Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town
NPOWER LEAGUE TWO
Saturday October 6th, 3.00pm
Memorial Stadium
BRISTOL ROVERS 3
Tom Eaves 53
Gary Kenneth 57
Oliver Norburn 84
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Adebayo Akinfenwa 75
Attendance: 5,166 (266 Cobblers fans)
Bristol Rovers: Neil Etheridge, Matt Lund, Tom Parkes, Garry Kenneth, Jim Paterson, Eliot Rochards, Oliver Norburn, David Clarkson (sub Wayne Brown 46), Fabian Broghammer (sub Lee Brown 64), Tom Eaves, Derek Riordan (sub Michael Smith 54).
Subs not used: Sam Walker, Joe Anyinsah, Adam Vrigo, Seanan Clucas
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Danny East (sub Lewis Wilson 51), Joe Widdowson, Kelvin Langmead, Anthony Charles, Chris Hackett, Ben Tozer, Louis Moult (sub David Artell 64), Kemar Roofe (sub Henoc Mukendi 83), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Alex Nicholls.
Subs not used: Shane Higgs, Ishmel Demontagnac, Clive Platt.
Referee: Mr M Brown
Booked:
Bristol Rovers: Tom Eaves (29), Matt Lund (63), Tom Parkes (79)
Cobblers: Chris Hackett (37, 2nd of the season), Joe Widdowson (66, 2nd), Alex Nicholls (90, 2nd)
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:
Bristol Rovers: none
Cobblers: Anthony Charles (24, one match ban, misses Colchester United)
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.
Danny East, Anthony Charles, Chris Hackett and Louis Moult all came into the Cobblers side for the trip to Bristol Rovers with two of the four changes enforced. John Johnson (knee) and Luke Guttridge (foot) were both unavailable for selection with David Artell and Ishmel Demontagnac dropping to the bench.
The first chance of the game came on 5 minutes with a combination of the post and Lee Nicholls keeping out a volley from Tom Eaves. Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Neil Etheridge then made a good save on 17 minutes to deny Alex Nicholls from close range with his legs.
The Cobblers were reduced to ten men midway through the first half, Anthony Charles sent off after the referee adjudged that he had held back Derek Riordan. Riordan's subsequent free-kick came back off the crossbar. The sending off meant a re-shuffle at the back with Tozer moving back to partner Kelvin Langmead.
Adebayo Akinfenwa had the ball in the back of the net on 27 minutes when he connected with a Ben Tozer long throw but his effort was disallowed for an apparent foul on Etheridge.
Nicholls crossed for Akinfenwa on 42 minutes but the striker couldn't quite keep his header down.
Six minutes into the second half the Cobbles were forced into making a change with Danny East having picked up a shoulder injury after falling awkwardly. Lewis Wilson came on to fill in at right-back.
Bristol Rovers took the lead on 53 minutes, Tom Eaves with a finish from close range.
Gary Kenneth doubled Rovers lead soon after, the centre-back slotting home left-footed from a corner.
David Artell replaced Louis Moult on 65 minutes with Tozer moving back into central midfield. Nicholls drew a save from Etheridge as the Cobblers looked for a route back into the game.
The Cobblers were back in the game on 75 minutes, Akinfenwa glancing home a header from a Tozer long throw.
Oliver Norburn restored Rovers two goal cushion on 84 minutes with a header that found the bottom corner of Nicholls goal via the post.
There were no more goals and the Cobblers having played with ten men for the majority of the game were beaten 3-1.
BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 11
CORNERS: (1) 6
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 7
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (7) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.