Transfer window finally looms

So that's the final game before the start of the transfer window...there probably won't be time for any new faces before Bournemouth but what can we expect next month? It's now do or die as to whether this season is a total write off or if we can at least salvage something like a top half finish to cheer about.

So what do we need?

Goalkeeping position seems fine so well covered there.

Defence - two clean sheets is a good thing to build on but with Swailes departing I expect another centre back to come in...we're in desperate need of a leader at the back.

Midfield - Pacy wingers would be ideal if we're to stick with 4-4-2...players who can cross, run at defenders and give the forwards something. Guttridge moving to the middle would also help in my opinion.

Forwards - If Bayo stays we could do with one more up top. If he goes, we're in trouble!

Not sure who's out there at the moment but the simple question is will we attract good, quality players to this club? At the moment I, sadly, can't see it. It's going to be a struggle getting anyone decent on a full time basis unfortunately with our league position so Sammo has a big job on his hands!

Ten man Barnet hold Cobblers

Barnet 0-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Monday, December 27th 2009

The Cobblers were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Barnet yesterday after the hosts were reduced to ten men early in the second half. Ian Sampson's men couldn't get into their stride in the opening 45 but Dean Sinclair's red card in the opening exchanges of the second meant that the initiative was passed to us.

Billy McKay, a second half substitute, came close to making it two winners in two games but the biggest disappointment was the 89th minute chalking off of Adebayo Akinfenwa's "goal" for a push on the home keeper.

The result does mean it's something to build on though as 2009 turns into 2010 and two successive clean sheets is a small point in the right direction at least. The transfer window looms large now and it's a massive one for Sammo as he looks to turn things around and get us away from the lower reaches of the football league.

Billy The Hero as Cobblers win on Boxing Day

***The following is AloadofCobblers.net's 1,000th post...thanks for following and here's to another thousand ***

Northampton Town 1-0 Dagenham and Redbridge
League Two
Saturday, December 26th 2009

Substitute Billy McKay was the hero at Sixfields after another game of missed penalty drama and a winning goal that crept over the goal line to hand Ian Sampson's men a first league win since late October.

Sammo will be hoping that McKay is keen to impress as the January transfer window looms large with the Cobblers boss stressing that some players will be put up for transfer and loan in the coming month. The former Leicester man will be hoping that this strike lends his cause some hope as well as giving us a much, much needed three points.

The game was dead in the opening exchanges with both sides failing to put anything decent together in terms of goal scoring chances. It took until the thirty fifth minute for anything decent to come about when Adebayo Akinfenwa turned and shot wide of the post.

It was the Cobblers who at least managed to get something going before half time as Ryan Gilligan's deflected shot was saved well by Tony Roberts in the Daggers' goal but it was goalless at the break.

Dagenham came out of the blocks better in the second half and Peter Gain's effort was stopped by Chris Dunn, with a slight deflection on the shot.

Bayo went close again before the visitors hit the cross bar mid way through the second half as Adam Miller rattled the woodwork. Courtney Herbert headed over at the other end before Andy Holt was penalised for hand ball inside the area and Dagenham had a golden chance to take the lead from the spot. But Mark Arber skied the penalty and the game remained 0-0 going into the final stages.

The stage was then set for an unlikely final as substitute McKay's powerful shot crept in past Roberts in the 88th minute and we had pulled out a win from the hat to finally give us some winter cheer!

There was still time for Andy Holt to be sent off for his second bookable offence but there was no time for the Daggers to get back in the game. After a couple of months of discontent we'll take any sort of win at the moment and particularly against an in form Dagenham side.

Luck shone on Sixfields this afternoon and my word have we been waiting for that!

Cobblers v Daggers - MATCH ON

The Cobbler's game with Dagenham and Redbridge this afternoon (3pm) WILL take place after calmer weather in the area over Christmas. Volunteers were not needed in the end and the club's staff worked to clear any slight problems on the pitch and surrounding area of Sixfields.

Merry Christmas from ALoadofCobblers!

A huge Merry Christmas to you all!

It's been a tough year in 2009 and we've been to hell and back through Yeovil, Leeds, Accrington and Aldershot and we're still here plugging away to try and find some light at the end of the tunnel.

Well done for sticking around, thanks for continuing to follow aloadofcobblers and here's to the end of 2009 and a much, much improved 2010. Keep the faith, keep supporting the boys and let's make the next calendar year a better one.

Up The Cobblers!

Danny

Johnson stays till the end of the season

John Johnson had completed a deal to extend his loan deal until the end of the season after a successful initial spell with the club. The defender's current deal runs out after the boxing day game with Dagenham and Redbridge but he has signed a new contract beginning on January 1st.

That does mean that he will miss Monday's game at Barnet but will be available for the Bournemouth game on January 2nd.

Cobblers ask for snow volunteers

The Cobblers are asking for volunteers to help clear the pitch at Sixfields ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Dagenham and Redbridge. Despite the recent snow in the area, the club expect the game to go ahead but will need volunteers should the conditions continue through Christmas Day.

Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to register their offer of help with the club with contact details to avril.spraggon@ntfc.tv and any supporter that lends a hand will be given a ticket voucher or a club shop voucher. Helpers are advised that, if required, they will be needed from 7:30am on Boxing Day.

Keeper takes the Anya route to Sixfields

Goalkeeper Billy Lumley has joined the Cobblers on a non contract basis to provide cover and competition for Chris Dunn. Lumley joins from the Glenn Hoddle academy in Spain, the same academy that Iketchi Anya signed from last season.

Ian Sampson has revealed that the Cobblers were in for the stopper when he was originally available from Wolves but Lumley now finally signs on and is in the squad for Saturday's game with Dagenham and Redbridge at Sixfields.

Darlo game rearranged

The Cobblers' trip to Darlington, postponed on Saturday due to John Snow invading the pitch, has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 26th 2010 with a 7:45pm kick off, meaning that all of four travelling fans may be in attendance!

The game will fall towards the end of the January transfer window and both sides will be hopeful of adding to their squads before the game.

Darlo - Cobblers OFF

Today's game between the Cobblers and Darlington has fallen foul of the weather after a morning pitch inspection. Heavy snow around the country has led to plenty of postponements this weekend and despite the efforts of the locals and staff at the club, the pitch was deemed unplayable by the match referee.

No new date has been set for the game so we now look ahead to Boxing Day's visit of Dagenham and Redbridge.

Darlo offer free tickets to snow clearers as game gets pitch inspection

Darlington are offering free tickets for tomorrow's game with the Cobblers to any supporters who help out to clear the snow from the pitch in order to get the game on. Backroom staff and youth team players are lending a hand this evening in an attempt to clear the pitch but free tickets will be handed out to any further volunteers.

There will, in any case, be a pitch inspection at 9am tomorrow morning in order to make any visiting supporter and the team coach aware of any problems with getting the game on. But Darlington are very hopeful of the game taking place as the Cobblers look to extend their host's poor run of form in the league.

Joe Benjamin could be handed another start for the Cobblers whilst Abdul Osman and Craig Hinton are back in contention for Ian Sampson.

Reasons to be cheerful

Ok let's take a side step from the doom and gloom for a minute and look at a few reasons to be cheerful this Christmas time. Yes, i know, i probably am scraping the last barrel of Tony Ansell's empty burger loads but you have to try and make some light out of our current situation or you'll end up crying into the Christmas turkey.

So here's a few reasons to be cheerful ahead of the trip to Darlington this weekend...

- We're not Darlington

We'll start with Saturday's hosts...Darlo are already ELEVEN points adrift of safety with just eight points from 21 games and a goal difference of minus 35. If it wasn't for their shoddyness we would be in deeper trouble than we already are so let's be thankful there's someone worse off than us.

- Adebayo Akinfenwa

The big man has refound his golden touch and has netted nine times this term, making him the top scorer. A return to actual fitness for Bayo is another big plus with, and this could shock some, some tracking back to defend at times!

- The return of sir Herbert

Courtney is back playing again and at least gives us some pace up front, something distinctly lacking with the more clever Steve Guinan or the run around like a headless chicken Gary Mulligan. The former non league man showed a couple of decent glimpses of his early form on Saturday and hopefully we'll see more as Christmas approaches.

- We're not even half way yet

21 games played so we're still two games away from the half way mark of the season. A couple of wins in a row would push us up into the mid-table region and maybe brew up some confidence in the squad.

- The transfer window

A massive month ahead in January with Ian Sampson able to hopefully bring in some of his own faces to go with the couple of short term contracts and loans he's already sorted out. One or two key positions need filling and the defence most certainly needs suring up so January will shake things up a bit.

Well there's five...clutching at straws i may be but let's be positive, enjoy Christmas and get three points at Darlo on Saturday!

Up The Cobblers!

Fifth home draw of the season as spot kicks are the theme...

Northampton Town 1-1 Port Vale
League Two
Saturday, December 12th 2009

It’s becoming a recurring theme of the score draw at Sixfields as the Cobblers once again failed to take a chance and inevitably came out with just one point against the only side in League Two with an equally poor home record in terms of stalemates. Adebayo Akinfenwa missed one and scored one penalty and the visitors survived almost the entire second half with ten men as another frustrating afternoon ensued at the Cobblers’ home.

Injuries hit Sammo as he tried to shape his team with Andy Holt’s absence being filled in by Paul Rodgers on the left hand side of midfield and Dean Beckwith returning to defence. One real surprise in the starting line up was that of Joe Benjamin who slotted in the midfield foursome after returning from his loan spell with Eastbourne Borough.

Marc Richards, the man who became a one season legend at Sixfields, was always going to be the main threat for the visitors and it was his free kick early on that was the best of the chances as the game got off to a slow chance. It took us around twenty minutes to get into the game with the live wire Courtney Herbert stepping up his recovery from injury as he almost sparked us into life with a good run and curling shot that forced Vale keeper Chris Martin into a good save.

The first half was a tame affair until the final couple of minutes when two penalties woke everyone at Sixfields up. First, Paul Rodgers was brought down and Adebayo Akinfenwa stepped up but saw his spot kick well saved by Martin. Vale, typically, went up the other end and were awarded a penalty of their own when Chris Dunn pulled down an onrushing Louis Dodds and Richards made no mistake to put his side in front. Dunn could be said to be lucky to stay on the pitch, particularly with what happened early in the second half.

Akinfenwa was pulled down by John McCombe and as the last man the Vale man was sent off whereas Dunn was only booked before the break for his offence. Ian Sampson acknowledged after the game that his keeper was fortunate in his offence but either way, Bayo put his spot kick away and the game was all square with the visitors down to ten.

Dunn did well shortly after the goal to claw away a shot from Doug Loft and got to the rebound just before Richards before Gary Mulligan replaced Peter Gilbert in an attacking move by Sammo. Gilligan and Mulligan were both denied by Chris Martin as we tried to find the winner but the Vale keeper again reacted at the speed of sound to keep us out.

Joe Benjamin had the last effort of the game but shot over and it was the fifth home draw in eleven games at Sixfields this season. Vale will be the happier of the sides this evening as they keep in touch with the top half but the Cobblers remain closer to the drop zone than we are to twelfth!

Just two places now separate us from the drop zone in League Two, something unthinkable in the summer, let alone at the start of the calendar year. We’ll be delighted to see the back of 2009...

Cobblers struggling with injuries as Vale come to Town

The Cobblers' cause, in the chase for three vital points tomorrow afternoon at home to Port Vale, has been dented even more with several key injuries hitting the squad this week. Steve Guinan has undergone a double hernia operation and will be missing alongside Craig Hinton, Chris McCready, Luke Guttridge, Andy Holt, Abdul Osman and Liam Davis.

Port Vale have had a stop start season themselves this time out but welcome back Gareth Owen, fully kitted out with face mask to take on the Cobblers. A 2-0 home defeat to in form Morecambe last weekend left manager Mickey Adams fuming and he'll be expecting full effort this time out so we can expect a fired up Vale side.

Both sides need the points at Sixfields and another depleted attendance is expected with Christmas round the corner so the players need to dig deep and grind out a win somehow, someway to warm our cockles as the freeze hits.

Black hole appearing in Leauge Two

There's a worrying gap appearing in the League Two table as the hectic Christmas period approaches. With The Cobblers in eighteenth place, there's four points between ourselves and last week's winners at Sixfields, Hereford United. Standing a place higher on the same points are Port Vale, Saturday's visitors Port Vale.

Defeat this weekend would start to compound the misery hanging around Sixfields at the moment and leave us stranded in the lower reaches of the basement league. Yes, it looks like a middle of the season, low attendance, scrappy mid-table bore fest but the fact is that on a cold Saturday in December we could be about to face a season defining game.

For if the Cobblers fall any further behind even the middle of League Two it could be a long, hard slug back. I said at this point last season that I hoped we wouldn't be dragged into a League One relegation fight but that it didn't seem a plausable option. We have to pray that history doesn't repeat itself because another dog fight, this time even further down the football pyramid, could kill the soul of Northampton Town.

So let's PLEASE get these attendances back up, start singing for us rather than against us and get us those three points that will at least bridge the widening hole that stands above us.

Another Desmond as Bayo rescues Town again

Cheltenham Town 2-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, December 5th 2009

The Cobblers and Cheltenham Town have both had matching poor first halves of the season after relegation last season and neither side could secure three points at Whaddon Road yesterday in a 2-2 draw that did little for either side’s confidence. Adebayo Akinfenwa rescued his side once again byt twice scoring to pull the game back from the jaws of defeat.

It was an even more experienced head that caused us problems at the other end rather than the clutch of ex-Cobblers on show for the home side but Ben Marshall at least had some impact by setting up the opening goal of the game when his corner was scrambled in eventually by Barry Hayles. Hayles would be a thorn in the side later on but not before the Cobblers immediately replied.

Bayo’s fitness was in question all week (again) but he started alongside Courtney Herbert, making his first start in over a month, and the big striker got on the end of a Danny Swailes flick on to equalise just ninety seconds after the hosts had taken the lead.

Hayles was back on the score sheet on the half hour mark, though, flicking in a corner and it was another far too simple goal to concede for Ian Sampson’s men. This time, it would take a bit longer to find our way back into the game.

Bayo and Billy McKay went close before the break but the leveller soon came after half time when the former made the most of confusion in the home ranks to slot home and bring us back into the game again.

It was all set up for a stirring climax but it never really came as both sides proved as bad as each other at conjouring a final flurry despite the best efforts of Herbert, who drove wide with fifteen minutes to go and substitute Steve Guinan who headed over the bar in the closing stages of the game.

So it’s another draw in this stop-start season so far and yet again we concede sloppy goals. We need to become stronger at the back because at the other end we’re looking alright. Suring up at the back must be job number one for Sammo in a massive January transfer window but until then we must persevere with what we have.

There’s a worrying gap appearing to the clutch of teams in mid-table, one of which, Port Vale, come to Sixfields next weekend. It’s becoming a recurring theme but it’s another massive home game because defeat could leave us confounded in the doom of the lower reaches of League Two before Santa has even began to get ready for his annual work.

Away day comes at the right time

It's with a bit of a relief for the players that they get away from the pressures of a home game at Sixfields with this afternoon's visit to Cheltenham. Even the paltry attendance on Tuesday night were able to voice their discontent and from what I hear it was deserved after a shocking display.

Today, though, we go to Whaddon Road looking to just get three points from any avenue possible. It used to be an unhappy stomping ground over there but we've picked up two wins and a draw from our last two visits with Jason Crowe netting the winner last season.

The Robins are in a similar position to us following relegation and both sides' frustrations could lead to a decent game this afternoon. We can only pray that we finally get a bit of luck in front of goal at the right end this time after a couple of weeks of controversy at the wrong end!

And there goes Walker...

So injury has now put pay to Josh Walker's time at Sixfields after the midfielder suffered a dislocated shoulder during Tuesday night's defeat to Hereford United at Sixfields.

Walker has been sent back to parent club Middlesbrough and could be out for the rest of season.

Meanwhile, Ian Sampson has confirmed that Adebayo Akinfenwa and Steve Guinan are both struggling for fitness ahead of Saturday's trip to Cheltenham, Courtney Herbert played the final fifteen minutes on Tuesday and could feature again at Whaddon Road.

Cobblers well beaten despite early goal

Northampton Town 1-3 Hereford United
Tuesday, December 1st 2009
League Two


The chill is setting in, the dark nights are here and the Cobblers are in for, seemingly, a long hard winter of discontent. Another defeat last night, this time to a Hereford side that won with far too much ease, pushed us closer to the bottom than we are to the top seven and things are looking more worrying than they have for a long, long time.

The blame can’t 100% fall on the players and staff...the sacking of Stuart Gray was untimely and the act of faith shown by David Cardoza at the end of last season and beginning of this is threatening to blow the whole of 09/10 apart. The players that survived the August transfer window simply aren’t good enough, and at League Two level they really should be.

Even the return to the bench of Courtney Herbert here couldn’t spark a win despite Ryan Gilligan giving us a lead inside forty seconds, converting Adebayo Akinfenwa’s cross to hand us the perfect start and at least it wouldn’t be a game of catch up from the start. It would, though, have the opposite effect and we never peaked after the early show.

The disaster started when Josh Walker was stretchered off the pitch after just ten minutes and Hereford added insult to that injury by equalising through Darren Jones as we failed to clear a corner. Craig Hinton and Andy Holt had the best chances of the first half after that but we were level at half time with Danny Swailes, making his debut after joining on loan from MK Dons last week, booked on the half hour mark.

Steve Guinan thought he had put us back in front early in the second half but his disallowed goal was as good as it got for Sammo’s men. It was another set piece that caused us problems for the second goal as Jordan Mutch fired in a free kick that Chris Dunn could only parry into the path of Mathieu Manset who nodded home from close range.

Herbert made his long awaited return with fifteen minutes to go but even he couldn’t rescue this game as the visitors wrapped it up when Craig King connected with the ball at the far post to knock it in and it was game over.

It was a deserved victory for Hereford who climb up into mid-table, leaving the Cobblers still struggling at the wrong end of things with the likes of Saturday’s opposition, Cheltenham Town, who have similar problems to us.

It could come down to who wants it the most at Whaddon Road. The quality is not appearing to be here at the moment so this is when we need to find out who the real characters in the dressing room really are.

It’s getting desperate. Please Cobblers, fight for your shirts!

Saints gun us down once more...

Northampton Town 2-3 Southampton
F.A. Cup Second Round
Saturday, November 28th 2009

So The Cobblers’ interest in the FA Cup is ended by Southampton as the Saints complete a cup double matching that of season 2004/05 where they again beat us twice in the main competitions of English football. In some ways we were looking back on that season and thinking that we had a better chance against the then Premier League outfit that were struggling at the time than against an in form League One side but the score line was at least closer than the previous three meetings between the sides. I headed back into work this morning knowing that at least we hadn’t been mullered as predicted by some colleagues going into the weekend as Ryan Gilligan’s late penalty gave us a bit of gloss to top off the game with.

If early chances had been converted it could have been a much, much different game but if you don’t take chances against teams like this you will always be punished and two sucker punch free headers at the end of the first half were the difference and really put the boot into forty minutes of real hard work and determination from Ian Sampson’s side.

Adebayo Akinfenwa could have had us in front in the opening minute with a low shot that beat the visiting keeper all ends up but smacked against the post. It was the sort of tempo we needed to begin the game with and Pt Kanyuka’s header that flashed wide from the resulting corner gave us hope of an early upset.


Southampton soon settled though and made a game of it, forcing Chris Dunn into two fine saves on the quarter hour mark. Dean Hammond was the man to come close on both occasions but Dunn was equal to both his close range header and long range curling effort.

Controversy reared it’s ugly head again mind way through the half when Steve Guinan appeared to be shoved in the back when rising for a header but there was nothing given by either the referee or linesman, the latter being just inches from the action. After Tuesday night’s misfortune at the other end it was another bitter pill to swallow for Town fans.

Loan man Josh Walker curled a free kick to within a lick of paint of the post before Andy Holt headed over from a Peter Gilbert corner. It was inevitable that soon those missed chances would be punished and so it came to pass that two simple headers turned the momentum back to the Saints just before the break.

First, Rickie Lambert crossed for Papa Waigo to nod in before seconds later Adam Lallana, again a thorn in our side and looking one of the brighter Southampton players, headed a second. We were shell shocked and needed the half time whistle, which duly came shortly after.

We had to score the next goal if we were to stand any chance and Kanyuka had a header cleared off the line in the early stages of the half. But we couldn’t build on that and the game was over as a contest on the hour mark as a third header, from Hammond this time, crept over the line despite all the efforts from Chris Dunn. It looked a close one but from my view the ball did cross the line and the linesman, so blinded in the first half for the penalty shout, had his eagle eyes out to spot that one.

There was similar goings on with twenty minutes to play at the other end and as Dean Hammonds put the ball into his own net we didn’t seem to know whether it had crossed the line or not. Hence the strange celebrations inside the two home ends (Saints had sold their allocation for both the East and South stands) as we weren’t quite sure what was going on!

There wasn’t time for a revival though and we looked a spent force with Southampton never really coming out of first gear. The late penalty to make it 3-2 from Gilligan raised little cheer as we knew that the three minutes of stoppage time were well up by the time he slotted the ball home.

So we’re out of all cups before Christmas again and we really do have more emphasis on Tuesday night’s visit from Hereford United in the league now. It’s the return of a certain L. Constantine to Sixfields and we all know what’s likely to happen after the striker manager just two goals all season for us last term!

Who knows, this could be a lucky omen...in 2005 we went on to make the League Two playoffs after going out of both cups to Southampton. Then again, in 2005 we had the likes of Luke Chambers, Martin Smith, Marc Richards and Eric Sabin...this lot have a long way to go if they’re to match those men...

The Saints are coming...

So it's a welcome distraction from a topsy turvy league campaign this weekend as Southampton make the same journey that I've been making for six years from south to north for the FA Cup Second Round tie. The Saints beat us 2-0 in the Carling Cup at St.Mary's earlier this season and will be looking to complete another cup double having won twice at Sixfields in the League Cup and FA Cup back in 2004.

The usual stick has been thrown my way from work colleagues and friends down here and an easy win is expected for their beloveds so I'm even more desperate than usual for the Cobblers to make it to Round Three.

There was certainly nothing on Tuesday night to suggest that we will come anywhere near Southampton, particularly with our defensive frailties though the signing of Danny Swailes today hopefully means he can play a part.

The atmosphere should be hot with Saints bringing over 2,500 fans to Sixfields and pushing our home fans into the West and North stands as we look to bring some profit from the tie. Hopefully this will get our fans going a bit as well and give the players a much needed lift.

Kelvin Davis is the main absentee for Southampton going into the game as he pulled up with a groin injury during Tuesday night's 3-1 win at Hartlepool whilst Marek Saganowski is also missing with medial ligament damage.

The Cobblers will be waiting on Bayo Akinfenwa after the striker pulled up on Tuesday night at Aldershot whilst Chris McCready is also struggling with an injury from the same game. Liam Davis and Courtney Herbert are still not 100% with both suffering from injuries that has halted their respective seasons.

Everything points to an away win but this is the FA Cup and whatever sort of form we are or aren't in and however good Southampton look on paper you just never, ever know what's going to happen. We should get rolled over, but then we should have trounced Fleetwood in the previous round!

Here's hoping that I have restored some pride in the south when I return from the weekend...

Sammo swoops for Dons defender

Ian Sampson has moved to sign MK Dons defender Danny Swailes on a one month loan deal as he shaped up for the busy Christmas fixture list. Swailes joined Dons from Macclesfield Town and has made over fifty appearances for the club but Paul Ince has allowed the big man to come down the road for a change of scenery.

A physical presence at the back and from set plays at the other end, this could be a big signing for Sammo as he looks to get rid of the sloppy goals going in past an unfortunate Chris Dunn that has been rife this season.

Shots fight back as Cobblers collapse

Aldershot Town 2-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, 24th November 2009


I’m not usually one to use clichés but the oldest one in the book, “it’s a game of two halves” could never be more apt than when used to describe last night’s game. Comfortably in front at half time and for the most part dealing with the windy conditions at the Recreation Ground, a combination of misfortune, shoddy refereeing and a lack of pace (again) at the back cost us not only a win but all the points in this one.

I’d made the late decision to head to Aldershot, adamant that I wouldn’t be tempted before the game before a change of heart in the build up and there I was alongside long time wing man and honorary Cobbler Jamie as we drove north from our Southampton starting point. Our record of going to Tuesday night games was terrible with shuddering memories of trips to Millwall (team bus is late turning up = no warm up time = 2-0 defeat) and Yeovil (a half hour walk to the ground from the city actually turning out to be an hour = us missing the kick off and the Cobblers losing to a last minute winner) so it was with slight trepidation that we joined forces for this. Surely nothing could go wrong...

Well at least we weren’t late. Arriving in very good time and seemingly parking within two seconds of the ground it looked like we’d be in the “away bar” advertised by some websites in no time. Two problems arose here: a) there was no away bar and b) it seemed there was no way in to the ground itself, with the floodlights towering over us but fences and woodland making it anyone’s guess as to how to get in. It was like a scene from a low budget horror film as we tried to find the way in, with night well and truly set in and no signs as to how to enter the forbidden land of the Recreation Ground.

Eventually the entrance was found and still there was plenty of time for a pint or two. So the Tuesday night curse was hanging over us but it was bearable because we now knew the way in and had plenty of time to spare. Lovely.

The small band of Cobblers fans greeted us as we made it just in time for kick off and the more vocal of which were positioned out in the elements to the side of the pitch so we took a place there as the game got under way. It didn’t take us long to settle and Adebayo Akinfenwa tested the home keeper with a couple of early headers.
The big man was causing all the danger and he was the one to set up the opening goal of the night as he held of a defender before playing in Luke Guttridge who ran onto the through ball to neatly finish low into the net.

You got the feeling that we needed to take advantage of the early pressure and Steve Guinan was close to extending the lead minutes later as he nearly got on the end of Luke Rodgers’ cross. Guttridge and Andy Holt had a chance a piece before half time came around but we couldn’t add to the score despite a strong showing.

The second half began well for the Cobblers in that we didn’t seem to be troubled early on. Akinfenwa was taken off as his injury saw him replaced by Gary Mulligan. The Shots started to build momentum with our main goal threat out of action and John Halls brought a fine save from Chris Dunn with an effort that looked bound for the top corner.

As we counted down the clock, out of nowhere it all started to go wrong. The turning point came with ten minutes to go as Paul Rodgers was adjudged to have brought down his man inside the area when it looked clear as day that the challenge took place outside the box and Scott Donnelly stepped up. There was momentary jubilation as Dunn saved but the referee pointed to the spot again for encroachment and we had to prepare ourselves again. This time Donnelly made no mistake and beat Dunn powerfully to give the home side an equaliser.

It was to get so much worse. With the game on a knife edge, the home side sealed all three points. A through ball looked safe as Chris McCready chased it but it appears that he pulled a hamstring on the chase and Marvin Morgan nipped in, beat Kanyuka and fired past Dunn to win the game and complete a second half of despair for the Cobblers.

Andy Holt’s desperate late volley was the closest we came to a last ditch rescuer but it was too late and all the points were lost when it looked so good up to the hour mark. Whether the penalty should or shouldn’t have been given doesn’t matter, whether someone encroached or not doesn’t matter, the fact is that we let it slip and have to face up to that fact and ask ourselves why it happened.

This was another example of how much work is needed if we’re to turn things around this season. January can certainly not come soon enough and Sammo will be desperate to bring in his own players after inheriting some of Stuart Gray’s summer signings that are, in all honesty, not good enough to match the ambitions that make our current league position very hard to take.

Town go back on the road...

It was a DIVISION FOUR game last time the two sides met but a lot has changed since then. Aldershot vs Northampton Town will be fondly remembered for Shots and Cobblers fans sharing a terrace back in the early nineties when the home side were in financial difficulty but there will be no such pleasentaries this time around I would imagine.

Aldershot have made a decent start to the season and managed a creditable goalless draw at Notts County at the weekend so it should be a tough game for Sammo's men. The big question is whether we can put two good halves of football on for the expected small band of claret faithful.

Adebayo Akinfenwa could be rested but could still make the bench for a cameo whilst Liam Davis is struggling again. Courtney Herbert isn't ready again just yet while Peter Gilbert will have another go at staying on the pitch after his debut dismissal.

The Recreation Ground is the setting for what looks like being a rain drenched evening in North Hampshire so obviously this is all pointing to me being very tempted to make an appearance in hope of building up for that other Hampshire side visiting Sixfields on Saturday...

Bayo score twice as Town come back again

On the day that was started with me becoming an uncle, with Harry Joseph Desborough Brothers entering the world on Saturday morning, the Cobblers produced yet another mix of ineptitude and fight that Harry will have to get used to should he rightfully choose the claret and white as his football colours.

After last week’s disparaging goalless treat against Grimsby Town at Sixfields it was back to the home of football to take on a Crewe side in a very similar and underachieving position to ourselves. Dario Gradi is back in charge and that meant that we expected exactly what we got – more of a footballing encounter. Unfortunately for us, we couldn’t deal with the style of the Alex in the opening 45 minutes and were two down by the interval.

It could have been more as well...Calvin Zola had numerous chances even before Clayton Donaldson had giving the visitors an early lead, as he raced worryingly away from the Cobblers back line to score after fourteen minutes.

The Cobblers’ best chance fell to Adebayo Akinfenwa as he followed up from a flick on to force Steve Phillips into a good stop. But it was 2-0 before the break as Zola broke and sent in a dangerous cross that John Johnson could only turn into his own goal and it was yet another uphill battle ahead in the second half.

Thankfully, Bayo wasn’t done and he once again proved himself to be our main threat in front of goal as he rejuvenated his side and earned us a point. With six minutes gone in the second half, Luke Guttridge found the big man who turned his man and fired home to hand us a massive lifeline.

There were chances at both ends before Bayo made it 2-2, curling home an unstoppable finish past Phillips and there was still time to complete the turn around with over twenty minutes still to play. Substitute Gary Mulligan almost got the winner but for a good save from Phillips whilst at the other end Chris Dunn denied Donaldson a second.

Loanee Josh Walker, making his debut, so nearly made it a dream start as he came close to a winner in the dying seconds but Phillips was again equal to the shot.
So another point it was and we can only be thankful that once again we pulled it out of the bag - the fourth recovery this season from a two goal deficit. We so badly need a good ninety minutes though to really get ourselves going. There’s a chance away from Sixfields this Tuesday as we travel to Aldershot, who got an excellent point at Notts County this weekend so it won’t be easy.

Then it’s onwards to the FA Cup tie with Southampton next Saturday and defending certainly needs to be stepped up by that one!

Boro midfielder signs on loan

Ian Sampson has completed a loan deal to bring in Middlesbrough midfielder Josh Walker until the start of the January transfer window. Walker has been earning rave reviews up north and looks a very promising prospect, having gone out on loan with Aberdeen last season and scoring a wonder goal against European giants Bayern Munich!

The fact that we're even mentioning that particular German side on this blog shows that we may have a very good player on our hands, albeit only for a couple of months. Walker has captained England at Under 16, 17, 18 and 19 level and has played for Boro at Premier League level.

Walker goes straight into the squad for tomorrow's visit from Crewe.

Herbert's absence giving Town a hole in the head

The absence of Courtney Herbert is starting to really show. Not even heard of before the season began, Herbert burst on to the scene to help secure Ian Sampson the permanent job at Sixfields but an injury put pay to the early hope that he would fire us out of the bottom half of League Two. Herbert’s raw pace was enough to give us at least some spark going forward and this is what is missed the most.

The goalless draw with Grimsby at the weekend was another example of frustration setting in that we just couldn’t get through on simply the strength of Bayo and the technique of Steve Guinan. We’re missing genuine urgency in the side at the moment and hopefully the young man signed from Long Buckby will be back in a couple of weeks.

Sammo’s hands are pretty much tied as far as transfers coming in goes and he’ll be praying that he can use January’s transfer window to inject at least some of his own players into the squad. Until then, it’s disappointing that we’re relying on Herbert’s return to give us some life back into the side but that appears the only thing to really hope for as a tough Christmas fixture list looms large.

High winds and red cards lead to stalemate

Northampton Town 0-0 Grimsby Town
League Two
Saturday, November 14th 2009

Treacherous weather conditions and a poor display of football from both sides led to the Cobblers' 0-0 draw with Grimsby Town on Saturday as we were left to try and pick out the positives of at least a clean sheet. Peter Gilbert, making his debut, was sent off in the second half before the visitors were also reduced to ten men in a game that never got going.

There were the obvious changes to the side that went out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday night with Bay returning up front and Gilbert replacing the unfortunate Paul Rodgers at left back. Pat Kanyuka was fit enough to fill in for Dean Beckwith and would have been happy with his contribution at least to a much needed clean sheet.

The difficult conditions made it hard for chances to be created and it was Steve Guinan who had the best of the early opportunities when he was set up by Akinfenwa but the former Hereford man shot wide.

Bayo himself had a couple of half chances as the game wore on, heading wide from a Gilligan cross and then only finding visiting keeper Nick Colgan with a decent effort later on. The Cobblers were at least having the best of it and Andy Holt forced Colgan into a decent stop with a far post header.

The second half will only be remembered for the sendings off. Danny North was put clear on goal and Gilbert, having only signed on Friday night, was sent packing for denying him a goal scoring opportunity. The deficit in numbers forced Sammo into replacing Akinfenwa for Rodgers and bringing on Liam Davis in place of John Curtis.

Despite the ten men we were still trying to find a way through with Davis creating a good chance before shooting into the side netting and John Johnson's header testing Colgan and it wasn't long before the numbers were evened up. Grimsby's Rob Atkinson was shown the second red card of the afternoon after bringing down Davis and the sides were level.

But that didn't make a lot of difference and the Cobblers had to settle for a point despite a late penalty appeal being turned down. A disappointing start to a run of back to back home games and there's now a little bit of pressure on the game with Crewe next weekend as we go in search of a much needed three points to get this season back on track once more.

Cobblers v Grimsby: The Last minute drama!

It could all have been so much different. Grimsby Town visit Sixfields tomorrow in the first league meeting between the sides since that fateful afternoon in Cleethorpes back in 2006. With the Cobblers already promoted back to League One thanks to a 1-0 home win over Chester City the week before and it was party time in the away end. The home support had packed out Blundell Park themselves in the knowledge that victory over the Cobblers would send them to promotion as well, pipping Leyton Orient to the post. Orient were at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford on the same day and were waiting for any kind of slip up from Grimsby.


