Peterborough United 1-0 Northampton Town

As supporters, we got nearly everything we could have wanted from this derby. The problem was that the one thing that was missing was the result as Posh agonisingly made their way closer to Championship football next season. The fact that Boro were down to ten men for most of the game will also grate but the effort, commitment and desire to win for the incredible support from Northampton showed that the players do actually care about playing for our wonderful club.

There was talk before the game of the attendance of away fans would decrease because of the league positions and the fact that Posh were likely to give us a hiding. But once we entered the old Moyes Terrace there was no sign of anyone holding back. This had to be matched by the players if we were to get anything from the game and from the off, as Stuart Gray had demanded, we came storming out from the blocks.

It was skipper Chris Doig that struck the first effort on goal...bringing the ball forward and belting in a shot from all of thirty yards that keeper Joe Lewis palmed away for a corner. The visiting supporters in the Moyes, the end that Town were shooting towards in the first half, were trying to suck the ball into the net and sensed some real hope when Boro were reduced to ten men around ten minutes in. The pacy Ikechi Anya beat Gabreil Zakuani to a long ball and the defender brought him down. As the last man, he had to go and the celebrations were as if we’d scored! We so nearly did so seconds later as Danny Jackman curled a free kick that smacked the post.

Posh hit the post themselves minutes later when Aaron Maclean struck the woodwork with a low shot. Jason Crowe shot wide at the other end as the frantic pace continued before Crowe was again close to scoring when an Abdul Osman cross evaded everyone and the Cobblers man just missed it at the far post.

It was one of Boro’s only chances of the game that turned out to be the winner. So many times this season Stuart Gray has seen set pieces lead to goals and it was no different here with Charlie Lee heading home from a free kick from the right hand side. It was disappointing defending and we needed a quick response. Colin Larkin had a shot blocked before a header from Mark Hughes went over from a corner as we tried in vain to get back into the game before the break.

Liam Davis was brought on for Carl Magnay at half-time in an attacking move by Gray and we so nearly had an equaliser once again in the opening exchanges of the half. Danny Jackman swung in a corner and Andy Holt rattled the crossbar with a header. That would be Holt’s final piece of action as he was replaced by Leon Constantine.

Chris Doig was almost made to pay for a catastrophic error shortly after as Craig Mackail-Smith pounced on the ball and beat Mark Hughes before firing wide of the near post. That would have ended the game as a contest but there was still hope for the Cobblers and the desperate fans in the away end were still in war-like emotions.

Leon Constantine could have been a hero with just over twenty minutes to go. Constantine has failed to win over the Cobblers fans this season with a laid back approach and lack of goals but he could have ended all of that ill feeling with a goal here. A golden chance fell to him as Davis cut the ball back, presenting him with a clear shot at goal but he blasted over and it was more agony for the Cobblers.

Giles Coke thought he had equalised with time running out when his shot from long range was deflected wide. Jason Crowe had another long range effort saved before the dramatic final throw of our dice. A cross wasn’t dealt with by the Boro defenders and twice we had shots cleared off the line, somehow Posh clearing their lines and claiming the win that makes it four in a row for them.

Deflation in the away end at the final whistle but there was at least most players coming off the pitch absolutely shattered. The defeat was difficult to take but the effort from the players told a story of pride. That’s what we wanted from this game and if they show exactly the same in the games to come for the rest of the season we will have no relegation fears at all.

The worst part of the day was walking back to the station with thousands of Posh fans singing about going up, being in the Championship and beating the Town. It took a strong head to get through it but the fact that my team were still giving a damn as much as the hardy travelling support meant that there was still a consolation at the end of a day full of local pride and heart that in the end meant that we could yet have some fight left in this season yet.