Crewe hit for six!

Northampton Town 6-2 Crewe Alexandra
League Two
Tuesday, February 1st 2011

There aren’t many nights like this at Sixfields these days. A game that promised goals still managed to stun the Sixfields crowd in that most of the eight were ours on an incredible evening of football that saw Shaun Harrad net a debut goal and the Cobblers score five goals for the first time in two years.

In fact, the last time we scored five goals in a game was in a 5-1 win over Crewe on January 24th 2009 and there was a debut goal fest on that occasion as well with loan man Billy Clarke netting a hat-trick in that particular hammering. Harrad didn’t quite make that much of a quick start but the one he did get along with the general performance was encouraging enough on a breathless night.

The final result here meant that the Cobblers and Crewe have now shared 29 goals in their last six meetings so it was no surprise when there was early action. It will seem an age ago to the visitors but they did take the lead in the first few minutes of the game. Ajay Leitch-Smith grabbed his opportunity in the absence of top scorer Clayton Donaldson and slotted the ball past Dunn to put his side into the lead.

But Harrad wouldn’t take long to put his marker on the game and after being set up by Leon McKenzie and that was the start of a rout that just doesn’t happen to us! It did tonight...and it was Michael Jacobs that completely turned the game around just a few minutes later with a well taken free kick into the corner of the net.

Then came the turning point, just before half-time. Dean Beckwith was adjudged by the linesman to have fouled Shaun Miller in the area but Ashley Westwood saw his spot kick saved by Chris Dunn. The Cobblers would go up the other end and make it 3-1 before the half was up. Josh Walker, also making his (second) debut, swung in a corner that Dean Beckwith met with a fine header to send us into half-time with a bit of comfort.

If that was comfort though, then within a few minutes of the restart we were in jogging bottoms on the sofa in front of a warm fire. Andy Holt made it four and quickly afterwards Abdul Osman put the game well and truly beyond any doubt with a fifth.

Everyone needed the breather that followed but there was simply no letting up and substitute Billy McKay made it 6-1 (free Wham bar for anyone who can remember when we scored six goals in a game last?!). by capitalising on a defensive error. There was time for another one for Crewe but starting and ending the scoring in this game won’t give the Railwaymen any pleasure at all. Antoni Sarcevic was the scorer, a cracker from distance, with his first goal in the football league but the Cobblers took all the glory this evening.

I can’t remember a game like it and what a debut game for Harrad and Walker. If they need any reassurance in signing their deals then they don’t any more!

Whilst one game does not make a season, I’m just going to enjoy this for a few days and go and take a breath.