All of the early action came in Oxford as former Cobbler Eric Sabin put the hosts in front before a quick fire equaliser from Craig Easton had Orient back in the hunt a few minutes later. The Cobblers’ fans were partying in the away end for much of the first half at Blundell Park and for once it was nice knowing that we had already sealed promotion going into the final day. At half time it was all square in both games but the drama had only just begun.

Back at The Kassam, Orient turned the day back in their favor as Gary Alexander swooped to put them in front. Cue desperation at Grimsby. Two minutes of uncertainness passed before news filtered through that Chris Willmott had scored a leveler for Oxford and Grimsby’s promotion was back ON again!

With fifteen minutes left to play, the Cobblers conceded a penalty and when Jean-Paul Kalala stepped up to beat Lee Harper it looked like the day belonged to the fishy people. Down at Oxford, Orient were trying in vain to get a winner in case the Cobblers could square things up.

As stoppage time approached it was party time at Blundell Park as the hosts looked like they were on their way up. Then came a remarkable couple of minutes that sensationally turned it on its head again. The home fans were getting ready to come onto the pitch when Ryan Gilligan blasted in to make it 1-1 and suddenly the panic began. Radios in the home ends were being switched back on and just as Gilligan’s shot hit the net, news came through that a break away from Orient had led to Lee Steele scoring at Oxford and in the space of two of the most extraordinary minutes the football league has ever seen, Grimsby Town went from promoted to playoffs in seconds whilst Orient’s winner sent them up.

When you think of drama of days gone by you will struggle to ever find a final day like this one barring perhaps Jimmy Glass’ antics at Carlisle. I’m pretty sure there won’t be as much entertainment at Sixfields when the Mariners visit but rest assured, I think they’ll recognise the name of R. Gilligan on the home team sheet!

A case for the defence...

It's been something that's come up time and again this season and the bug keeping the Cobblers from really pushing on in all fronts this season is the frailties being shown at the back. The summer clear out of big players like Mark Hughes and Chris Doig meant suitable replacements had to be found...so far it's not been good viewing and the defensive signings made by Stuart Gray to attempt to propel us back to League One are not working well.

Pace is the general theme of goals against with the odd individual mistake thrown in for good measure and it's simple, it's not working. To be fair to Sammo he can do nothing short of bringing himself on at the moment with no transfer window until January and he has to work with what he has.

This is where the Cobblers boss needs to be clever, think back to the "good old days" and remember the promotion campaigns of old. Was Sammo himself speedy? Could Razor catch the quickest of forwards? Not on your life. Did Sean Dyche have players in his pocket from sheer speed of his reactions? No chance. But one thing linking all of those was that the lack of pace was supplemented by two, yes TWO others.

Let's go back to the Atkins era (go on, you know you want to!) and the back line that kept out Swansea City at Wembley, the defence that had steered us to many a victory through sheer doggedness. The line up that day in front of Woody was Clarkson, Frain, Sammo, Warbuton and Rennie. No pace whatsoever in the back three of Sammo, Razor and Rennie yet it worked because there were three of them. One mistake, one ball over the top was easier dealt with when we had three covering each others' backs.

When Sean Dyche was brought in for 2006, Luke Chambers and Chris Doig covered for him whilst later on Mark Hughes would replace Chambers to help us to comfortable League One safety. Again, a case for three at the back.

This season we're left bemoaning the back line. Chris McCready, Craig Hinton and Dean Beckwith all seem as muddled and dodgy as each other so why not bung them all in (replacing one with the giant Pat Kanyuka where available) and that means should any mishap occur they have cover, giving us all a bit more confidence in them. Paul Rodgers and Liam Davis are more than adequate wing backs whilst Andy Holt can also do a job on the left side of a five.

As for the rest, Luke Gutteridge would be pushed into the middle where he's so sorely missed when put out wide and Gilligan and Curtis can use their individual talents in midfield (though i'm still in the Alex Dyer fan club and can't see shy Curtis is being played in such a position that he's seemingly never played).

And that my friends is how to do it. Of course, this is not Football Manager (or one of the other equally as good football manager simulation games out there)and what do I know?

I know the defence needs sorting before we get very found out.

Dons end interest in Trophy

MK Dons 3-1 Northampton Town
Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Southern Section Quarter Final
Tuesday, September 10th

The Cobblers crashed out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last night as a rampant MK Dons side eased through with a first half battering of Ian Sampson’s men. The Town defence couldn’t cope with the pace and style of the home side and despite a Steve Guinan effort early in the second half the damage was done and it was a disappointing evening for the 2,200 travelling fans.

It didn’t look good from as early as the sixth minute when Aaron Wilbraham volleyed home brilliantly and it was all downhill from there. Ten minutes later Sam Baldock made it 2-0 as he beat the offside trap to fire home and despite the calls from the Cobblers defenders it was still disappointing that we were beaten by pace once more, a worrying recurrence this season.

Baldock was in the middle of the action again just a few minutes later as Chris Dunn came out and collided with the Dons man and Pat Kanyuka, making his first start for the Cobblers and referee Mr Wright awarded a spot kick. Baldock slotted home the penalty, Kanyuka was forced out of the game and we were 3-0 down. It really couldn’t have been much worse at half time!

We at least gave the claret army something to cheer six minutes into the second half as Luke Guttridge swung in a free kick that the top scorer did well to divert past Willy Gueret. For a while it looked like we could make a fight of it with Liam Davis having a shot deflected wide and Guttridge shooting over from a free kick.
But despite Bayo and Michael Jacobs being introduced it wasn’t to be and you got the feeling that Dons were playing at reduced pace and could break at any time. The speed of their attack was always threatening and it was comfortable enough for the home side.

So the adventure of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is over for another season and it’s back to the league for the visit of Grimsby this weekend. It’s looking worrying at the back for Sammo and it’s surely something he will look at come January. Hopefully we can keep our heads above water until then.

Cobblers out of Trophy

The Cobblers were beaten 3-1 at Stadium: MK this evening as we bow out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for another season.

More to follow...

Cod Army give Cobblers almighty scare

Northampton Town 2-1 Fleetwood Town
FA Cup First Round
Saturday, November 7th 2009

The drama and magic of the FA Cup brings with it all the nerves not usually associated with a game against a non league side. Fleetwood Town visited Sixfields and put up a hardy fight and deserved more than they got in a strange game that saw us stretched to the point where we so nearly made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The cod army were in full voice as kick off approached on a chilly November evening and as the start of the game drew near I found myself getting more and more nervous about facing the Conference North side. The beauty of the FA Cup is that it brings, year after year, a break from the league in which anything goes. We should have been easily too much for Fleetwood but by the same token Shrewsbury Town should have been too good for Staines Town, Grimsby Town for Bath City and Hartlepool United for our neighbours Kettering Town. It just doesn’t work like that and we have to be grateful that all we got was a scare on the way to round two. A big scare, but just a scare all the same.

It was a full strength side that took to the field for the Cobblers with Bayo and Steve Guinan leading the attack and Dean Beckwith returning in defence. It was, of course, the visitors who settled quickest and the early going saw just flashes from the Cobblers but real bite and a will to win from Fleetwood. Sixfields suddenly turned into an anxious cauldron, matching the shakiness of the players.

Fleetwood could easily have taken the lead in the first half with some hasty defending from Sammo’s team. But we thought that we’d got off the hook as the break approached when one of our only quality players, Luke Guttridge, got on the end of a right wing cross and turned the ball home into the far corner. Surely that would settle us? No such luck...this is the FA Cup remember.

That defending, or lack of it, I was talking about cost us before the half time whistle as a mix up from a long ball let in Sean Clancy to score with a neat left footed finish, sending the 400 or so away fans into delirium as they smelt the upset.
We needed a kick up the proverbial at half time and we at least came out with a better sense of control for the second 45. The visitors, though hard working, lacked any real end product but the Cobblers always looked dangerous despite fluffing our lines before finally getting the breakthrough mid way through the half.

Guttridge was again the man to edge the tie back in our favour with a rocket of a free kick that swerved in the air to leave the Fleetwood keeper motionless. That should have been that but of course it is the cup and back came the non league visitors. They were lucky to keep all eleven players on the pitch following a dreadful late challenge on Chris Dunn, the second time in a week that a booked player was glad of the referee bottling a second yellow.

After that scuffle, there was five minutes added on at the end of the game and we had to suffer through a nervous ending as Fleetwood came agonisingly close to taking us to a replay. It was harsh on the Conference North outfit who gave everything in this game and will be gutted that they couldn’t at least take us back to the Highbury Stadium.

The boot will be well and truly on the other foot in Round Two as we were drawn against Southampton in a bizarre repeat of 2004/05 where the Cobblers met the Saints in both the League Cup and FA Cup and that’s the case once again. This time we’re at home and will be the underdogs as a place in Round Three goes up for grabs. Fair to say that if we give anything like the effort the underdogs here gave we’ll stand a very good chance indeed.

