The Cobblers were held to a goalless draw on Saturday as we missed the chance to move within three points of the top six. In a frustrating afternoon at Sixfields, Crewe defended well to earn a point and shut out Stuart Gray’s side.
Gray named an unchanged side to the one that saw off Hartlepool a week ago and we came out of the blocks well early on. Ryan Gilligan had the first effort on goal that Ben Williams tipped wide before Joe Burnell shot over the bar from range.
Mark Little had to clear the ball close to his own goal line in Crewe’s first chance as Mark Bunn was lobbed and Little had to hook the ball away. A goalmouth scramble followed but the Cobblers managed to clear the danger.
Poul Hubertz created a chance for Jason Crowe minutes later as he dummied the ball and Crowe ran onto it before smashing the ball just over. Adebayo Akinfenwa could have given us the lead mid-way through the half as he first had a shot cleared away and then knocked the rebound just inches wide of Williams’ post.
Mark Bunn kept the scores level on the half hour mark by making a superb save to his left from a Daniel O’Donnell shot away and then recovered to stop the rebound as well. Danny Jackman shot wide late in the half but the sides went in goalless at the break.
The second half saw the tempo die down a little until the hour mark when Jason Crowe was seemingly dragged down in the area by Williams but referee Mr Hayward waved play on.
Giles Coke was introduced in place of Ryan Gilligan as he looked to score after coming off the bench for the third game in a row. Fellow substitute Jonathon Hayes had a shot saved in the closing stages as we looked to get the vital breakthrough. But a stubborn Crewe defensive line blocked us off despite a flurry of late corners they held out and we had to settle for just the single point.
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