Monday, December 03, 2007

Northampton Town 1-1 Walsall

The Cobblers remain in the F.A. Cup thanks to Andy Kirk’s equalising goal on Saturday. Tommy Mooney had Walsall in front after just a couple of minutes but Kirks’ finish just five minutes later means that at least we made it into the draw for Round Three.

Dean Bowditch was ineligible to play in the cup tie so Poul Hubertz kept his place in the starting line-up alongside Kirk up front. Guy Branston was dropped in favour of Liam Dolman while Ryan Gilligan also came in for Joe Burnell.

Walsall were ahead with the first real attack of the game and Tommy Mooney’s low shot past Mark Bunn meant that the Cobblers were on the back foot from the very off.

But just a few minutes later, the scores were level as Kirk found space in the area following a Hubertz knock down and the club’s leading scorer fired home from just inside the penalty area.

Kirk could have put the Cobblers ahead but his volley from the edge of the area sailed wide before Mark Bunn had to be at his best to spectacularly tip a shot from Darren Wrack onto the post.

The game remained a stalemate up until the break with both sides frustrating each other in front of goal.

Walsall substitute Paul Hall shot wide just after the hour mark as the Saddlers looked to complete a quick fire double win over the Cobblers before Ian Henderson made his return from injury as he replaced Poul Hubertz.

In a game of few chances, Anthony Gerrard’s header over the bar and Andy Kirk’s header from an Andy Holt cross went wide but the game ended all square and the sides but meet for the third time in a matter of weeks in the replay next week.

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