Crawley Town v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday November 24th, 7.45pm
checkatrade.com Stadium
CRAWLEY TOWN 1
Simon Walton 61 pen
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Joel Byrom 5
John-Joe O'Toole 20
Attendance: 2,325 (381 Cobblers fans)
Crawley: Darryl Flahavan, Simon Walton (sub Luke Rooney 76), Sonny Bradley, Gwion Edwards, Jimmy Smith, Lewis Young, Matt Harrold (sub Shamir Fenelon 58), Roarie Deacon, Mitch Hancox, Josh Yorwerth, Rhys Murphy (sub Lee Barnard 76).
Subs not used: Callum Preston, Christian Scales, Jon Ashton, Ross Jenkins.
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Ryan Cresswell, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath, Nicky Adams (sub Josh Lelan 62), Alfie Potter (sub Jason Taylor 89), Marc Richards (sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin 78)
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Sam Hoskins, Rod McDonald, Ryan Watson
Referee: Mr S Martin
Booked:
Crawley: Roarie Deacon (16), Josh Yorweth (65)
Cobblers: Ryan Cresswell (35, 3rd of the season)
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:
Crawley: none
Cobblers: Brendan Moloney (61, 1 match ban)
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.
Ryan Cresswell replaced Rod McDonald (illness) in the only change to the Cobblers team for the midweek trip to Crawley while Lewis Young, who spent the 2011/12 season at Sixfields, started for the home side.
The Cobblers were awarded an early penalty when Lawson D’Ath was tripped in the area and although Marc Richards' spot kick was saved by Darryl Flahavan, Joel Byrom was there on the follow up to head Chris Wilder’s side in front.
After a slight lull in the game the Cobblers doubled their lead on 20 minutes, John-Joe O’Toole with a terrific strike from distance that went in over the head of Flahavan.
Marc Richards found the side netting after Flahavan saved a shot from Nicky Adams while Ryan Cresswell picked up a booking following a strong challenge on Rhys Murphy.
Lewis Young headed away an early chance from Adams at the second half before Matt Harrold had a chance to halve the home side’s deficit, only to fire his shot into the side netting under pressure from Cresswell.
A big moment in the game came on the hour mark with Crawley awarded a penalty and Brendan Moloney shown a straight red card. Simon Walton stepped up to score from 12-yards and bring the home side right back into it.
Josh Lelan came on for Nicky Adams as the Cobblers looked to adjust to their numerical disadvantage.
With the home side ramping up the pressure in search of an equaliser, Adam Smith made a superb double save to deny Crawley substitute Shamir Fenelon.
Fenelon shot wide on 76 before Crawley made a double change, bringing on Luke Rooney and ex-Cobblers loanee Lee Barnard. Marc Richards meanwhile made way for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Jason Taylor came on for Alfie Potter as the game neared the 90-minute mark. Four minutes of added time were seen off as the ten men stood firm to bag the three points and keep the hammer firmly down on their promotion rivals.
CRAWLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 5
CORNERS: (1) 6
FOULS: (6) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (0) 5
FOULS: (10) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 7
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta