COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Wednesday March 12th, 7.45pm
Memorial Stadium
BRISTOL ROVERS 1
Sean RIGG 45
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Poul HUBERTZ 55
Attendance: 4,657 (223 Cobblers fans)
Bristol Rovers: Steve PHILLIPS, Aaron LESCOTT, Byron ANTHONY, Danny COLES, Chris CARRUTHERS, David PIPE (sub Chris LINES 42), Stuart CAMPBELL, Craig DISLEY, Lewis HALDANE (sub Joe JACOBSON 71), Sean RIGG, Richard WALKER (sub Rickie LAMBERT 71)
Substitutes not used: Craig HINTON, Andy WILLIAMS
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Mark LITTLE, Liam DOLMAN, Gabor GYEPES, Daniel JONES, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Giles COKE 61), Joe BURNELL, Danny JACKMAN, Ian HENDERSON (sub Colin LARKIN 61), Poul HUBERTZ, Andy HOLT
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Alex DYER, Jonathan HAYES
Referee: Mr R Lee
Booked:
Bristol Rovers: Chris CARRUTHERS (42), Craig DISLEY (90)
Cobblers: Mark LITTLE (40, 3rd of the season), Liam DOLMAN (64, 5th), Andy HOLT (90, 1st)
10 cautions on or before 8 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Bristol Rovers: 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 Bristol Rovers on a very windy evening for their latest Coca-Cola League One fixture. Unavailability forced Stuart Gray into three changes with Liam Dolman, Daniel Jones and Poul Hubertz replacing the injured Jason Crowe and Mark Hughes and the ill Adebayo Akinfenwa. Joe Burnell skippered the side.
The bobbly playing surface and swirling wind was making life difficult for the players, and it took until the 20th minute for the first real chance to arrive. Persistence from Ryan Gilligan created the opportunity for himself, and after making his way into the area he was only denied by a sprawling save from Steve Phillips. The ball was not properly cleared by the Rovers defence, and seconds later Ian Henderson rattled the cross bar with a powerful drive.
Andy Holt saw his left foot volley held by Phillips on 26 minutes, before the home side created their best chance of the game so far when Mark Bunn had to go down low to save from Lewis Haldane, who met a cross from David Pipe from 12 yards.
Former Cobblers loanee striker Richard Walker shot over the bar from an acute angle on 37 minutes, before Mark Little was booked after a foul on Craig Disley. Chris Carruthers was cautioned soon afterwards for holding back Little.
Rovers were forced into a change on 42 minutes, with Chris Lines replacing David Pipe.
The home side had the lead out of the blue just before half time, ending the Cobblers fine defensive run. Sean Rigg was able to squeeze the ball inside the near post from 15 yards, beating Mark Bunn.
The Cobblers were playing with the advantage of a strong wind in the second half, and ten minutes after the break they equalised. Danny Jackman's half cleared corner was played back in by Ryan Gilligan and after his cross had been headed off the line, Poul Hubertz was in the right place to slot home at the far post from close range.
Stuart Gray made a double change just after the hour with Colin Larkin and Giles Coke replacing Ian Henderson and Ryan Gilligan.
Liam Dolman was booked for a foul on Stuart Campbell on 64 minutes as the rain began to fall, before Mark Bunn saved low from Craig Disley's effort following a Byron Anthony free kick.
Bristol Rovers then made a double substitution of their own with Rickie Lambert and Joe Jacobson replacing Richard Walker and Lewis Haldane.
Hubertz then sent a header just wide after meeting a left wing cross from Daniel Jones, before Phillips dived to his left to save a drive from Coke.
Disley was cautioned after a trip on Burnell, before the Cobblers had penalty appeals turned down in injury time after Mark Little appeared to be hauled down in the area.
Andy Holt was booked for persistent infringement after catching Anthony, but there were no further opportunities for either side, and the points were shared.
BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (6) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 7
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (2) 7
FOULS: (7) 14
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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