Northampton Town v Accrington Stanley
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Monday December 28th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Marc Richards 62
ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0
Attendance: 5,269 (141 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Ryan Cresswell, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Joel Byrom, Lawson D’Ath, Nicky Adams (sub Ricky Holmes 52), Alfie Potter (sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin 46), Marc Richards (sub Jason Taylor 82)
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Sam Hoskins, Josh Lelan, Rod McDonald
Accrington: Jason Mooney, Matty Pearson, Tom Davies, Piero Mingoia (sub Shay McCartan 78), Josh Windass, Sean McConville, Matt Crooks, Joe Wright, Seamus Conneely, Billy Kee, Bradley Halliday (sub Terry Gornell 84)
Subs not used: Ross Etheridge, Anthony Barry, Andy Procter, Liam Wakefield, Adam Buxton
Referee: Mr N Kinseley
Booked:
Cobblers: John-Joe O'Toole (8, 7th of the season), Nicky Adams (32, 3rd)
Accrington: Tom Davies (20), Matt Crooks (26), Jason Mooney (87)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Accrington: 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.
Northampton Town were unchanged for the visit of in-form Accrington Stanley on the Bank Holiday Monday post Christmas with both sides having had their respective games on Boxing Day postponed.
It was another bumper crowd at Sixfields and for the first time since April 2006, the South Stand was occupied by both home and away supporters, with all tickets sold in the West and North stands.
Stanley’s Sean McConville was denied by the woodwork in the opening seconds, his looping shot from 25-yards striking the angle of post and bar.
Nicky Adams had a shot deflected behind following a well-worked Cobblers move while Marc Richards went close with a volley.
Bradley Halliday shot just wide for Accrington as the game became a bit scrappy with both sides looking evenly matched.
A combination of Adam Smith and Brendan Moloney prevented McConville from getting a shot away as Accrington enjoyed some possession but the first half ended goalless.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin replaced Alfie Potter at half-time and it wasn’t long before Ricky Holmes came on for Nicky Adams.
Holmes and Calvert-Lewin nearly combined to open the scoring on 54 minutes but Holmes cross had a bit too much pace on it and just eluded the on rushing Sheffield United loanee.
Josh Windass was denied at close range by an excellent save from Smith before the Cobblers took the lead, a Marc Richards header into the ground looping up and over Jason Mooney in the Accrington goal. That goal came on 63 minutes with Ricky Holmes providing the assist.
That lifted the Cobblers and Richards had a chance to make it 2-0 on 71 minutes, only to be denied by a good block by Tom Davies.
McConville and Davies both spurned half chances to equalise for Accrington while Smith made a good save to deny Billy Kee, Windass firing the rebound over the bar.
Smith pulled off another fine save to thwart Matt Crooks as Jason Taylor came on for the final few minutes, Richards making way.
Stanley substitute Shay McCartan headed into the side netting as the end of normal time neared. Accrington sent up their keeper for a corner in injury time but the Cobblers defence held to sign off 2015 with a victory.
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (5) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
ACCRINGTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 12
CORNERS: (3) 9
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta