Goals from Danny Jackman, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Jason Crowe sealed a comfortable third win in a row for the Cobblers on Saturday afternoon.
On a chilly but sunny afternoon, Stuart Gray had the luxury of a near full strength squad with Liam Davis the only absentee. Danny Jackman returned to left back while Colin Larkin made a return to the right hand side of midfield. Karl Hawley partnered Adebayo Akinfenwa up front after extending his loan spell this week to a further month.
The first two real efforts on goal were both free kicks as Danny Schofield at one end and Luke Guttridge at the other tested the opposition goalkeeper. After that it was a slow start to the game as Yeovil were happy to invite the Cobblers onto them and try to catch us on the break. But it would be another free kick that would give us the lead just after the fifteen minute mark.
Danny Jackman and Luke Guttridge stood over the kick from around twenty five yards out but this time it was Jackman who curled the ball over the wall and into the net off the inside of the post for his second goal in three games.
It got better for the Cobblers just a couple of minutes after the re-start as Karl Hawley linked up well with strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa who held off his defender with his usual power before finishing well past Asmir Begovic at his near post.
With Stuart Gray’s men well on top, we were almost 3-0 up before the half hour mark. Jackman’s corner from the right hand side was scrambled away by the Yeovil defence but it wasn’t cleared well enough and Abdul Osman’s left footed drive was cleared off the line by a visiting defender. Colin Larkin pulled up late in the half and Ryan Gilligan came on in his place.
Yeovil had not threatened Frank Fielding’s goal much in the first half and would need a strong fight back in the second half if they were to get anywhere near to getting back into the game. Chris Doig had replaced Mark Little at the back at half-time.
The Cobblers began the half lethargically but despite the visitors enjoying more possession they couldn’t ever find the killer pass. Paul Warne’s shot against Fielding was the closest they would come for the whole afternoon.
Jason Crowe went close for the Cobblers ten minutes into the second half as he collected the ball on the edge of the area before curling a left footed shot over the bar. A Luke Guttridge free kick was then headed over by Akinfenwa as he looked for his second of the afternoon.
Yeovil’s chances were suffered a further blow with fifteen minutes to go as Terrell Forbes lost a 50/50 challenge with Abdul Osman but then shoved the Cobblers man in the face and was sent off. And just a few minutes later the game was well and truly sealed.
Luke Guttridge collected the ball in the middle of the park and his ball in was dummied well by Akinfenwa and Jason Crowe, advancing from right back, picked up the pass and finishing well with a good chip over the body of Begovic. Some of the visiting fans began the long journey home but fair play to them for making the trip when their team is lacking a lot of confidence and quality.
The visitors never really got going and the Cobblers dominated the game without really getting into full swing. But the three points are what mattered and three wins on the bounce is gratefully received as the Cobblers move into tenth place in League One. Gray’s men now face a midweek trip to Swindon Town as we look to continue this good run of form.
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