Cod Army give Cobblers almighty scare

The drama and magic of the FA Cup brings with it all the nerves not usually associated with a game against a non league side. Fleetwood Town visited Sixfields and put up a hardy fight and deserved more than they got in a strange game that saw us stretched to the point where we so nearly made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The cod army were in full voice as kick off approached on a chilly November evening and as the start of the game drew near I found myself getting more and more nervous about facing the Conference North side. The beauty of the FA Cup is that it brings, year after year, a break from the league in which anything goes. We should have been easily too much for Fleetwood but by the same token Shrewsbury Town should have been too good for Staines Town, Grimsby Town for Bath City and Hartlepool United for our neighbours Kettering Town. It just doesn’t work like that and we have to be grateful that all we got was a scare on the way to round two. A big scare, but just a scare all the same.

It was a full strength side that took to the field for the Cobblers with Bayo and Steve Guinan leading the attack and Dean Beckwith returning in defence. It was, of course, the visitors who settled quickest and the early going saw just flashes from the Cobblers but real bite and a will to win from Fleetwood. Sixfields suddenly turned into an anxious cauldron, matching the shakiness of the players.

Fleetwood could easily have taken the lead in the first half with some hasty defending from Sammo’s team. But we thought that we’d got off the hook as the break approached when one of our only quality players, Luke Guttridge, got on the end of a right wing cross and turned the ball home into the far corner. Surely that would settle us? No such luck...this is the FA Cup remember.

That defending, or lack of it, I was talking about cost us before the half time whistle as a mix up from a long ball let in Sean Clancy to score with a neat left footed finish, sending the 400 or so away fans into delirium as they smelt the upset.
We needed a kick up the proverbial at half time and we at least came out with a better sense of control for the second 45. The visitors, though hard working, lacked any real end product but the Cobblers always looked dangerous despite fluffing our lines before finally getting the breakthrough mid way through the half.

Guttridge was again the man to edge the tie back in our favour with a rocket of a free kick that swerved in the air to leave the Fleetwood keeper motionless. That should have been that but of course it is the cup and back came the non league visitors. They were lucky to keep all eleven players on the pitch following a dreadful late challenge on Chris Dunn, the second time in a week that a booked player was glad of the referee bottling a second yellow.

After that scuffle, there was five minutes added on at the end of the game and we had to suffer through a nervous ending as Fleetwood came agonisingly close to taking us to a replay. It was harsh on the Conference North outfit who gave everything in this game and will be gutted that they couldn’t at least take us back to the Highbury Stadium.

The boot will be well and truly on the other foot in Round Two as we were drawn against Southampton in a bizarre repeat of 2004/05 where the Cobblers met the Saints in both the League Cup and FA Cup and that’s the case once again. This time we’re at home and will be the underdogs as a place in Round Three goes up for grabs. Fair to say that if we give anything like the effort the underdogs here gave we’ll stand a very good chance indeed.

1,000 sold already for JPT tie

The Cobblers have already sold 1,000 tickets for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Quarter Finals at MK Dons on Tuesday night. Dons sent the initial batch of tickets through but fans can also pay on the day, meaning that there should be a good turn out of Cobblers in attendance at Stadium: MK as we look to make amends for a double defeat last season.

The previous round, the home game with AFC Bournemouth attracted just 1,718 fans in TOTAL but the reduced prices and local derby feel means that there could now be close to that many away fans come Tuesday night!

Fleetwood Town (H) FA Cup First Round Preview

The Cobblers welcome Conference North side Fleetwood Town to Sixfields tomorrow afternoon and we’ll be desperately hoping for no headlines to be made. The magic of the cup returns but that means the chance of many an upset in this weekend’s fixtures and some will be looking to Fleetwood to provide a shock to Sammo and his men.

Dean Beckwith may return for the Cobblers while Pat Kanyuka is also pressing for a first team place after coming up to full fitness. Liam Davis could have the opportunity to play after his successful return from injury at Torquay last week but Courtney Herbert is cup tied after playing in a previous round with Long Buckby. John Johnson has received permission from parent club Middlesbrough to play in the game.
Steve Torpey suffers the same problem as Herbert and is also cup tied for the game but striker Adam Warlow could return.

This is set to be the first meeting between the sides with the visitors having won through two qualifying rounds to get to this stage of the competition. Vauxhall Motors and Kidderminster Harriers have been beaten on Town’s road to the first round proper. They reached the second round last season and narrowly went out to Hartlepool United so will hoping to at least match that this season.

Sammo has been on both ends of the giant killing spectrum in his playing days but hopefully tomorrow isn’t a game that brings us into the public attention for all the wrong reasons!

Beware the banana skin

Ah, the magic of the cup...

It’s that time again as we beckon in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend. When the draw was made and we had sat through just about every team until the Cobblers were pulled out of the hat and paired with either Kidderminster Harriers or Fleetwood Town. Great, a non league side at home, we couldn’t have asked for more! Well that is, until Fleetwood won through in the replay and the cup drew ever nearer with talks of the usual banana skins and slip ups.

I’m becoming a little nervous about the game and the possible pit falls it holds. Knowing the Cobblers’ history with non league sides it could well be a more nervous afternoon than needed. All I need say is Canvey Island for shivers to go down claret spines. Sammo was, of course, a part of the side beaten by Julian Dicks et al down at Canvey and he’ll be desperate to avoid becoming a victim of the headlines this weekend.

Fleetwood come into the game in a good run of form, sitting just outside the playoff places in Conference North with a game in hand and boast the experience of Alan Wright and Steve Torpey in their ranks.

The Cobblers will need to try and hit back from the anger and frustration felt at Torquay from both the referee and the late defeat and hopefully we will be back firing on all cylinders. There were clear signs of anger towards the end of the Plainmoor defeat with Ryan Gilligan and Bayo both showing signs of fire in the belly. They must now use that as a positive and blow Fleetwood away this Saturday.
Something tells me it won’t be as easy as that though. Something called the FA Cup.

Marshall returns to Stoke

Ben Marshall's time at Sixfields has come to an end after Stoke City recalled the winger from his loan spell today. Contrary to earlier reports, Tony Pulis wants to have a closer look at the 18-year-old and he will now return to the Britannia Stadium.

Marshall made seventeen appearances for the club and scored two goals in his time with the club.

Cobblers hopeful on Marshall loan

If Ben Marshall can find his legs again after being chopped down by the Torquay left back on Saturday he could well find himself with an extended deal at Sixfields. The current loan contract runs out after the FA Cup tie against Fleetwood on Saturday but all parties seem in agreement that the deal can go on.

The 18 year old has shown glimpses of real talent already and it would be a big boost for Sammo should the winger agree to more time with the club. The player is said to be enjoying his time here so hopefully some good news will come before the weekend!

Hargreaves comes back to haunt Town

Torquay United 1-0 Northampton Town
Saturday, October 31st 2009
League Two

Sometimes it’s just in the script. Try as you might, no matter what you throw at the opposition, it’s just meant to go another way. When Chris Hargreaves joined Torquay United with the team in the Blue Square Premier League and with the Cobblers safe in League One he could have no idea that this season he would be in the same division as his former employers let alone scoring the winner against them.

Hargreaves is one of just a handful of players that you can just about forgive for a winning goal, his battling displays in midfield winning the adulation of the claret faithful during his time at Sixfields. It was still, though, a bitter pill to swallow as Ian Sampson’s unbeaten run came to an end at Plainmoor.

The day began full of optimism and with the return of the silly boy game reserved for extra anticipated away trip. It’s become a tradition between myself and the honorary Cobbler, Jamie, as we head to random spots around the country to follow the town. This time, he’d prepared a Halloween themed “Zombie Cobblers” quiz game that I spectacularly failed in as I answered questions on past Cobblers. Little did we know that another old face would signal the biggest disappointment of the day.

The first half was disjointed to say the least with neither side getting a foot hold in the game. Torquay stuck to their programme of playing for set pieces and despite a couple of scares we were standing up to the test. Perhaps tellingly, we were most in trouble when the hosts tried to play their way through our back line and an early cross shot forced Chris Dunn into a fine save as he clawed the ball away before it could creep in following Chris McCready’s header.

The Cobblers only had snippets of opportunities at the other end early on with Adebayo Akinfenwa, booed throughout for his Gulls past, going close with an angled shot across the body of former Town loan keeper Michael Poke that went just wide.
Kevin Nicholson, another former Cobbler, tested Dunn with a late free kick but the edgy first half ended with a deserved goalless score line.

Cobblers fans had every reason to be optimistic at the break with some strong second half performances over the past couple of weeks and we came storming out of the blocks at the start of the second half. Poke was in sublime form to keep out a close range header from Bayo that looked a certain goal before Steve Guinan controlled the ball well before slamming a left footed effort onto the under side of the bar.

