The Cobblers bounced back in tremendous fashion yesterday as four goals put Gillingham to the sword at Sixfields. Adebayo Akinfenwa struck twice in his first start for the club while Jason Crowe and Giles Coke were also on the score sheet in a comfortable victory.
It was first visit to Sixfields of 2008 and I’d managed to once again coerce a friend into making the road trip up to Northampton as the early sunshine luckily stayed with us through the day. The drive up took under two hours and we were back in the homeland in good time for a breakfast and a quick wander around town.
Despite getting us lost in my own hometown en route to Sixfields, we made it in time and I was very grateful of that fact after Tuesday night’s late appearance at Huish Park! On the pitch, Stuart Gray made two changes from the Yeovil defeat as Akinfenwa was brought in for his first start and Joe Burnell started in place of the injured Brett Johnson.
The Cobblers set the tone for the afternoon and from the off looked the stronger side. Early chances went begging though as Akinfenwa had a shot cleared off the line during a goal mouth scramble and Ryan Gilligan was denied by goalkeeper Simon Royce went sent through on goal.
There was a flash point mid way through the half as already booked Adam Miller went in late on Ryan Gilligan but somehow stayed on the pitch.
The challenge seemed to wake up players and fans alike and we were ahead with just a minute to go of the half. Joe Burnell won the ball in midfield and set up Jason Crowe who blasted the ball home into the far corner past Royce.
Just as we were sitting down from the celebrations, Ryan Gilligan cross in for Akinfenwa to head home the second in as many minutes and we were in total control by half time.
Just ten minutes into the second half and it was game over as the Gillingham defence was brushed aside by Akinfenwa who lost his marker and finished well off both goal posts to hand us a 3-0 lead.
From then on it was a no contest as the visitors had no answer to the Cobblers and it wasn’t long before the fourth and final goal went in. Giles Coke, on as a substitute, had a shot deflected and the ball looped over Royce. Coke, who replaced Akinfenwa on the hour, shot left footed before the intervention from the Gills defender helped the ball on the way.
Danny Jackman had a goal ruled out for offside but his overall performance deserved a goal against his former side. Poul Hubertz was the put free one on one with Royce but the big man somehow blasted the ball over the roof of the south stand. He had another chance a few minutes later but despite keeping it low, this time Royce got a foot to it.
The Cobblers saw the game out though and will be hard pushed to have a more comfortable afternoon for the rest of the season. The result takes us up into the top half of the table again and leaves us six points off the playoffs and eleven clear of the bottom four going into Friday night’s trip to Hartlepool United.
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