Burton Albion 3 Northampton Town 3
NPOWER LEAGUE TWO
Saturday September 29th, 3.00pm
Pirelli Stadium
BURTON ALBION 3
Calvin Zola 9
Kelvin Langmead og 55
Zander Diamond 79
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Kelvin Langmead 59
David Artell 73
Alex Nicholls 82
Attendance: 2,857 (away fans not confirmed)
Burton: Stuart Tomlinson, Zander Diamond, Robbie Weir, Calvin Zola (sub Billy Kee 45), Damien McCrory, Matt Paterson (sub Nathan Stanton 71), Jacques Maghoma, Anthony O'Connor, Lee Bell, Rob Kiernan, Luke Rooney (sub Aaron Webster 90).
Subs not used: Ross Atkins, Cleveland Taylor, Adi Yussuf, Jack Dyer.
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Danny East (sub John Johnson 46), Joe Widdowson, Kelvin Langmead, David Artell, Chris Hackett (sub Kemar Roofe 56), Luke Guttridge, Ben Tozer, Ishmel Demontagnac (sub Louis Moult 89), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Alex Nicholls.
Subs not used: Shane Higgs, Henoc Mukendi, Anthony Charles.
Referee: Mr B Malone
Booked:
Burton: Robbie Weir (45), Damian McCrory (80)
Cobblers: Luke Guttridge (52, 3rd of the season)
5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Burton: 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.
Still without Clive Platt and Ben Harding as well as dead leg victim Lewis Wilson, the Cobblers side was unchanged for the trip to Burton. New loan signing West Brom winger Kemar Roofe was named on the bench where he was joined by goalkeeper Shane Higgs who returned to the matchday squad for the first time in 9 months following a lengthy injury lay off.
Calvin Zola put Burton in front on 9 minutes, sending the ball home from a Jacques Maghoma cross after Zola's initial header had come back off the crossbar.
Lee Nicholls parried an effort from Robbie Weir while Luke Rooney and Lee Bell both flashed shots wide.
Zander Diamond went close to doubling the home side's lead on 35 minutes but Nicholls made a superb finger-tip save to turn his header on to the bar.
Adebayo Akinfenwa saw a shot tipped round the post after a forceful run before Burton were forced into making a change with Billy Kee coming on for Zola.
Aidy Boothroyd made a change at half-time with John Johnson coming on for Danny East. The Cobblers started the second half very much on the offensive, Alex Nicholls seeing a header saved while a fiercely driven shot from Ishmel Demontagnac flashed just wide.
Burton still looked a threat going forward though and Lee Nicholls made another good reaction save to deny Jacques Maghoma from 12-yards. Luke Guttridge then picked up a booking following a challenge on Maghoma.
The Brewers doubled their lead on 55 minutes, Billy Kee's cross going in off the unfortunate Kelvin Langmead. Kemar Roofe then replaced Chris Hackett.
The Cobblers were quick to halve their deficit, Kelvin Langmead powering home a header from a Demontagnac free-kick.
With Burton now on the back foot, Akinfenwa rattled the post before two minutes later seeing a header well saved by Stuart Tomlinson.
David Artell then made it 2-2, the centre half in the right place at the right time to force home a cross from Joe Widdowson.
Burton re-took the lead against the run of play on 79 minutes, Zander Diamond heading home from a free-kick.
It was soon 3-3 however, Alex Nicholls with a delightful chip that gave Tomlinson no chance.
Louis Moult replaced Demontagnac as the game neared stoppage time.
There were to be no more goals though as what had been a pulsating game at the Pirelli ended all square at 3-3.
BURTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 10
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (4) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 13
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 7
FOULS: (9) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.