Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Northampton Town

The Cobblers were beaten on Boxing Day as first half goals for Doncaster ended any hope of a Christmas bonus for Stuart Gray. Goals from Mark McCammon and Adam Lockwood won the game for the home side and the Cobblers never looked like getting back into the game.

Alex Dyer was called up to the Cobblers bench as Ryan Gilligan was suspended for the game while Dean Bowditch, Andy Kirk and Poul Hubertz all started.

The Cobblers had the first effort on goal of the game as Brad Johnson played a quick one-two with Daniel Jones from a corner before picking up the ball and hitting a shot into the side netting.

But it was the home side who were ahead early on with their first shot on goal. A cross from the right hand side was met by Mark McCammon who lost his markers and finished well past Mark Bunn to give Doncaster the lead on ten minutes.

Five minutes later, Brad Johnson lost possession in the middle of the park and McCammon collected it, crossed into the area and Jason Price forced Bunn into a fine save down to his left hand side.

McCammon was causing all the early problems for the home side and he headed over the bar from a Doncaster free kick around ten minutes after his goal. Andy Kirk then had a rare effort on goal for the Cobblers at the other end but his shot was easily saved by Neil Sullivan in the Doncaster goal.

But it was 2-0 just before the half-hour mark as McCammon headed down for Jason Price to hit a deflected shot wide for a corner. From the resulting corner, Adam Lockwood rose and headed home at the near post to double the home side’s advantage.

Paul Green shot over the bar from long range before McCammon headed wide from a James Coppinger cross. Coppinger had the final effort of the first half that was saved by Bunn and Doncaster were comfortably in front at the break.

At the start of the second half, a cross from Joe Burnell was met at the back post by Dean Bowditch but the Ipswich loan man could only head into the side netting.

At the other end, Doncaster won a corner and McCammon flicked on for Neil Roberts to head onto the crossbar and then Paul Green followed it up and the bar was rattled once again as the Cobblers had a lucky escape.

The home side kept up the pressure as Jason Price headed wide five minutes into the second half. Brad Johnson came close to putting the Cobblers back into the game but Sullivan was off his line quickly to deny the midfielder.
But the second half died out with few chances at either end and the Cobblers couldn’t prevent Doncaster from going away with all three points.