This week in Golden Games, we look back on one of our finest performances of the 2001/02 season as we swept aside a Tranmere side that was, on paper, set to be one of our toughest opponents.Northampton Town 4-1 Tranmere Rovers
13/10/01
Attendance: 4,636
It had been a poor start to the season for the Cobblers, who had finished the previous season in 18th place in Division Two (League One). With just two league wins (Brighton 2-0 and Port Vale 1-0) under our belt before the game with Tranmere, we were also coming off the back of a demoralising 2-0 defeat at London Road against Peterborough United.
We needed a performance to really make us forget the derby day the previous Sunday and the team provided just that.
Richard Hope was the first to give Tranmere an early scare as he headed the ball against the post of Rovers keeper Joe Murphy after Ian Sampson had caused problems from a free kick. It wasn’t long before the Cobblers were in front though as Jamie Forrester pounced on a cross from Chris Hargreaves in the 9th minute to give us the lead.
Hargreaves himself hit the post before Sam Parkin also went close to adding to the lead thanks to a last ditch challenge from visiting defender Graham Allen.
Cobblers keeper Keith Welch had to be alert with five minutes of the first half to go as he got to a well struck Jason Koumas free kick. On the stroke of half-time, the Cobblers were two goals to the good. Duncan Spedding swung in a corner that Ian Sampson headed back across goal, Darryl Burgess was quickest to react and his header hit the cross bar before Richard Hope fired home the rebound.
With the half-time whistle approaching, Tranmere stormed back into the game with a stunning strike from Sean Flynn who hit a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out.
The pace of the game didn’t stop after the break as the Cobblers regained the two-goal advantage. Chris Hargreaves put a good ball into the box and Paul McGregor was there to stab home at the far post after making a good run down the right hand side.
Jamie Forrester nearly grabbed his second of the game as he latched onto a through ball from James Hunt but after beating his man shot just wide of the post. Koumas hit the bar at the other end with another free kick before Welch saved well from a Gareth Roberts effort and picked himself up to deny Stuart Barlow twice!
The game was all over, though, on 72 minutes as Roy Hunter put a ball through to Forrester and the front man poked the ball past Murphy to round off the scoring.
Iain Hume should have scored a consolation with fifteen minutes to go but missed his kick when set up by Koumas and then James Hunt had his shot saved well by Murphy at the other end but the Cobblers had already done enough to secure the third win of the campaign.
The Cobblers went on to escape the drop by five points, finishing just a place above the relegation zone while Tranmere finished off the season in 12th place.
13/10/01
Attendance: 4,636
It had been a poor start to the season for the Cobblers, who had finished the previous season in 18th place in Division Two (League One). With just two league wins (Brighton 2-0 and Port Vale 1-0) under our belt before the game with Tranmere, we were also coming off the back of a demoralising 2-0 defeat at London Road against Peterborough United.
We needed a performance to really make us forget the derby day the previous Sunday and the team provided just that.
Richard Hope was the first to give Tranmere an early scare as he headed the ball against the post of Rovers keeper Joe Murphy after Ian Sampson had caused problems from a free kick. It wasn’t long before the Cobblers were in front though as Jamie Forrester pounced on a cross from Chris Hargreaves in the 9th minute to give us the lead.
Hargreaves himself hit the post before Sam Parkin also went close to adding to the lead thanks to a last ditch challenge from visiting defender Graham Allen.
Cobblers keeper Keith Welch had to be alert with five minutes of the first half to go as he got to a well struck Jason Koumas free kick. On the stroke of half-time, the Cobblers were two goals to the good. Duncan Spedding swung in a corner that Ian Sampson headed back across goal, Darryl Burgess was quickest to react and his header hit the cross bar before Richard Hope fired home the rebound.
With the half-time whistle approaching, Tranmere stormed back into the game with a stunning strike from Sean Flynn who hit a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out.
The pace of the game didn’t stop after the break as the Cobblers regained the two-goal advantage. Chris Hargreaves put a good ball into the box and Paul McGregor was there to stab home at the far post after making a good run down the right hand side.
Jamie Forrester nearly grabbed his second of the game as he latched onto a through ball from James Hunt but after beating his man shot just wide of the post. Koumas hit the bar at the other end with another free kick before Welch saved well from a Gareth Roberts effort and picked himself up to deny Stuart Barlow twice!
The game was all over, though, on 72 minutes as Roy Hunter put a ball through to Forrester and the front man poked the ball past Murphy to round off the scoring.
Iain Hume should have scored a consolation with fifteen minutes to go but missed his kick when set up by Koumas and then James Hunt had his shot saved well by Murphy at the other end but the Cobblers had already done enough to secure the third win of the campaign.
The Cobblers went on to escape the drop by five points, finishing just a place above the relegation zone while Tranmere finished off the season in 12th place.
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