COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday October 6th, 3pm
Sixfields

MATCH SPONSOR
Jackson Grundy

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
Claret & White

PROGRAMME SPONSOR
www.ntfcworldwideproperty.com

Attendance: 4,755 (324 away fans)

Cobblers:  Mark BUNN, Danny JACKMAN, Daniel JONES, Mark HUGHES, Liam DOLMAN, Colin LARKIN, Alex RUSSELL (sub Joe BURNELL 90), Bradley JOHNSON, Ian HENDERSON (sub Brett JOHNSON 67), Andy KIRK*, Poul HUBERTZ (sub Ryan GILLIGAN 89)
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Danny MAY

Port Vale: Joe ANYON, George PILKINGTON, Paul HARSLEY (sub Robin HULBERT 84), Luke RODGERS, Paul EDWARDS, Danny WHITAKER, Justin MILLER, Mark McGREGOR (sub Shane TUDOR 46), Craig ROCASTLE, Ashley WESTWOOD, David McGOLDRICK (sub Marc RICHARDS 76)
Substitutes not used: Colin MILES, Calum WILLOCK

Referee: Mr S Bratt

* SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH

Booked:
Cobblers: Brett JOHNSON (89, 1st of the season)
Port Vale: Marc RICHARDS (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
Port Vale: 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.

Northampton Town welcomed Port Vale to Sixfields for this Coca-Cola League One fixture. Jason Crowe and Chris Doig were both injured in a costly game at Millwall in midweek and they joined Andy Holt and Giles Coke on the absentee list. Daniel Jones replaced Doig, while Ian Henderson came in for Crowe. Former Cobblers Ashley Westwood and Paul Harsley started for Vale, with another ex-Sixfields man Marc Richards on the bench for the visitors.

Daniel Jones made a fine 5th minute block to deny David McGoldrick as he shot on the turn from close range after a good run by Luke Rodgers. The Cobblers had their fair share of possession and a neat passing move on 14 minutes involving Danny Jackman and Bradley Johnson saw the latter have a shot deflected wide. Colin Larkin was close from the resulting corner.

Vale's first chance came from a 17th minute free kick delivered from the right that was headed against the outside of the post by Justin Miller.

The Cobblers took the lead on 19 minutes. Poul Hubertz started the move in the centre of the field and released Ian Henderson. The former Norwich man delivered an excellent cross from the left that Andy Kirk was on hand to volley home from close range.

Mark Bunn was forced to tip a header from David McGoldrick over the bar on 22 minutes, while the Cobblers keeper recovered well to make a save after the same striker had threaten to round him on 29 minutes.

Kirk doubled the Cobblers advantage on 33 minutes. Good play down the right involving stand in right back Jackman and Colin Larkin saw Larkin cut in from the by-line and send a low ball across the face of goal that gave Kirk the simplest of close range finishes.

The Cobblers leading scorer was close to a hat-trick on 40 minutes, but his header from Ian Henderson's knock back was clawed away by Joe Anyon. At the other end Mark Bunn made a good save to beat a shot from Danny Whitaker behind.

Port Vale made a change at half time with Shane Tudor replacing Mark McGregor.

In the Cobblers first chance of the second half, Bradley Johnson fired wide from the edge of the area after a knock back from Hubertz on 49 minutes.

David McGoldrick pulled a goal back for the visitors on 55 minutes, firing a powerful finish beyond Mark Bunn from 15 yards.

Bunn made a good save to deny Shane Tudor 3 minutes later after the Vale winger had been played in by McGoldrick, while in a good spell for the away side, Luke Rodgers rifled a shot against the bar.

Stuart Gray made his first change when Brett Johnson was introduced for Ian Henderson.

Bunn went down low to save a driven effort from Luke Rodgers on 68 minutes, while at the other end Poul Hubertz did well to cut inside two players and send in a curling shot that beat Anyon but bounced back off the post.

For Vale, Marc Richards came on to replace David McGoldrick after 76 minutes, before Bunn saved a long range shot from Tudor.

Robin Hulbert was introduced for Paul Harsley as Dean Glover made his final swap, before the Cobblers were awarded their first free kick of the second half - in the 88th minute - when Richards fouled Brett Johnson.

Ryan Gilligan came on for Hubertz on 89 minutes, before Brett Johnson was booked for what the referee deemed a dangerous challenge.

Joe Burnell came on for Alex Russell in injury time, before the Cobblers survived an almighty scramble in their area that saw Vale appealing for a penalty. Marc Richards was cautioned after diving for a penalty in a separate incident but after five and a half minutes of stoppage time the whistle finally went, signalling a 3rd successive home win.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (8) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

PORT VALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (6) 8
FOULS: (5) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 10

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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