The Cobblers came back to earn a point in the local derby against Peterborough United this afternoon as Colin Larkin’s first goal of the season gave us a share of the spoils.
After an early morning run to wake myself up on a brisk but sunny morning in Southampton, we headed off early in order to take in a random stop off en route. The plan was to have a quick coffee in a carefully chosen pub in Whitchurch, near Basingstoke. What we didn’t plan, or logically think of, was that no pub in its right mind (if pub’s have minds) would open at 9:30am, particularly on a Saturday. But what Whitchurch lacked in early pub openings, it made up in charm as the two minute drive through the small village gave us some wonderful sights. Firstly we came across an advertisement for Sunday’s Duck Race that was scheduled to take place nearby! Yes, a duck race! How the ducks would race and why wasn’t an issue but as we passed over a small bridge I’m sure I saw some ducklings limbering up for the big event and taunting their upcoming opponents. Other glamorous sights included a man with an old fashioned pipe and a bin on a car.
After all that excitement, who needs a derby game? Well, me.
Arriving in time for a quick breakfast, we headed for Sixfields in high spirits and still debating whether we should return to Whitchurch for the duck race tomorrow. As the teams came through, it appeared that neither Adebayo Akinfenwa or Chris Doig had made it into the side and that Colin Larkin and Liam Dolman would start instead. There were rumours circulating that Bayo had a disagreement with Stuart Gray before the game and was actually warming up before being told he wasn’t in the squad because Gray didn’t want to risk him. The official line was that both he and Doig were injured and we’ll see if they come into contention for Tuesday night’s trip to Stockport.
The atmosphere was building inside the ground as kick off approached and I couldn’t remember a home derby game for many a year that was this noisy from before kick-off. This was partly down to there not been a home derby in the last three years but let’s not dwell on that! The Boro fans were quiet as usual but brought a strong following, selling out their 1400 ticket allocation.
After fifteen minutes of high tension and not a lot of quality football, it was Peterborough who dealt the first blow. George Boyd, the highly rated left midfielder played a neat one-two before controlling the ball and finding space to power a shot into the top corner of Chris Dunn’s net.
With the Cobblers suddenly on the rocks, Boro could have made it 2-0. Mark Hughes and Chris Dunn got in a muddle and Craig Mackail-Smith looked like he had a clear shot on goal but Hughes got back in time to save us on this occasion, starting a strong performance from the Cobblers captain.
After Mackail-Smith had gone close again, the Cobblers stepped up a gear and new signing Karl Hawley headed Luke Guttridge’s free kick just wide before Guttridge fired a long range effort onto the cross bar. But we would have an equaliser just before half-time as we pressed on.
Colin Larkin, anonymous until this point, was played in by Guttridge and the former Chesterfield man powered home a shot to beat Joe Lewis at his near post and give us a vital way back into the game. We were on top and really didn’t want the half-time whistle to go with Boro being forced back more and more by the minute.
After the break, the pressure did indeed ease. Andy Holt was brought on for Liam Davis and was used as a target man on the left hand side rather than a pacy winger. After Liam Dolman sent an ambitious shot well wide, Leon Constantine replaced the goal scorer Larkin. The Cobblers were struggling to get a foothold back into the game and it was the visitors who looked more likely to win the game.
Mackail-Smith looked lively all game and his run created a chance for Scott Rendall who should have done better when well placed but blasted the ball wide. At the other end, Constantine really should have given us the lead after good work from Hawley but somehow missed a glaring chance from a few yards out in our last real threat of the afternoon.
With time running out, either side could have won it but the last major talking point was Jason Crowe picking up a second yellow card and being sent off in the dying moments.
So it was a point a piece at Sixfields and both sides will be reasonably happy with that. Boro, I have to begrudgingly admit, were very well organised and have a lot of flair going forwards so they will certainly survive and do well in League One. The Cobblers have a lot to do to live up to the pre-season playoff hopes as the season really begins to kick in. Another test is just around the corner with the re-arranged trip to Stockport to come on Tuesday evening.
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