Northampton Town v Bristol Rovers
NPOWER LEAGUE 2
Tuesday February 26th
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Ben Harding 89
BRISTOL ROVERS 0
Attendance: 4,077 (329 away fans)
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, Ben Tozer, Kelvin Langmead, Clarke Carlisle, Lee Collins, Jake Robinson (sub Luke Guttridge 72), Lewis Hornby, Ben Harding, Roy O’Donovan, Clive Platt (sub John Johnson 90), Adebayo Akinfenwa (sub Ishmel Demontagnac 46)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Manny Oyeleke, Claudio Dias
Bristol Rovers: Steve Mildenhall, Michael Smith, Danny Woodards, Tom Parkes, Eliot Richards, Lee Brown, Oliver Norburn, Joe Anyinsah, Tom Hitchcock (sub Ellis Harrison 76), Mark McChrystal, John-Joe O'Toole.
Subs not used: Jim Paterson, Mitch Harding, Adam Virgo, Connor Gough, Jordan Goddard, Tom Lockyer
Referee: Mr G Ward
Booked:
Cobblers: Jake Robinson (62, 4th of the season), Clarke Carlisle (70, 6th)
Bristol Rovers: Oliver Norburn (54), Tom Parkes (59), Lee Brown (64)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Bristol Rovers: 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.
Adebayo Akinfenwa and Jake Robinson both came into the side for the visit of in-form Bristol Rovers with Chris Hackett rested and John Johnson dropping to the bench.
Rovers goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall was tested for the first time on 12 minutes, comfortably saving a header from Clive Platt.
On a cold misty night at Sixfields Joe Anyinsah fired in a shot on 24 minutes with Lee Nicholls doing well to make the save.
Aidy Boothroyd made a change at half-time with Ishmel Demontagnac on for Akinfenwa, O’Donovan moving up front to partner Platt.
Nicholls pushed away a shot from Eliot Richards while for the Cobblers Ben Harding volleyed wide.
Luke Guttridge replaced Jake Robinson in the Cobblers second change.
A great sliding tackle from Clarke Carlisle denied Rovers substitute Ellis Harrison before Nicholls tipped over a long-range shot from Oliver Norburn.
The breakthrough finally came on 89 minutes, Ben Harding forcing the ball home from close range following a long throw from Ben Tozer.
John Johnson came on for Clive Platt in stoppage time as the Cobblers looked to see the game out. That they did to claim another crucial win in their quest for promotion.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (6) 10
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.