Harrad off as Cobblers draw again

Northampton Town 1-1 Aldershot
League Two
Saturday, February 19th 2011

I’m getting a bit sick of Aldershot. Last season we were denied by two goals in the last few minutes at their place and then Kevin Thornton was sent off in a 3-0 defeat at Sixfields. Then, back in early September it was a stoppage time equaliser that denied us at the EBB Stadium. We needed some reprieve yesterday but again the Shots would deny us in the later stages of the game once more. To go along with that, Shaun Harrad faces a ban after being sent off for an off the ball incident. The bid to end four straight draws won’t get any easier without the star transfer window signing.

With the Cobblers throwing away a lead three times on Tuesday night against Morecambe it was nerves to blame according to Sammo as we once again contrived to turn three points into one.

Nathaniel Wedderburn came in for Liam Davis in the Cobblers’ only change from Tuesday with a sturdier midfield the order of the day. With a heavy pitch, it was tough going and it was no surprise that the opening goal was a good old goalmouth scramble that Ben Tozer managed to take a hold of and fire us into the lead on eighteen minutes.

Wade Small should have levelled for the Shots a few minutes later but Chris Dunn made a good save with Small one on one with the Cobblers stopper. A tame effort from range from Michael Jacobs and a header wide from Leon McKenzie were all we could conjure up before the break but there was indeed plenty of nerves after the fight backs from Morecambe in midweek.

We would again have our fears realised in the second half with Danny Hylton firing a warning shot in the early stages and Alex Rodman denied by Tozer. But there was an equaliser with around twelve minutes to play when Peter Vincenti found space at the back post and fired past Dunn.

Harrad’s incident came off the ball and off the camera but there doesn’t seem a lot of defence for the Cobblers striker. Despite the sending off, we could well have won it late on when good work from Billy McKay found substitute Andy Holt on the left and his delivery, flicked on by McKay, created a chance for Josh Walker but his shot was saved by Jamie Young.

Wedderburn had to clear off the line at the other end in a frantic finish but for two draw specialists of recent weeks it was no real surprise that it ended 1-1. It’s on to Hereford on Tuesday night now and what’s looking like a must win game if we’re to get back on target. The top seven is looking further and further away by the game!