The Cobblers held on to their highest league finish in ten seasons by twice coming from behind at the Keepmount Stadium in an entertaining draw.
After a relaxing drive up to Northampton on Friday night, we set off on the journey north on board the Trust coach. Honorary Cobbler Jamie accompanied me on his 4th trip of the season and on his first ever go on the football card, won with a correct guess at Blackburn Rovers! Needless to say the first round at the pub stop in Worksop was on him!
Worksop didn’t know what hit it. Four coach loads of claret-clad football fans invaded their sleepy town and took over the nearest pub they could see! A good few pints later and we were on our merry way for the final half hour journey to Doncaster and the new Keepmount Stadium. The Keepmount is an impressive new venue with a single tier all the way around and room for expansion the future if needed. For now, and from the attendance today, I would say it’s just about right for what they need.
In the Cobblers line-up, Danny May made way for fit-again Jason Crowe while Liam Dolman was a surprise inclusion in place of Chris Doig. Jordan Robertson and Simon Cox started up front, meaning the hoards of Cobblers fans in white doctor coats had to wait a while before paying tribute to Mr Deuchar!
The early morning cloud had made way for sunshine and the traditional weather for the final day of the season. The game began with few chances until the home side took the lead after ten minutes, Craig Neglethorpe finishing off a good break away to send Rovers into the lead. Bradley Johnson and Jordan Robertson both went close as the Cobblers tried to get back into the game but the first half offered little in the way of clear-cut chances. It was on 45 minutes when we decided to make a run for the bar and food counter to beat the rush and for the second time in as many away games I missed a goal!
As I was coming out of the toilet, the fans gathered in the concourse went barmy. I assumed the cheering wasn’t to celebrate my lavatory skills so looked quickly up to the big screen where I saw Jason Crowe wheeling away in celebration of a Cobblers equaliser!
After quickly rounding off a drink and burger it was back to the seats for the final 45 minutes of the season.
James Coppinger tested Mark Bunn early in the half with a stinging drive but the Cobblers player of the year was equal to it to tip over the bar. But on the hour mark, Doncaster did regain the lead as Gareth Roberts hammered the ball home past Bunn.
There was a heroes welcome just minutes later as Doctor Deuchar finally appeared and the white coat brigade rose in unison to greet him. Just seconds later and we were level for the second time. Andy Holt collected a throw in and crossed for Mark Hughes to nod home and make it 2-2 just after the hour mark and turned the final half an hour into an exciting finale.
With ten minutes to go, Bradley Johnson broke forward and hit a curling effort that looked every bit a goal but the ball agonisingly struck the far post and bounced away to safety. In stoppage time, Johnson broke through again but took too long in shooting and hit it straight at home goalkeeper Jan Budtz.
And so the season ends in a 2-2 draw and the Cobblers finish in a very respectable 14th place in the final League One table, our best finish for ten years. So we pack up the shirts, scarves and, erm, lab coats, for another season and look forward to a summer of wheeling, dealing and the usual transfer rumours.
Keep up to date with all the goings on at the Cobblers in the summer right here plus coming up soon a month by month look back on what was, in the end, a very successful 2006/07 season for Northampton Town.
After a relaxing drive up to Northampton on Friday night, we set off on the journey north on board the Trust coach. Honorary Cobbler Jamie accompanied me on his 4th trip of the season and on his first ever go on the football card, won with a correct guess at Blackburn Rovers! Needless to say the first round at the pub stop in Worksop was on him!
Worksop didn’t know what hit it. Four coach loads of claret-clad football fans invaded their sleepy town and took over the nearest pub they could see! A good few pints later and we were on our merry way for the final half hour journey to Doncaster and the new Keepmount Stadium. The Keepmount is an impressive new venue with a single tier all the way around and room for expansion the future if needed. For now, and from the attendance today, I would say it’s just about right for what they need.
In the Cobblers line-up, Danny May made way for fit-again Jason Crowe while Liam Dolman was a surprise inclusion in place of Chris Doig. Jordan Robertson and Simon Cox started up front, meaning the hoards of Cobblers fans in white doctor coats had to wait a while before paying tribute to Mr Deuchar!
The early morning cloud had made way for sunshine and the traditional weather for the final day of the season. The game began with few chances until the home side took the lead after ten minutes, Craig Neglethorpe finishing off a good break away to send Rovers into the lead. Bradley Johnson and Jordan Robertson both went close as the Cobblers tried to get back into the game but the first half offered little in the way of clear-cut chances. It was on 45 minutes when we decided to make a run for the bar and food counter to beat the rush and for the second time in as many away games I missed a goal!
As I was coming out of the toilet, the fans gathered in the concourse went barmy. I assumed the cheering wasn’t to celebrate my lavatory skills so looked quickly up to the big screen where I saw Jason Crowe wheeling away in celebration of a Cobblers equaliser!
After quickly rounding off a drink and burger it was back to the seats for the final 45 minutes of the season.
James Coppinger tested Mark Bunn early in the half with a stinging drive but the Cobblers player of the year was equal to it to tip over the bar. But on the hour mark, Doncaster did regain the lead as Gareth Roberts hammered the ball home past Bunn.
There was a heroes welcome just minutes later as Doctor Deuchar finally appeared and the white coat brigade rose in unison to greet him. Just seconds later and we were level for the second time. Andy Holt collected a throw in and crossed for Mark Hughes to nod home and make it 2-2 just after the hour mark and turned the final half an hour into an exciting finale.
With ten minutes to go, Bradley Johnson broke forward and hit a curling effort that looked every bit a goal but the ball agonisingly struck the far post and bounced away to safety. In stoppage time, Johnson broke through again but took too long in shooting and hit it straight at home goalkeeper Jan Budtz.
And so the season ends in a 2-2 draw and the Cobblers finish in a very respectable 14th place in the final League One table, our best finish for ten years. So we pack up the shirts, scarves and, erm, lab coats, for another season and look forward to a summer of wheeling, dealing and the usual transfer rumours.
Keep up to date with all the goings on at the Cobblers in the summer right here plus coming up soon a month by month look back on what was, in the end, a very successful 2006/07 season for Northampton Town.
No comments:
Post a Comment