Ben Marshall was brought off the bench in place of John Curtis as Sammo looked for the winner and Marshall was to be involved in the most controversial piece of play in the game. The loan man took on the Gulls left back but was brought down with a cynical challenge. The defender in question was not booked and we later realised that he’d already been shown a yellow and another one would have had him off. The referee bottled it, plain and simple and you can bet your house that he would have been booked had it been a first offence.

The fact that the home side went on to win the game summed up a frustrating afternoon as Hargreaves, of course from a set piece, nodded home from close range. With Bayo now off the park in Sammo’s first strange substitution of his reign so far, we had little to threaten an equaliser and we handed Torquay an end to their run of five league games drawn in a row.

We will hopefully learn lessons, particularly in how to deal with sides like that, teams that play for the set plays and launch long balls towards our area. Two home league games follow the FA Cup tie against Fleetwood on Saturday as we look to get back on track. As long as there’s no upset at Sixfields on Saturday we should bounce back from this set back.

It’s a new test as Fleetwood come to town looking for a cup scalp but hopefully we can use the game as a means of letting out our frustration at this one.

Cobblers go west in search of three on the bounce

We make the long trip to Torquay this afternoon looking for three wins in a row against a newly promoted Gulls outfit,who are draw specialists in League Two this season. United's last six games have ended all square if you count the 2-2 scoreline at the end of ninety minutes in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Southampton. But this run also included and impressive performance at Notts County, another 2-2, so it's not going to be easy.

The Cobblers are flying at the moment with back to back league wins and the goals flying in. Adebayo Akinfenwa looks like he's getting back to his old ways and hitting the net again but not just that - he's been getting stuck in and chasing balls down and the ninety minutes at Morecambe last weekend would have done him the world of good. His form along with the goals of Steve Guinan, who now tops the club's leading scorer's charts with six, means that the absence of Courtney Herbert is not so disastrous as it could have been.

We will, of course, be saying hello to an old friend in Chris Hargreaves this afternoon and he's sure to get a fine reaction from the Claret faithful. How we needed someone with even half of Chrissy's energy during the relegation fall last season!

Elsewhere for the Gulls, Marvin Williams sits out through injury but Jake Thomson could start after joining from Southampton and should certainly have somewhat of an unknown quantity about him. Michael Brough returns to Torquay squad for the game as well after his loan spell at Stevenage ended.

So all set for a good 'un this afternoon with both sides scoring freely and conceding almost just as freely...anyone for a 0-0?! Surely, if Sammo can lead us to a third straight win he could well be looking at his first month as boss ending with the Manager of the Month award.

Come on Town!

It's Fleetwood in the cup!

The Cobblers' FA Cup First Round opponents will be Blue Square North side Fleetwood Town won through in the Fourth Qualifying Round on Tuesday night. Fleetwood saw off Kidderminster Harriers to win a place in the First Round proper at Sixfields on Saturday week.

The non league outfit entered the competition in the Second Qualifying Round, meaning that they have had to come through three rounds already to reach this stage of proceedings. The Fishermen had beaten Farsley Celtic and Vauxhall Motors before seeing off Kidderminster and will provide a potential banana skin for the Cobblers.

Memories of that awful day at Canvey Island and the replay at Basingstoke Town come to mind but it's a massive chance to reach Round Two for Sammo's team in the new Cobblers boss' first FA Cup encounter as manager.

Cobblers given home tie in FA Cup

The Cobblers will host one of two non league sides in the first round of this season's FA Cup after the draw was made this afternoon. Either Kidderminster Harriers or Fleetwood Town will make the trip to Sixfields in two weeks after they decide their replay on Tuesday night at Fleetwood's Highbury Stadium.

The two sides drew 0-0 at Aggborough yesterday and must go again to decide who makes it into the first round proper. Ties will take place on the weekend of November 6th/7th.

Another grand fight back earns Town all three points

Morecambe 2-4 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, October 24th 2009


It’s getting quite entertaining following the fortunes of the Cobblers under Ian Sampson. We thought the incredible opening to Sammo’s tenure with back to back fight backs to draw 2-2 was settling down with a single goal win over Lincoln last week but this afternoon we once again turned a game around, this time coming out on top after a thrilling second half at Morecambe.

Without Courtney Herbert once again, Sammo handed Adebayo Akinfenwa a start up front with Steve Guinan. Guinan had been the only scorer against Lincoln and he was off the mark early in this one as the Cobblers took the lead from his delightful curling effort from long range that beat Ben Smith in the home goal.

We had started brightly and had a good spell following the goal with Luke Guttridge twice coming close and Guinan having a volley saved well by Smith. With so much possession and chances it was somewhat inevitable that Morecambe would equalise and they duly did so from the spot with twenty five minutes gone.

Mark Duffy went down under a challenge from Andy Holt and Phil Jevons stepped up to send Chris Dunn the wrong way. The game calmed down for a while but the Shrimps took advantage of our slip and took the lead before half time as Ian Craney crossed for Stewart Drummond to head home and undo all of the Cobblers’ early promise.
But once again a half time resurgence spurred us into life. Akinfenwa shot wide in our first real effort of the second half before Andy Holt’s free kick broke to Guttridge who fired in a good strike only for Smith to pull off another good save. The tide was turning as Ben Marshall came off the bench to replace John Curtis as we looked for more spark from the middle of the pitch.

John Johnson almost made it 2-2 after being set up by Bayo before we were denied a spot kick when the same player appeared to be kicked inside the area.
The pressure paid off in dramatic style though as Marshall crossed for Holt to volley home with twenty minutes to go and it was well and truly game on. The fighting spirit installed under Sammo can not be questioned and the Cobblers pulled the game back on its head when Johnson started and finished a move that ended in our third goal as he stabbed in from close range.

With the game swinging from end to end, it was always looking like a sixth goal would come and luckily it came in the right end as Bayo turned his man and scored his second in three games to seal a terrific three points for the Cobblers.
The win takes us up to fifteenth and we’re still six points from a place in the top six but it’s real signs of life from a season that looked buried back in August. Slowly but surely, Ian Sampson is proving to be the right man for this immense task of reigniting the spark of Northampton Town.

Town keen to keep unbeaten run going

Two seaside trips are up next for the Cobblers as we hope to build on the solid foundation of the early Sammo era. We’ve now gone five game unbeaten in all competitions and with the promise of Courtney Herbert and the tremendous fight backs against Bradford and Bury it was nice to get a clean sheet and a good three points last week.

Lincoln are typical of a lot of sides that will come to Sixfields this season, setting up to frustrate and it was important that we struck the winner whilst not being tested to the extremes at the other end. Chris Dunn has done well to reclaim his place in the first team and keeping out the Imps will add to his confidence. Simon Brown coming in must have done something for Dunn, with the extra competition a real benefit to go alongside Brown’s experience.

Herbert was missing for the Lincoln game but I don’t believe any of the reports linking him with a move away from Sixfields already. For one thing the lad is still very raw despite the blistering pace that takes him away from his marker. Add to that the fact that he’s made just four appearances for the club in League Two and you get basic logic that he’ll surely be here until the end of this season at the very least. We’ve seen many a young gun come through the ranks over the years and Herbert now needs to be settled and allowed to do his job. We can’t afford to heap pressure on his shoulders and hopefully, again, experience can help him through with the likes of Bayo and Steve Guinan around.

Morecambe away represents another big test for Sammo’s men. Away games under his leadership haven’t fell kindly so far with trips to Notts County, Shrewsbury and Bury yielding just the one point, at Gigg Lane, but this is a chance to really kick on and extend that unbeaten run. Four points from these two away games - we’re at Torquay next Saturday – would be very nice indeed!

Cobblers sign out of contract defender

The Cobblers have today brought in defender Pat Kanyuka on an initial three month contract after the former Swindon Town and QPR man impressed during a recent trial. Kanyuka played along side two other trialists in the reserves this week in a 3-1 defeat to Norwich City. Kanyuka, 22, has been with the club for two weeks and has made an impression on Ian Sampson as he earns a short term deal.

Competion for places is now heating up in the Cobblers' back line with Chris McCrady, Dean Beckwith, Craig Hinton already in the squad. Kanyuka joins the ranks just in time for Saturday's trip to Morecambe and looks likely to at least make the bench.

Guinan goal pushes Lincoln aside

Northampton Town 1-0 Lincoln City
League Two
Saturday, October 17th 2009


Two managers new to life in a top job, two former players from completely opposite sides of the ladder of success, two rookies at taking a managerial position at this level. Ian Sampson took on Chris Sutton and came out on top in a tight game typical of the old battles between these two teams. The two men leading their sides to battle couldn’t have had any more of a different upbringing in the game with Sutton playing at the highest level and Sammo plugging away with loyal graft in the bottom two leagues of English football. But it was Sammo to come out of the game with all three points on a scrappy afternoon at Sixfields.

