COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Monday October 15th, 7.45pm
Kenilworth Road
LUTON TOWN 4
Darren CURRIE 4 and 62, Matthew SPRING 49 pen and 90 pen
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Bradley JOHNSON 23
Attendance: 5,881 (420 Cobblers fans)
Luton: Dean BRILL, Richard JACKSON, Chris PERRY, Jaroslaw FOJUT, Alan GOODALL, David BELL, Don HUTCHISON, Matthew SPRING, Darren CURRIE, Drew TALBOT (sub Calvin ANDREW 85), Paul FURLONG
Substitutes not used: Chris COYNE, Dean MORGAN, David EDWARDS, Ahmet BRKOVIC
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Daniel JONES, Mark HUGHES, Liam DOLMAN, Colin LARKIN (sub Ian HENDERSON 68), Alex RUSSELL, Bradley JOHNSON, Danny JACKMAN (sub Ryan GILLIGAN 68), Andy HOLT, Andy KIRK
Substitutes not used: Joe BURNELL, Brett JOHNSON, Chris DUNN
Referee: Mr J Moss
Booked:
Luton: Paul FURLONG (22), Chris PERRY (58)
Cobblers: Mark HUGHES (89, 3rd of the season), Mark BUNN (89, 2nd)
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:
Luton: none
Cobblers: 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 travelled to Luton Town for a Coca-Cola League One fixture that was broadcast live on Sky Sports. Andy Holt and Jason Crowe were fit to return and they replaced Ian Henderson and the suspended Poul Hubertz. Chris Doig once again missed out through injury.
The Cobblers were the first side to show, and from a 2nd minute Daniel Jones corner, Andy Holt's header goalwards was cleared off the line by Alan Goodall. But just 2 minutes later the home side had the lead when Darren Currie fired home a curling effort from 20 yards beyond Mark Bunn and into the top corner.
Bunn had to beat away a 6th minute drive from David Bell, while on 10 minutes Mark Hughes did very well to get back and send a header from Matthew Spring over the bar after the ball had beaten Bunn.
Daniel Jones sent in a cross-shot after 12 minutes that bounced against the cross bar and away to safety, before Paul Furlong became the first name to go into the referee's notebook after he caught Liam Dolman, his second late challenge in the space of 60 seconds.
The Cobblers were level from that resulting free kick. The ball was only half cleared to Bradley Johnson who rifled home an unstoppable 25 yard drive that was still rising as it beat Brill and hit the back of the net.
Furlong was possibly lucky to have escaped a 2nd caution when he handballed a Currie free kick as a number of players rose to challenge, before Mark Hughes was denied when his shot from a Jones corner was blocked by the legs of Chris Perry on the goal line.
The Cobblers had penalty appeals waved away shortly afterwards when Andy Kirk was pushed over as Holt headed a Jones cross at goal, while at the other Mark Bunn pushed away a 42nd minute shot from Currie.
Paul Furlong missed a golden chance to restore the Hatters advantage when he sidefooted over from a Matthew Spring cross from 8 yards, while Mark Bunn made an excellent save to push away a volley from Spring at the far post as an entertaining first half drew to a close.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the 48th minute for handball against Bradley Johnson (the 18th spot kick awarded against the Cobblers in the last 90 games). Matthew Spring stepped up to score.
Johnson tried to put the Cobblers back on level terms immediately, but his long range effort was tipped over the bar by Brill, before Chris Perry was booked after catching Andy Kirk.
The home side extended their lead just beyond the hour mark when Darren Currie's curling free kick eluded everyone and went straight in at the far post.
Stuart Gray made a double change at the midway point of the second half with Ian Henderson and Ryan Gilligan replacing Colin Larkin and Danny Jackman.
Henderson headed a Jones cross just wide of the far post on 70 minutes, before Gilligan saw a low shot saved by Brill.
Alex Russell curled a free kick inches over the bar on 84 minutes, before Luton made a change, Calvin Andrew for Drew Talbot.
The home side were awarded their 2nd penalty of the night (the 19th against the Cobblers in this extraordinary run) when Mark Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Paul Furlong. Hughes and Bunn were booked before the penalty could be taken. To add insult to injury, Bunn saved the spot kick from Matthew Spring but the ball bounced up and spun back into the net off the Cobblers keeper.
LUTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (10) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 11
CORNERS: (6) 8
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4
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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