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Search forSAT: 4.50pm - Northampton Town 4 Cheltenham Town 2 - full-time
Saturday, August 09, 2008, 15:40
They took a first half lead though Gabor Gyepes' own goal, but the Cobblers hit back with a leveller before half-time and two quick Adebayo Akinfenwa penalties in the second half put them on course for an opening day victory
Teams
NORTHAMPTON TOWN: M Bunn; M Hughes, G Gyepes, C Doig; J Crowe, L Guttridge, D Jackman, R. Gilligan, L Davis (A Holt 77); A Akinfenwa (C Larkin 77), L Constantine. Subs not used: I Henderson, C Dunn, L Dolman.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Higgs; J Gill, S Duff, M Townsend, A Wright; A Lindegaard (M Watkins 82), D Bird, A Russell, C Armstrong (B Gill 82); P Connor, A Vincent. Subs not used: S P A Brown, L Ridley, A Gallinagh.
REFEREE: G Horwood.
ATTENDANCE: 4,716 (399 from Cheltenham).
First half key moments:
Cheltenham get the first half underway in their new bright yellow change kit, shooting away from their visiting fans.
3: Cobblers debutant Luke Guttridge feeds striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and only a last ditch challenge from Alan Wright averts the danger.
7: Central defender Shane Duff presses forward and gets on the end of a long throw from Craig Armstrong, but the ball drops nicely for Northampton goalkeeper Mark Bunn.
10: Akinfenwa comes off worse from a cash of heads with Michael Townsend and leaves the field for treatment, Northampton are temporarily reduced to 10 men.
13: Guttridge’s free-kick from the left is headed towards goal by Gabor Gyepes, but Shane Higgs gathers comfortably.
15: Jerry Gill’s long ball finds Paul Connor in what looks like an offside position as Cheltenham are given their first sight of goal, but his shot flies wide of the near post.
20: Akinfenwa finally re-emerges from the tunnel with his head heavily bandaged as Northampton’s team is restored to full strength after 10 minutes with 10 men.
26: Townsend, making his first start since last November, makes a fine block tackle to deny Danny Jackman, a Guttridge shot is deflected wide and Higgs falls on another Jackman effort.
36: GOAL. Cheltenham take the lead. Russell releases ex-Cobbler Jerry Gill in space on the right and his low ball into the box is fired towards goal by David Bird, takes a deflection of Gyepes and trickles inside Bunn’s near post.
42: GOAL: Northampton equalise through captain Chris Doig, who steals in and pokes the ball home from close range at the far post after Jackman's right wing corner is not dealt with by Cheltenham.
45: Higgs makes a good block to deny Leon Constantine as Northampton finish the first half very strongly.
Half-time: Northampton Town 1 Cheltenham Town 1
Second half key moments:
53: Russell’s corner flashes across goal and evades Townsend. Duff links up with Townsend to keep the ball alive and Andy Lindegaard is crudely brought down by Guttridge, who is cautioned for his indiscretion.
55: Another Russell corner is headed towards the bottom right corner by Bird, but Jackman hacks it to safety.
56: Guttridge’s drive is deflected off for a corner by Bird and Liam Davis beats Russell on the left and fires a shot into the side netting.
58: Hungarian defender Gyepes is show a yellow card for a foul on Ashley Vincent, who had beaten him with his pace near the halfway line.
61: Left wing-back Davis gets past Townsend and breaks through on goal, but Higgs is off his line quickly to save with his feet.
63: Jackman is tripped by Bird just inside the penalty area, it was a wild and unnecessary challenge from the Robins midfielder.
64: GOAL. Akinfenwa steps up and sends Higgs the wrong way from the spot, finding the bottom right corner. Northampton 2 Cheltenham 1.
65: Vincent goes down in the box at the other end looking for a penalty, but his appeals are waved away by the referee.
67: Gill is penalised for a trip on Guttridge after good work from Akinfenwa and an altogether more soft penalty is awarded to the Cobblers.
67: GOAL. Akinfenwa goes for the other corner this time and although Higgs goes the right way, he can’t reach it and the Cobblers are 3-1 up after two penalties in three minutes. Northampton 3 Cheltenham 1.
71: Jackman forces Higgs into a saw low to his left.
73: Russell’s corner is met by Duff, who forces Bunn into a fine fingertip save. From the resulting corner Duff is pushed by Gyepes and another penalty is awarded.
74: GOAL. Townsend grabs the ball and on his comeback from long-term injury, smashes the ball home emphatically from 12 yards to reduce the arrears. Northampton 3 Cheltenham 2.
77: GOAL. Northampton quickly restore their two goal advantage as Crowe’s ball into the box is controlled by Akinfenwa, who lays it off all too easily to Constantine and the former Leeds striker beats Higgs with a low finish into the bottom right corner. Northampton 4 Cheltenham 2.
81: Gilligan has his name taken by the referee for dissent, but Northampton have the game sewn up.
82: Downing sends on Ben Gill and second year scholar Marley Watkins for his debut.
83: Constantine hits the underside of the bar from almost on the goal line after Crowe’s ball in was flicked back across goal by substitute Andy Holt as Cheltenham are in disarray at the back. Colin Larkin puts the ball in the net, but his effort is ruled out for offside.
86: Russell curls a free-kick from 25 yards wide of the left upright, but Cheltenham are condemned to their first opening day defeat since 2003.
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