Lincoln were always tough opponents in days gone by and the trend didn’t change on Saturday afternoon. The Imps were always in and around the Cobblers’ faces in League Two, denying us on several occasions with their bustling ways. Time, it seems, hasn’t changed things. It’s credit to Sammo that he led us to this victory, gained with a bundle of a goal from Steve Guinan.

Guinan was an automatic choice up front in the absence of injury victim Courtney Herbert and Billy McKay also began the game with Bayo still in use as an impact substitute. That title certainly ringed true, for until the big man’s half time introduction the game was flat with Lincoln battling away and causing us few chances to attack.

The Imps, in fact, had the better of the actual chances with a Stefan Oakes free kick sailing just wide and Sergio Torres breaking through the Town defence to test Chris Dunn, who was equal to the shot and the sides went in level at half-time.

Bayo was brought on and immediately had an impact, setting up Luke Guttridge who fired in the first real shot of the game for his side that Rob Burch had to be alert to. Akinfenwa then headed wide from a trademark long throw from Andy Holt but we did find the breakthrough as we stepped things up, the clock running past the seventy minute mark.

A free kick from Guttridge was nodded back by Holt and Guinan eventually scrambled the ball home from close range to score the only goal of the game. Lincoln’s only contribution to the rest of the game was adding to their growing number of bookings, a total of six by the end of the game that earned the club a fine.

Pretty it was not, exciting it most definitely was not but three points it was and a clean sheet to go with it makes the previous two draws against Bradford and Bury look a lot better now. We’re slowly starting to move up the table and are unbeaten in five games in all competitions. There will be plenty of games like this one to come and the fact that we managed to grab the three points here could be vital come the final knockings.

League Two will be frustrating at times but it’s games like these that will be the backbone of any possibly push for the top half and the playoffs and with two tough away trips coming up at improving Morecambe and Torquay (who shared a 2-2 draw this weekend) we can be happy with the weekend’s work.

Lincoln City (H) Preview

The Cobblers host Chris Sutton’s Lincoln City at Sixfields tomorrow afternoon with the Imps back on form following the appointment of the former Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers star. Sutton has helped City to back to back wins in the last two outings and leads his side to Sixfields full of confidence. The Cobblers have reason to be upbeat themselves having secured fight backs in the last two games, coming from two down against Bradford and Bury to earn draws.


Team News

Dean Beckwith should come back into contention for the Cobblers and Liam Davis is the only other long term injury, with the midfielder due back in a couple of weeks. Ryan Gilligan returns to the squad after serving a one match ban for the bury game last weekend.

Lincoln are boosted by the return of Robert Kovacs and Cian Houghton to their side. Both were missing through suspension and international duty respectively last weekend and come back into the squad. The Imps are without Paul Connor and Paul Green who are still a few weeks away from a return to the first team.


Last Time Out...Cobblers 1-1 Lincoln (26/11/05)

The Cobblers salvaged a point in the last meeting between the teams at Sixfields with a last gasp goal from Josh Low. Gary Birch had given the visitors an early lead but Low swooped to equalise in stoppage time for earn us a share of the spoils.

Cobblers: Harper ,Bojic ,Chambers ,Doig ,Crowe ,Low ,Taylor ,Jess (Mendes ,56 ) ,Martin Smith ,Kirk ,McGleish (Hunt ,85)

Lincoln: Marriott ,McAuley ,Morgan (Bloomer ,71 ) ,McCombe ,Brown ,Kerr ,Keates ,Mayo ,Asamoah ,Birch (Foster ,89 ) ,Logan


Head to Head...Cobblers v Imps...

Games Played: 48

Cobblers Wins: 12

Draws: 23

Lincoln Wins: 13

Would the real Bayo please stand up?

Is it me or is Bayo still a little bit unhappy? The interview after the Bury game sees him a but less Bayo like to me...he seems TOO laid back and care free. Last season for the most part he seemed over the moon whenever he scored and was a prety happy fella but after Saturday's draw he seemed a little less himself.

Gone was the glint in the eye, the thrill of scoring, in its place a mere shrug of the shoulders attitude and you have to wonder if he'll ever be the same player for us again and whether he still wants to be here.

I do wonder whether he'll still be here come January and whether he actually still wants to be here despite the change in manager. If Sammo can get the big man back on his side and firing the way he used to, get the real Bayo back, then it'll be like a new signing without having to wait until the transfer window.

Battling Cobblers come back again

Bury 2-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, October 20th 2009

The Cobblers completed their third comeback of the week to secure a hard fought draw at Bury this afternoon. Following the recovery against Bradford from two goals down last weekend and the 2-1 reversal against Bournemouth in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday we once again came back from a two goal deficit at Gigg Lane.

It was once again Courtney Herbert who took the game by the scruff of the neck to turn it around with the first strike of the comeback trail but even before that he was causing his usual problems. In the thirteenth minute the 20-year-old took the ball down and shot just wide of the post to signal his intent.

But it was Bury that had the best of the first half and deservedly took the lead and it was a Cobblers corner that led to it. The home side cleared their lines and David Worrall broke to have a shot blocked by John Curtis before tucking home the rebound past Chris Dunn.

It was to get worse just a couple of minutes later as we were suddenly 2-0 down as Ryan Lowe latched onto a hoof up field to lob the ball home and we were once again facing an uphill struggle, this time away from home though.

The half time team talk had to match the one from the last couple of games and the players’ character shone through once again in the second half. The game could well have been tucked away early on though as Chris McCready had to clear off the line.
But then it was time for another fight back. Herbert sprang into life and took the ball past three or four men before finishing well past Wayne Brown in the Bury goal. Suddenly we were right back in it and a substitution turned the game again. Adebayo Akinfenwa had been brought on before Herbert’s goal in the place of Steve Guinan and it was the big man that equalised with fifteen minutes left.

Akinfenwa got himself on the end of a Luke Guttridge cross and his header eluded Brown and flew in off the far post. Unlike last weekend, there was still time to even win it!

Bury had a couple of good chances to take the lead again but Chriss Dunn made a good double save before Akinfenwa headed over the bar from a corner in the last action of the game.

It was another show of real character from the Cobblers and a decent away point at the end of it. The league table isn’t exactly being eaten into but the next three games are critical with Lincoln, Morcambe and Torquay up next.

MK Dons trip in JPT

The Cobblers will take on MK Dons in the Third Round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after the draw was made this morning on Soccer AM. Ian Sampson's team will travel to Stadium: MK for the tie, to be played in week commencing November 9th.

Last season, we fell to a double defeat to the Dons, losing home and away by a single goal, the second of which was the first nail in our relegation coffin. With a place in the area semi-final up for grabs, this game should provide a bit more interest for the competition.

Bury (A) Preview...

Sammo takes charge of his first league game in full charge of the Cobblers tomorrow as we make the tough trip to Bury. After two good fight backs in the space of a week, the new boss will be hoping to record his first league win on the road at Gigg Lane and start to finally move up the League Two ladder.


Team News

Bury are without Andy Bishop who will be out for around two months with a number of problems. Danny Carlton is another long term absentee whilst Andy Morrell is also missing. Richie Baker limped out of the Shakers’ game against Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night and is doubtful for the Cobblers’ visit.

Ryan Gilligan sits out of the game as he serves a one match ban having picked up a fifth booking of the season in the Bournemouth game on Tuesday night. But Andy Holt, Luke Guttridge, Adebayo Akinfenwa and John Curtis have all trained this week and could play some part in the game.



Last Time Out…Bury 0-2 Northampton Town …League Two…28/01/06…

The Cobblers won at Gigg Lane in the side’s last meeting as we moved towards promotion in 2006. An own goal from Andy Parrish gave Colin Calderwood’s side the lead before Andy Kirk sealed it in the second half.

Bury: Anthony Williams ,Scott ,Fitzgerald ,Challinor ,Parrish ,Jarman (sent off 45),Flitcroft (Barry-Murphy ,89 ) ,Mattis ,Buchanan ,Smart (Marrison ,64 ) ,Tipton

Northampton: Harper ,Chambers ,Dyche ,Doig ,Low (Johnson ,78 ) ,Taylor ,Martin Smith (Bojic ,78 ) ,Hunt (Rowson ,69 ) ,Crowe ,McGleish ,Kirk



Head to Head…Shakers v Cobblers…

Games Played: 51

Cobblers Wins: 21

Draws: 11

Bury Wins: 19


Saturday’s other League Two games…

Accrington Stanley v Cheltenham
Aldershot v Morecambe
Bournemouth v Chesterfield
Bradford v Crewe
Bury v Northampton
Dag & Red v Darlington
Grimsby v Burton Albion
Macclesfield v Lincoln City
Rochdale v Barnet
Rotherham v Hereford
Shrewsbury v Port Vale