keeper Smith, before Bradley Johnson became the second player to be cautioned after fouling Zaaboub.
Swindon made an enforced change on 68 minutes, with Miguel Comminges replacing the injured Sofian Zaaboub.
Ibon Arieta came on for Blair Sturrock on 72 minutes, before Comminges sent in a rising shot just over Bunn's cross bar.
Andy Kirk was replaced by Joe Burnell on 76 minutes in the Cobblers final change.
Hubertz hit the Swindon cross bar with an overhead kick that just did not dip quite enough, while Lee Peacock poked over the bar following a lay back from Comminges.
Kaid Mohammed replaced Christian Roberts with 3 minutes to go, before Hubertz sent a shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Arieta was booked as the game entered stoppage time for catching Danny Jackman. Both sides had attempts on target in the final moments, Mohammed for Swindon and Johnson and Gilligan for the Cobblers, but neither side could find a way through and both took one point each from the opening fixture.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (4) 8
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
SWINDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
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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