On the very brink of safety, the very edge of a huge sigh of relief that would resound around Northampton and across the country’s exiled Cobblers. That’s the situation now for Northampton Town after a edgy 2-1 win over already relegated Hereford United at Sixfields. A relaxed and care free Hereford side threatened to send us back into the drop zone with an equaliser to Andy Holt’s goal but Jason Crowe popped up to win it with twenty minutes to go, meaning that one point from our final two games will be enough to stay up because of a superior goal difference.
One change was made to the team that secured a draw at home to Scunthorpe on Tuesday night with one loan defender, Adam Watts, replacing another, the injured Paul Rodgers. Mark Hughes had our first effort of the game with a header that the United keeper did well to keep out. Hughes had scored from a similar position on Tuesday night to earn the draw but couldn’t direct his latest attempt into the net.
Hereford then had a clear chance to take the lead through Josh Gowling but when well placed he fired a shot over the cross bar. It was a stark warning to the Cobblers, who at this point were back in the drop zone because of Carlisle’s lead at Cheltenham.
But on the half hour mark, the Cobblers had the lead that eased the nerves for a while at least. Hughes found space to cross and Adebayo Akinfenwa did well to set up Andy Holt who controlled well and shot left footed into the net for one of the most deserving goals of the season. Holt has had to bide his time in order to battle back into the side this season but he’s been exactly what we need in the troubled times of late and fully deserved a goal.
The visitors came back strongly and were causing problems from corners before the break. Danny Jackman had to clear off the line from one delivery whilst the next one saw Steve Guinan hit the post as a nervy first half came to an end.
With results from elsewhere still against us the win was vital but Hereford put us right back into trouble and deservedly so on the balance of possession when Andy Williams produced a moment of magic by curling a shot past Dunn who had no chance in the Town goal. Shortly afterwards, Mark Pugh shot wide of Dunn’s post.
Aleksander Prijovic came off the bench to replace Luke Guttridge and Stuart Gray chased the goal that would put the season back in his hands again and we thought we had that goal when Hughes poked the ball in only to see it ruled out. But twenty minutes from time it was all back in our favour.
Bayo was the man in the middle of the action again and he held the ball up before laying it off to Jason Crowe who fired home and Sixfields breathed easier once again. After the topsy turvey nature of Tuesday night’s draw with Scunthorpe, this was another game full of tension as Hereford threatened again.
Good news came through from Whaddon Road as Cheltenham had equalised against a now nine man Carlisle and it was starting to swing back in our favour once again. Ikechi Anya shot wide after Steve Guinan had wasted a good headed chance at the other end. Player of the Year Danny Jackman had to be in the right place for an excellent last ditch tackle near the end but the Cobblers held on and we edged that bit closer to safety.
Not the prettiest of games, not the most entertaining of spectacles but a win that takes us, crucially, two points clear of the drop zone and above Brighton who could only manage a draw themselves. All that means that one more point from either our game in hand at home to MK Dons on Tuesday night or at Leeds next Saturday and we’ll be safe on goal difference.
Of course we have to pray for a win on Tuesday to seal it for good and end any lingering doubts before the trip to Leeds on the final day of the season. Defeat on Tuesday would leave us still with it in our hands but also still looking over our shoulders with Brighton and Carlisle chasing us with home games next weekend.
Onwards to what should be a terrific atmosphere on Tuesday night as the Dons come to visit. There’s unfinished business after the dismal performance in the 1-0 defeat at Stadium:MK earlier this season. One more push now and we’ll be a League One club again next season!
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