COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday January 19th, 3pm
Priestfield Stadium

GILLINGHAM 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Daniel JONES 3

Attendance: 5,579 (273 Cobblers fans)

Gillingham: Simon ROYCE, Simon KING (sub Adam BYGRAVE 70), Ian COX, Andrew CROFTS, Mark BENTLEY, Gary MULLIGAN, Delroy FACEY (sub Leroy GRIFFITHS 67), Nicky SOUTHALL, John NUTTER, Adam MILLER, Craig ROCASTLE (sub Stuart THURGOOD 67)
Substitutes not used: Luis CUMBERS, Derek STILLIE

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Daniel JONES, Mark LITTLE, Mark HUGHES, Brett JOHNSON, Giles COKE (sub Colin LARKIN 73), Joe BURNELL, Danny JACKMAN, Ryan GILLIGAN, Dean BOWDITCH (sub Ian HENDERSON 87)
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Andy HOLT, Adebayo AKINFENWA

Referee: Mr A D'Urso

Booked:
Gillingham: Delroy FACEY (41), Mark BENTLEY (77)
Cobblers: Daniel JONES (41, 6th of the season), Jason CROWE (74, 8th)

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:
Gillingham: 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 meet Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. Liam Dolman missed out with a dead leg, and he was replaced by Mark Hughes, who made his 50th appearance for the club. The two other changes saw Joe Burnell and Ryan Gilligan come in for Jonathan Hayes and Andy Kirk. New signing Adebayo Akinfenwa was among the substitutes.

Gillingham were unbeaten in four matches and had one of the best home records in League One, having only lost twice at the Priestfield all season. They had beaten Nottingham Forest 3-0 in their previous home game, but it was the Cobblers who had the lead in just the 3rd minute, Daniel Jones curling home a 20 yard free kick with keeper Simon Royce motionless.

Mark Bunn held a 17th minute shot on the turn from Gary Mulligan as the home side had their first real effort at goal, before the Cobblers came within inches of making it two, but Jason Crowe's far post header from Danny Jackman's cross struck the woodwork.

Delroy Facey headed a John Nutter free kick wide after half an hour, before it was the turn of the home side to hit the frame of the goal, Adam Miller's chip over Mark Bunn beating the Cobblers keeper but coming back off the bar.

At the other end, Jackman fired over from a Gilligan knock down on 33 minutes, while eight minutes later Daniel Jones and Delroy Facey were booked after a clash.

The swirling wind was making life difficult for both sets of players, but a neat turn and shot from Ryan Gilligan saw the Cobblers come within inches of scoring on 53 minutes. Gilligan picked up a pass from Bowditch, turned away from Simon King inside the area but grazed the far post with his drilled effort.

Mark Little made an excellent block to deny Facey on the hour mark, while for the Cobblers Dean Bowditch nodded wide from a Daniel Jones cross.

Bunn went down low to save well from Mark Bentley's 66th minute drive, before the home side made a double change with Leroy Griffiths and Stuart Thurgood replacing Delroy Facey and Craig Rocastle. Their final swap occurred shortly afterwards, with Adam Bygrave coming on for Simon King.

The Cobblers first substitution was Colin Larkin for Giles Coke, before Jason Crowe and Mark Bentley were both booked for fouls.

Good play from Bowditch released Larkin in on goal after 79 minutes, but under pressure the Cobblers striker lifted his effort narrowly over the bar. Moments later it was the turn of Gilligan to fire over when well placed after latching on to Larkin's low cross.

Ian Henderson came on for Dean Bowditch, before 5 additional minutes were signalled by the fourth official. There were no real scares in that time for the Cobblers though and they became only the third team to win at Gillingham this season.

GILLINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (0) 6
FOULS: (8) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (12) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 8

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

The Northampton Chronicle & Echo, which prints Cobblers Jr every Friday, wants your views on anything to do with Northampton Town Football Club to include in their Fanzone feature. Text your opinion to 07734 717374 or email fans@northantsnews.co.uk