After a strong end to February, it was full steam ahead as the Cobblers headed into March in a strong position to survive the drop back down to League Two.
Following the Cobblers’ good run of form at the end of February, our first game of March saw us visit promotion chasing Bristol City at Ashton Gate. But just as at Nottingham Forest a month before, we just came unstuck against a side looking to book a place in The Championship. Kevin Betsy scored the only goal of the game on 19 minutes in a 1-0 City win.
It was back to Sixfields a week later and another bottom of the table battle with AFC Bournemouth. Jordan Robertson earned a start against the Cherries and rewarded Stewart Gray’s faith in him by scoring the opening goal. Mark Wilson equalized in the second half but late goals from Kenny Deuchar and Andy Kirk gave us a valuable 3-1 win and took us once again away from the teams trying to bring us down into the relegation scrap.
And so to Swansea City and to the new Liberty Stadium, an impressive new ground to replace the Vetch Field. In the build up to the game, Stuart Gray had brought in Simon Cox on loan from Reading and he was on the bench for the visit to South Wales. This game saw what was arguably the Cobblers’ goal of the season as Bradley Johnson powered a free kick into the top corner within just six minutes of the game. We played some good football and looked comfortable until a sucker punch from big Dennis Lawrence just before half-time turned the game around. Just seconds after the restart and with some Town fans still finishing off their half time beverages in the concourse, Swansea broke and Andy Robinson fired home what turned out to be the winning goal.
The final game of the month came at home to Brighton and Hove Albion, with both clubs moving in the right direction away from trouble. It was Albion who took the three points back to the south coast though with a second half quick fire double from Bas Savage which was followed by a moonwalk from the striker!
Despite the two defeats at the end of the month, there was still plenty of breathing space for the Cobblers as the busy Easter period drew near.
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