Northampton Town v Mansfield Town

Northampton Town v Mansfield Town

SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday November 14th, 3.00pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1

Marc Richards 4

MANSFIELD TOWN 0

Attendance: 5,454 (892 away fans)

Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath (sub Jason Taylor 65), Nicky Adams (sub Ryan Cresswell 90), Alfie Potter (sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin 46), Marc Richards

Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Sam Hoskins, Darnell Furlong, Ryan Watson

Mansfield: Brian Jensen, Mitchell Rose (sub Adi Yussuf 70), Lee Collins, Adam Chapman, Chris Clements, Matt Green, Craig Westcarr (sub Matty Blair 46), Ryan Tafazolli, Nicky Hunt, Reggie Lambe (sub Krystian Pearce 89), Blair Adams

Subs not used: Scott Shearer, Nathan Thomas, Jack Thomas, Jamie McGuire

Referee: Mr D Bond

Booked:
Cobblers: Marc Richards (90, 1st of the season)
Mansfield: Nicky Hunt (47), Chris Clements (50)

5 cautions on or before 30 November; 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:
Cobblers: none
Mansfield: none

Sendings off: 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.

It was 5th vs 6th at a wet and windy Sixfields as the Cobblers took on Mansfield Town. Joel Byrom replaced Jason Taylor in the only change for the home side while former Cobblers Lee Collins and Blair Adams both started for the Stags.

In memory of former Northampton Town director Brian Lomax and to those who tragically lost their lives in the Paris attacks, the game was preceded by a perfectly observed minute’s silence.

The Cobblers took an early lead with their first foray forward, Marc Richards connecting well with an inch-perfect Alfie Potter cross to head home his 11th goal of the season.

With both sides somewhat cancelling each other out, Ryan Tafazolli headed wide from a corner as the first half reached the midway point. Nicky Adams tested Brian Jensen with a shot from distance on 38 minutes but the veteran Stags keeper made the save.

Mansfield went close to restoring parity in first half stoppage time, Matt Green’s header from Blair Adams free-kick hitting the top of cross bar before going behind.

Both sides made a change at half-time, for the Cobblers Dominic Calvert-Lewin coming on for Alfie Potter while Mansfield replaced Craig Westcarr with former Sixfields loanee Matty Blair.

Calvert-Lewin crashed the ball against the cross bar following another terrific delivery from Adams as the Cobblers looked to take advantage of their positive start to the second half.

With Mansfield then building up some momentum of their own, Chris Wilder brought Jason Taylor on for Lawson D’Ath.

Rod McDonald had a chance to double the Cobblers lead but the defender couldn’t quite connect when inside the six-yard box. Joel Byrom then went racing through on 78 minutes after being played in by O’Toole, only to see his effort turned behind by Jensen.

Deep into stoppage time McDonald made a superb challenge to preserve the Cobblers lead and help secure the three points, set up by Marc Richards early goal.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)

SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 4
CORNERS: (0) 4
FOULS: (6) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

MANSFIELD STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 0

SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (2) 7
FOULS: (4) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta

Match Reports