Cobblers victory extends advantage at top of League Two

 

 

On a cold Tuesday evening, 3rd placed Oxford United welcomed league leaders Northampton to the Kassam Stadium in what was set to be a bumper game.

Just under 10,000 fans were at the game in which Chris Wilder’s Cobblers won 1-0, making it eight wins in succession and moving eight points clear of 2nd placed Plymouth.

 

Oxford United 0-1 Northampton Town

From the off, these two promotion chasing sides signaled their intents. The U’s, who had a decent away win at Morecambe on Saturday, began explosively, and only Danny Hylton was denied the opener inside the first minute after his header was saved by Adam Smith.

The hosts created another early opportunity; a free-flowing move, in which the U’s passed the ball gracefully, ended up with forward Jordan Bowery, but his effort sailed over the bar from only eight yards out.

Bowery, who netted in the 4-2 win at Morecambe, was then contained by a resilient Cobblers defence, and the U’s struggled to create many more opportunities in the opening exchanges.

Then, in-form Cobblers forward James Collins, on loan from Shrewsbury and who was a potential transfer target for the U’s, saw his effort saved by Benji Büchel, before the goalkeeper saw a later effort from the same forward sail over.

John Lundstram and Liam Sercombe were strong in midfield, and managed to contain the Cobblers attacker’s, while at the other end, Kemar Roofe’s clever flick was off target, before Cobblers defender Zander Diamond saw his headed effort sail off target and Marc Richards saw his glancing header saved by Büchel as the sides headed into the break level following a feisty and energetic first half.

The second half began like the first; explosive. Collins forced Büchel into another save, before midfielder John-Joe O’Toole saw his header hit the woodwork.

But then, the games decisive factor. Northampton, in controversial circumstances, were awarded a penalty after Johnny Mullins appeared to handle the ball in the box following Richards’s clever cross back across goal. It looked to have hit his side rather than his arm, but referee Keith Hill awarded the Cobblers the spot kick. Richards stepped up and duly delivered the games opening goal, smashing the ball home.