The Cobblers gained an impressive Sixfields victory this afternoon as goals from Poul Hubertz, Andy Holt and a fifth of the season from Andy Kirk lifted us into the top half of the League One table.
Colin Larkin returned to the starting line-up following his goal after coming off the bench at Bournemouth while Liam Dolman kept his place in defence. Ian Henderson made the bench after featuring in the reserves’ win over Luton Town in midweek.
Huddersfield had the first effort of the game but Nathan Clarke’s header sailed wide. The visitors were having the better of the opening ten minutes but the Cobblers came to life after that as first Poul Hubertz and then Brad Johnson went close.
On 18 minutes, Jason Crowe did well down the right and crossed for Andy Kirk but the Northern Irish striker headed just wide. Hubertz had another good long-range effort saved by Huddersfield keeper Matt Glennon on 25 minutes before the best chance of the game fell to Brad Johnson. The midfielder was clear eight yards out but shot wide of the post.
Andy Holdsworth shot over Mark Bunn’s cross bar in a rare attack for Huddersfield on the half hour mark but it was the Cobblers who grabbed the lead with just two minutes of the half to go. Brad Johnson swung a corner in and Poul Hubertz nodded the ball in at the near post after getting in front of his markers and rising to hand us a deserved half-time lead.
The Cobblers had the first effort of the second half as we looked to pick up where we left off in the first. Poul Hubertz’s shot was deflected wide while at the other end, Andy Booth shot wide from an Aaron Hardy cross.
On 62 minutes, we had the crucial second goal. Poul Hubertz crossed for Andy Holt to head home his first goal of the season. With the comfort of the second goal, we were still looking for more to kill the game off and a third wasn’t far around the corner.
Andy Kirk picked up the ball on the right hand side of the penalty area and arrowed a shot past Matt Glennon into the far corner to make it 3-0!
It was strange to be this comfortable as the game drew to its conclusion as we normally are subjected to a narrow lead being frantically defended but it was the Cobblers who seemed the more likely to add a fourth goal of the game.
Ryan Gilligan replaced Colin Larkin before Ian Henderson made his return from injury in place of goal scorer Kirk with fifteen minutes to go.
With five minutes left on the clock, Luke Beckett had the visitors’ best chance of the game but somehow missed from just four yards out to sum up Huddersfield’s afternoon in front of goal.
Our final change came with a couple of minutes left as Alex Russell was replaced by young Alex Dyer.
Andy Booth beat two men before shooting straight at Mark Bunn in the final effort of note but it was the Cobblers who claimed an impressive Sixfields victory in front of just over 5,000 fans.
That’s four games without defeat now and a good return of eight points from a possible twelve since the defeat to Yeovil Town at the end of August. It’s also a fantastic way to set up next weekends’ visit to high flying Tranmere Rovers where any result will now be a great return for Stuart Gray’s side.
Colin Larkin returned to the starting line-up following his goal after coming off the bench at Bournemouth while Liam Dolman kept his place in defence. Ian Henderson made the bench after featuring in the reserves’ win over Luton Town in midweek.
Huddersfield had the first effort of the game but Nathan Clarke’s header sailed wide. The visitors were having the better of the opening ten minutes but the Cobblers came to life after that as first Poul Hubertz and then Brad Johnson went close.
On 18 minutes, Jason Crowe did well down the right and crossed for Andy Kirk but the Northern Irish striker headed just wide. Hubertz had another good long-range effort saved by Huddersfield keeper Matt Glennon on 25 minutes before the best chance of the game fell to Brad Johnson. The midfielder was clear eight yards out but shot wide of the post.
Andy Holdsworth shot over Mark Bunn’s cross bar in a rare attack for Huddersfield on the half hour mark but it was the Cobblers who grabbed the lead with just two minutes of the half to go. Brad Johnson swung a corner in and Poul Hubertz nodded the ball in at the near post after getting in front of his markers and rising to hand us a deserved half-time lead.
The Cobblers had the first effort of the second half as we looked to pick up where we left off in the first. Poul Hubertz’s shot was deflected wide while at the other end, Andy Booth shot wide from an Aaron Hardy cross.
On 62 minutes, we had the crucial second goal. Poul Hubertz crossed for Andy Holt to head home his first goal of the season. With the comfort of the second goal, we were still looking for more to kill the game off and a third wasn’t far around the corner.
Andy Kirk picked up the ball on the right hand side of the penalty area and arrowed a shot past Matt Glennon into the far corner to make it 3-0!
It was strange to be this comfortable as the game drew to its conclusion as we normally are subjected to a narrow lead being frantically defended but it was the Cobblers who seemed the more likely to add a fourth goal of the game.
Ryan Gilligan replaced Colin Larkin before Ian Henderson made his return from injury in place of goal scorer Kirk with fifteen minutes to go.
With five minutes left on the clock, Luke Beckett had the visitors’ best chance of the game but somehow missed from just four yards out to sum up Huddersfield’s afternoon in front of goal.
Our final change came with a couple of minutes left as Alex Russell was replaced by young Alex Dyer.
Andy Booth beat two men before shooting straight at Mark Bunn in the final effort of note but it was the Cobblers who claimed an impressive Sixfields victory in front of just over 5,000 fans.
That’s four games without defeat now and a good return of eight points from a possible twelve since the defeat to Yeovil Town at the end of August. It’s also a fantastic way to set up next weekends’ visit to high flying Tranmere Rovers where any result will now be a great return for Stuart Gray’s side.
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