The Cobblers made it back to back wins for the first time this season with a Friday night success against Hartlepool United at Sixfields. Karl Hawley scored the only goal of the game in the final game before he’s scheduled to return to Preston.
Stuart Gray was boosted by the return of Chris Doig to the bench while Adebayo Akinfenwa shook off a shin injury to take his place in the starting line-up alongside Karl Hawley.
The visitors had the first effort of the game in the very first minute as Ben Clark struck a long range free kick into the arms of Cobblers’ keeper Frank Fielding. After a high tempo beginning to the game, the Cobbler settled and Danny Jackman’s cross was acrobatically volleyed over the top by Luke Guttridge.
Five minutes later, Karl Hawley went racing through on goal and Hartlepool keeper Aaron Lee-Barrett came out of his goal to challenge the front man. Hawley got round him and claimed for a foul as he appeared to be brought down. Referee Graham Horwood waved play on and the incident led to the opening goal of the game. Hawley collected a cross from Mark Little and turned expertly before finishing well into the bottom corner.
The Cobblers kept the pressure on and Liam Davis went on a good run down the left hand side shortly after the goal and swung in a cross that Abdul Osman headed over the top. At the other end, a good run from James Brown was spotted by Ritchie Jones and Brown collected the ball to cross for Kevin Kyle but the big front man could only head the ball wide.
Adebayo Akinfenwa was put through as the Cobblers hit back and he stumbled clear through on goal but both his run and finish lacked any kind of conviction. In an open first half, Andy Monkhouse shot wide from distance before Luke Guttridge went close for Stuart Gray’s side.
Kevin Kyle had another good chance with five minutes to play of the half but headed straight at Frank Fielding and in the final action of the half, Karl Hawley went close to a second goal but Aaron Lee-Barrett saved well.
The second half began just as the first half had, with a Hartlepool free kick. This time, Joel Porter stepped up and shot wide of the mark. Porter was in the middle of the action once again five minutes later as he turned well before trying an ambitious lob over Frank Fielding but the effort wasn’t troubling the Cobblers’ lead.
Hartlepool kept up the pressure and on the hour mark Porter got around Mark Little before delivering a good cross that was missed by everyone and cleared away for a corner that the Cobblers eventually got away.
At the other end, the Cobblers’ own corner caused confusion in the Hartlepool defence before Abdul Osman’s shot was blocked well by the defender. Karl Hawley then went close to his second goal of the game but his shot was saved well by Lee-Barrett.
A sustained period of pressure from the visitors saw Hartlepool create some good chances but the final ball was lacking, exemplified by Andy Monkhouse’s long range volley that sailed well over the bar with eight minutes to play.
The Cobblers held on with Hartlepool running out of steam and Ryan Gilligan could have sealed the win in stoppage time but passed the ball to Karl Hawley when well placed. Hawley was blocked by the defender but it didn’t matter and the Cobblers were victorious.
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