Northampton Town v Fleetwood Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday August 6th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Alex Revell 8
FLEETWOOD TOWN 1
Victor Nirennold 52
Attendance: 5,157 (109 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Aaron Phillips, Zander Diamond, Gabriel Zakuani, David Buchanan, Harry Beautyman (sub Alfie Potter 65), John-Joe O’Toole, Matt Taylor, Kenji Gorre (sub Sam Hoskins 77), Marc Richards, Alex Revell
Subs not used: David Cornell, Jason Taylor, Lawson D’Ath, Joel Byrom, Rod McDonald
Fleetwood: Chris Neal, Conor McLaughlin, Amari’i Bell, Eggert Jonsson, Ashley Eastham, Nathan Pond, Jimmy Ryan, David Ball (sub Aaron Amadi-Holloway 75), Bobby Grant (sub Michael Duckworth 84), Victor Nirennold, Ashley Hunter (sub Devante Cole 65)
Subs not used: Ricardo Kip, Cian Bolger, Nick Haughton, Alex Cairns
Referee: Mr A Haines
Booked:
Cobblers: Alex Revell (65, 1st of the season)
Fleetwood: none
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
Fleetwood: 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’s first game back in League 1 since 2009 saw them up against Fleetwood Town on a glorious sunny August afternoon at Sixfields.
Rob Page, who replaced Sheffield United bound Chris Wilder in May, handed debuts to six of his summer signings, Matt Taylor, Alex Revell, Harry Beautyman, Gabriel Zakuiani, Aaron Phillips and Kenji Gorre.
After a cagey opening 8 minutes Alex Revell broke the deadlock with a terrific strike that went in via the post and the back of Fleetwood keeper Chris Neal.
David Ball fired into the side netting for Fleetwood while Marc Richards just failed to connect with a tantalising cross from Harry Beautyman.
The Cobblers would have doubled their lead but for a goal line clearance from Victor Nirennold after Richards flick on from a Matt Taylor free kick initially hit the post.
Swansea loanee Kenji Gorre volleyed just over from close range as the home side continued to press.
Victor Nirennold drew Fleetwood level seven minutes into the second half, heading in an inch-perfect cross from Bobby Grant.
Alfie Potter came on for Beautyman in the Cobblers first change while Devante Cole, son of former Manchester United striker Andy, came on for Fleetwood.
With the game still in the balance Potter set up a chance for Richards but the striker failed to connect cleanly 10-yards from goal.
Eggert Jonsson flashed a shot just wide and Adam Smith did well to deny Michael Duckworth late on as the points were shared on the opening day of the 2016/17 season.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
FLEETWOOD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (4) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta