A Load of Cobblers

A Load of Cobblers in Free Transfer move!

2011-05-31T07:39:00.002+01:00

A LOAD OF COBBLERS BLOG HAS MOVED!

In a free transfer that was finalised over the weekend, the A Load of Cobblers blog has moved to the following address, it's new home from now onwards:

http://aloadofcobblers2012.wordpress.com/

For all new features including Player Profiles, NTFC History and Classic matches, head over now and update your bookmarks! We are very happy with our new home and hope you will be too.

See you over there!

Danny

League Two Playoff Final Preview

2011-05-27T09:39:00.000+01:00

Torquay United v Stevenage

League Two Playoff Final

Saturday, 28th May 2011

It all comes down to one game. After forty eight gruelling matches, a roller coaster campaign and a twist around every corner, either Torquay United or Stevenage will join Chesterfield, Bury and Wycombe in League One.

It’s perhaps indicative that the gap between Conference and League Two is closing all the time as two sides that have both been promoted within the last two years – Torquay as Conference Playoff winners in 2009 and Stevenage as Champions in 2010 – prepare to meet for a place in the third tier of English football.

Torquay have been there and done it, appearing in the FA Trophy Final in 2008 before that Playoff final win a year later so big game nerves aren’t new to their fans. Stevenage are relatively new to the surroundings but have proved that they are a match for anyone this season by dumping Newcastle United out of the FA Cup.

It’s set to be a tight, nervy encounter if the end of the season is anything to go by and as Manchester United supporters head for London for a big final of their own, their stadium will become a Theatre of Dreams for two sides looking for that key to League One.

Form

The two reached Old Trafford in similar style, both winning just once in their final six league games to scrape into the playoffs in the last two positions on a dramatic final day of the season. Both then proceeded to turn the form book on its head by winning the home legs of their semi-finals 2-0, Torquay against fancied Shrewsbury and Stevenage against Accrington Stanley.

The second legs provided neither side with any real panic. Travelling to two teams that were strong at home, it was certainly not all over as four would become two. But Accrington shot themselves in the foot with two red cards in the middle of the second half within seconds of each other. Joe Jacobson’s late challenge on Lawrie Wilson and Sean McConvlle’s raising of a hand in frustration made the task simpler for Graham Westley’s men and a calm finish from Chris Beardsley eased Stevenage through. At the New Meadow, Shrewsbury’s challenge fell flat and an organised but far from defensive performance from Torquay saw them hold out for a goalless draw to book their place at the Old Trafford.

Key Men

Stevenage have built their season on a rock solid defence that have conceded just forty five goals all season, the least in League Two. Player of the Year Jon Ashton, who has been at the heart of that record, looks set to miss out through injury so there’s extra importance on Mark Roberts at the back and Chris Day between the sticks. At the other end of the pitch, Byron Harrison, signed from non-league Carshalton in January, could be a dark horse to steal the limelight. Harrison has struck eight times in twenty games for the Boro since his arrival and will be hoping for a fairy tale ending to a dramatic few months that’s seen him go from playing in the Isthmian League Premier to running out at Old Trafford.

Torquay will be reliant on their attacking style to come out on top and Chris Zebroski will be vital to their challenge. Zebroski has netted fifteen times this season and will always be a constant threat. Gavin Tomlin was the stand out player of the semi-final first leg at Plainmoor and his pace and trickery will give Stevenage a real headache. Jake Robinson, who helped the Gulls beat his parent club Shrewsbury in the semis will be another danger man as he looks to stake a claim for a permanent move to the Devon club.

Head to Head

Stevenage go into the final having never beaten Torquay in their six previous meetings. United did the double over them in 2007/08 before snatching four points from the meetings the following season. This time around, a goalless draw in September at Broadhall Way was followed by another Torquay victory in early March as goals from Danny Stevens and Jake Robinson earned a 2-0 win. That game also saw Boro defender Mark Roberts sent off for a professional foul so fair to say they owe their opponents one.

The fan’s views...

Torquay fan Ben Mayhew of the Greenwich Gull blog and Stevenage’s Matthew Kett from FCBoro give their views on the big day...

What would promotion mean to you?

MK: It would be great to get promoted again, but I'm not sure that promotion to League 1 would be that much of a positive step long term. In my opinion, I don't think we're ready for League 1 both on and off the pitch. I also don't think getting promoted to League 1 will mean as much as getting into the Football League after 16 years of trying.

BM: Given that we're one of the smallest clubs in the division and only finished 17^th last season it's the stuff of dreams: this season was ostensibly one of gradual progress and nobody could realistically have been anticipating anything better than mid-table. While unexpected, the team are in this position on merit after an outstanding season and an unwavering commitment to positive, attractive football. Promotion would also go a long way towards banishing the memories of our disastrous and embarrassing relegation from the Football League 4 years ago. Irrespective of the emotional significance, it could well mean the difference between keeping our manager and facing a season of rebuilding. Reading between the clumsily unsubtle lines of Paul Buckle's response to being made bookies' favourite for the Bristol Rovers job, he's likely to become League 2's version of Owen Coyle if we don't go up: tempted by the larger budget on offer at our (relatively) local rivals.

Describe the emotions of the semi-finals...

MK: There is a bit of bad blood between the two clubs so it was very satisfying to beat Accrington over two legs and progress into the playoff final. John Coleman did his best to try and play mind games and get his players motivated, but it worked against him and Boro came away with 2 very well earned victories.

BM: There were lots of nerves beforehand as we limped rather than strode into the playoffs after ending the regular season poorly, albeit after a tough run-in. Few teams are as susceptible to momentum as us, so there were fears that our young side wouldn't be able to pick themselves up. However, the assured performance over the two legs meant that the fans weren't forced to endure the emotional rollercoaster witnessed in some of the other playoff matches. Although our 2-0 lead from the first leg was hardly insurmountable, we could have had a few more and never looked like slipping up in the return fixture. I like Shrewsbury as they also try to play good football, but nobody can dispute that our progression was deserved.

How do you view your opponents?

MK: Torquay are a very good side. They are solid and strong at the back and have a potent attack that can hurt any defence in League 2. I've always rated Paul Buckle and think he has done a very good job at Plainmoor on a limited budget. I would say that they are favourites to win the game and go on to League 1.

BM: They're probably the least popular side in the division, although that mantle will no doubt be passed swiftly to Crawley next season. Stevenage's training regime is as mysterious as it is intense: the result is a super-fit, well-drilled, physically imposing side reliant on constant pressing and set pieces, with the occasional dose of (alleged) gamesmanship thrown in for good measure. While it's not my cup of tea I've got nothing against that approach, apart from the last part obviously, and I don't remember them getting up to anything too immoral when they visited Plainmoor this season. While it'd be easy to dismiss them as an anti-football side, they have to be respected for their achievements this season: they're on the verge of a second successive promotion and registered a deserved FA Cup victory over Newcastle along the way. Fans of other League 2 sides have been less than complimentary however, and after witnessing their dire semi-finals against Accrington my worry is that they'll throttle the tie to death before bundling in an 89^th-minute winner.

Who are your key players for the game?

MK: It's expected that Jon Ashton will miss out through injury, so our key players for the game have to be both Michael Bostwick and Mark Roberts. If they are on top of their game, then we will at least be competitive. Torquay will be the more attacking side of the two, so we'll have to defend well and counter attack to good effect to stand any chance of winning the game.

BM: Given Stevenage's likely game plan of harassing us relentlessly throughout, smart use of the ball will be critical. We're very much a passing side and Eunan O'Kane's creative distribution from midfield could well be our most potent weapon, allowing our attackers to stretch their defence. However, if the match degenerates into a scrappy affair, our left back Kevin Nicholson's excellent repertoire from set pieces will serve us well even against such an organised side. We've got several big lads of our own who should be leading by example in standing up to our opponents' physical style, particularly at the back where I have to single out our imperious Player of the Year, Guy Branston. His utter fearlessness (and fearsomeness for that matter) will rally the side in the inevitable few sticky moments on Saturday, and if Nicholson can whip in that killer ball you can bet he'll be rising to meet it with one of his formidable headers.

If promoted, how will you fare in League One?

MK: Defensively, we are sound. The best defence in League 2 this season says a lot, but there's much improvement needed going forward regardless of what division we are in next season. We don't have enough of a goal threat. Craig Reid has been a disappointment and hasn't been able to get the goals he got at Newport. The other strikers we have are not out and out goal scorers. That is the area we most need to strengthen.

BM: League One is as high as we've ever been and both our spells there during my lifetime have only lasted a single season, so the prognosis isn't too encouraging. The main problem is that our average attendance barely budges when we're promoted, making it difficult to increase the wage budget and attract players of the quality required to establish ourselves. However, given the League One scalps we took in the cups this season I'd back us to stay up even without many personnel changes. While we'd be unlikely to persist with our policy of starting with 4 strikers, if we stuck to our attacking principles and Buckle continued his astute use of transfer market then there's every chance it could be different this time.

Finally, a score prediction please!

MK: It will be a low scoring game. I'm going to go for a 1-0 defeat.

BM: We beat them 2-0 at home (with help from 1 of the 9 red cards they racked up in the league this season) and drew 0-0 with them away, so lazy maths suggests a result of 1-0 at a neutral venue. In all seriousness it's likely to be a tight game settled by a narrow margin: they've got the division's best defensive record and I can see it being an edgy affair with not much to offer the neutral. I know we'll set ourselves up positively and even though they won't give us as much time on the ball as Shrewsbury did, I genuinely believe we'll come out on top.

He’s baaaaaack...Bayo returns to Cobblers!

2011-05-25T09:08:00.003+01:00

It started with a sighting of the former Player of the Year in the club shop on Tuesday afternoon, it continued with various excited Tweets and Facebook messages but today it’s reality. Adebayo Akinfenwa is a Cobblers once again after a dramatic swoop by Gary Johnson. The big man rejected a new deal at Gillingham and signed on the dotted line back at Sixfields to give us an early summer present.

No-one wanted Akinfenwa to leave this time last year but life at the Priestfield doesn’t appear to have grabbed him despite eleven goals this season for the Gills. Fitness levels haven’t been as much of a problem either with forty four appearances under his belt. Questions about those levels will be shot down by what is looking like an intense pre-season under Johnson.

They say never go back but there’s surely not many Town fans out there against this move. There are, of course, some worries about the aforementioned fitness and whether he could reproduce the form once again that got us close to a playoff place in 2010. But what the signing does give us is a player to hold the ball up and a player back that we never truly replaced in terms of style.

Combined with that is the anticipation of a Bayo-Harrad link up in attack in what could well become one of the most feared front lines in the division. I’ve got my hopes up way too high before and know that one signing does not a summer make and all that but you can’t help but look forward to seeing that combination. That’s without even mentioning Billy McKay and Tadhg Purcell, two excellent forwards at this level who will want to push them all the way.

Bayo holds all of the day’s headlines though and we welcome him back with open arms. He signs on a two year deal!

NTFC Season In Review 2010/2011...August...

2011-05-23T15:33:00.000+01:00

The new season kicked off with high hopes for the Cobblers with Ian Sampson leading a charge towards the playoffs in the second half of the previous campaign leading to real anticipation ahead of the 2010/11 season.

New faces included Oscar Jansson (loan) in goal and Marcus Hall at the back as we made the long trip to Torquay for the first game of the new season. Fellow new signings Tadhg Purcell and Nathanial Wedderburn were on the bench for the trip to Plainmoor with John Johnson given a second debut following his permanent move from Middlesbrough.

The hopes and expectations would soon be blown away though as the hosts blew us away, scoring the opening goal just before half time through Kevin Nicholson. Chris Zebroski doubled the lead just after half time and within five minutes of the restart it was 3-0 and game over when Elliot Benyon made it three.

A huge regroup needed then for the Tuesday night curtain raiser at Sixfields as the first home game of the season brought Brighton and Hove Albion to town in the first round of the Carling Cup. Michael Jacobs, one of the young stars of pre-season, would begin a memorable season for him personally by scoring his first goal in professional football on thirteen minutes. Billy McKay headed home a few minutes later and so began a cup run that would take us eventually to an extraordinary night in September.

Back to the league and a tame 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley at home was followed by an excellent point at Gigg Lane as David Worrall equalised a Steve Guinan penalty to earn Bury a draw against an improving Town side.

The Second Round of the Carling Cup took the Cobblers to Reading and an incredible game ended 2-2 at the end of ninety minutes. Matt Mills had put the Championship side in front but Andy Holt levelled things. Hal Robson-Kanu had the Royals in front again but Kevin Thornton equalised once more for Sammo’s men. Into extra time and Reading led for a third time as Mills struck again but deep, deep into added time, Alex Konstantinou bundled the ball home with the aid of a couple of deflections to take it to penalties. Simon Church had his kick saved, giving us a huge advantage and after successful conversions from Guinan, Thornton and Jacobs, Jake Taylor also missed. Abdul Osman stepped up for the crucial fourth spot kick and kept his nerve to send the small travelling contingent wild and put yet another brick in the road en route to our greatest night a month later.

A home draw with Wycombe back in League Two was another to feature a late equaliser for the Cobblers with Kevin Thornton’s penalty giving us a third straight league draw.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy would round off the month but there would be no upset this time as League One Hartlepool United eased to a 4-0 win on a dismal Tuesday night at Victoria Park. Evan Horwood, Anthony Sweeney, Andy Monkhouse and Dennis Behan netted for the Monkey Hangers with all four goals coming within nine minutes of each other!

So a strange old start to the season once again with no league wins but two cup victories over teams in higher divisions. Then came the news that September would feature a Carling Cup trip to Anfield and we could never even imagine in our wildest dreams what was to come...

First three friendlies confirmed

2011-05-23T10:41:00.000+01:00

The start of next season is already being plotted with the first three pre-season fixtures released in the last few days. With Gary Johnson looking for different types of test in the build up to the season, there’s sure to be the usual mix of local non league opposition mixed with home games against higher opposition.

That’s the case so far with a Sixfields encounter with Wycombe Wanderers set for Saturday, July 30^th which falls just one week away from the start of the league season. Before that, we make the trip to Brackley for the traditional Maunsell Cup Final and to Oxford City a few days later.

Cobblers pre-season schedule so far:

Saturday, July 16^th: Brackley Town (a) Maunsell Cup Final

Tuesday, July 19^th: Oxford City (a)

Saturday, July 30^th: Wycombe Wanderers (H)

Dunn offered new contract

2011-05-19T14:57:00.001+01:00

Chris Dunn has now been offered a new deal to stay with the Cobblers after a lot of umming and arring this week with the keeper attracting interest from teams in higher divisions. My guess is that Dunn has come back to the club with the offers dealt to him by those club(s) and we're now in a position to have a look at what we can offer.

It's been an odd one, with Dunn taking his time but surely Gary Johnson has to stick to his guns in terms of if a player wants to stay then he should know it straight away. Dunn has had a couple of weeks now to sort things out and it seems like he's going backwards and forwards looking to pitch teams against each other in the battle for his signature.

The official word is that he has until June 21st to answer the offer and that's a hell of a long way off for such an important position to be filled. We have to hope that he doesn't drag the negotiations out until then and then jump ship anyway, leaving Johnson with a gaping hole to fill and with a month less in which to scout around.

Webster signing begins the rebuilding

2011-05-18T21:23:00.000+01:00

The start of the rebuilding job by Gary Johnson has begun and Byron Webster has become the first to join the new look Cobblers squad. The defender played eight times for the club towards the end of last season and by all accounts was the strongest of Johnson’s loan signings as he reshaped the side.

Webster joins on a two year deal after his release from Doncaster, making his way straight to Sixfields following his departure from the Keapmoat. It seems a sensible signing from the Town boss and a decent start to his recruitment with more likely to follow in the coming weeks with Johnson’s desire to put his squad in place before pre-season gets underway.

Contract update

2011-05-16T11:18:00.001+01:00

Apologies for no weekend updates, the blogger service was having a nap! But here's a brief catch up on events from the last few days...

Liam Davis - Released

Following Dean Beckwith’s departure last week, Liam Davis has followed and has been released. After 91 appearances for the club, it’s a bit of a surprise to see but the decision has been made and there’s even more space for new blood as Gary Johnson looks into strengthening the squad.

Guillem Bauza - Joins Exeter City

Bauza has made up his mind and decided to leave Sixfields to sign for League One Exeter City. The Gercians had a superb season and just missed out on the playoffs and will be boosted by a striker who scored four times for a struggling Cobblers side. Sad to see the Spaniard go but yet more room in the squad.

Chris Dunn - Still undecided

Dunny is apparently considering offers from teams higher up the Football League and he could also be on his way. Still no official word but there could yet be an opening for a new first choice keeper.

Rumours

We're continuing to be linked to the likes of John Akinde and Dele Adebola as the rumour mill spins into full effect this week. Johnson hopes to name at least one new face this week and it looks likely that with Bauza gone it could be an attacking one. Watch this space...

Johnson making quick work of reshuffle

2011-05-12T09:14:00.000+01:00

Gary Johnson has indicated that he expects to have four or five new faces in by the end of May as he looks to reshape the future of the club immediately. Before he goes away for a summer break, the Town boss wants to have all contract issues dealt with quickly before attempting to bring in players from his wanted list.

One of those could be John Akinde, released from Bristol City this week. Johnson worked with the striker, who was on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge in League One in the second half of last season, when he signed for City from Ebbsfleet United in 2008. Akinde was wanted by Ian Sampson in January before he left the club but there could be a fresh interest now.

With retained lists up and down the country being published this week, let the summer speculating begin!

Beckwith departs

2011-05-11T12:49:00.002+01:00

Dean Beckwith is the latest out of contract player to be released by Gary Johnson. Beckwith was in further talks with the Cobblers boss this week but will now be on his way out of Sixfields after 83 appearances and 3 goals.

There’s a massive rebuilding job for the Town boss and things are really getting shaken up this week with decisions to be made on Chris Dunn and Liam Davis.

Retained list brings few surprises

2011-05-10T08:40:00.003+01:00

With the growth of Twitter, the identity of a couple of the Cobblers players not offered new deals was apparent even before Saturday’s final game of the season so there wasn’t too many surprises this afternoon when Gary Johnson announced the retained list.

Ryan Gilligan looks to be on his way after being told that he will be made available for transfer whilst Leon McKenzie and Abdul Osman are among the big names to be leaving the club after not doing enough to earn a place in Johnson’s plans. Also departing are Paul Rodgers, Courtney Herbert, Marcus Hall, Alex Konstantinou, Seb Harris and Francis Laurent.

Billy McKay, Paul Walker, Kevin Thornton, Guillem Bauza and Greg Kaziboni have all been offered deals though with Thornton’s offer dependant on his fitness come the start of July when the players report back for pre-season training. Hopefully the incentive will now be there for Thornton to prove himself in time and given the last couple of weeks’ performances you have to say that he’s worth giving one more chance to.

Bauza has until Friday to decide on his future with Johnson keen to tie most issues up before he goes away on holiday. The Spanish striker is due to fly back to his home country next week and the Town boss has given him Friday’s deadline to decide on his future. Most Cobblers fans will want him to stay after impressing during his short time here towards the end of the season.

The futures of Chris Dunn, Dean Beckwith and Liam Davis is still unclear with Johnson undecided on their individual futures. Meanwhile, Michael Uwesu has been invited back to pre-season training in July.

It’s a shotgun approach from Johnson but it makes sense to get a picture of what he has early on before going after his prime transfer targets. One of those could include John Akinde, who spent time on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge in the last couple of months. The striker has been released by parent club Bristol City and there’s strong rumours that he’s in talks with the Cobblers.

Sweet Sixteen for Town with back to back wins

2011-05-09T08:56:00.001+01:00

Morecambe 1-2 Northampton Town

League Two

Saturday, May 7^th 2011

Two games ago we were willing the season to end, desperate to end the fears of relegation but when the curtain did finally fall, Cobblers fans can be forgiven for wishing that the campaign continued a little longer. If last weekend’s victory was timely but rare, more so was back to back wins that meant we finished in a more respectable sixteenth place in the final standings.

The story wasn’t just a decent win at Morecambe watched by a terrific band of travelling fans but the squad that was cut to five subs with those not travelling expected to be on their way once the retained list is announced on Monday. That list included Ryan Gilligan who is under contract but has been told that he can find a new club, rumoured to be Plymouth Argyle. Leon McKenzie also looks to be off along with Abdul Osman and Marcus Hall but there may yet be more additions once that list is revealed.

One man that has earned a second thought is Kevin Thornton and having put in a fine performance last week, opened the scoring at the Globe Arena, stabbing home after a couple of rebounds. Thornton is a frustrating player when you see him play so well but the thoughts are that he wants to stay and with a summer under Gary Johnson we have to hope he final fulfils his undoubted promise.

Guillem Bauza is another on the brink but his situation could be more of a question of whether he wants to stay rather than whether we want him or not. The Spaniard nearly doubled the lead in the first half with a lobbed effort before Danny Carlton tested Chris Dunn.

The Cobblers were putting in an excellent shift and with pressure off it appeared a more relaxed and confident performance. The lead was doubled by Ben Tozer in his final game before the end of his loan. He would have done his prospects of returning no harm with a superb half volley that made it 2-0.

There was no massive fight back from Morecambe but they did halve the deficit with injury time approaching with a scrambled effort from Niall Cowperthwaite but there was no late fight back and we signed off with a very good victory on the road, only a third away win of the season.

That meant that we leapfrogged the hosts in the final table and other results mean that the Cobbler ended up in sixteenth. To say it could have been worse is an understatement of the highest kind but once the clear out is complete and the dust settles we have to ensure that this shocker of a season doesn’t happen again for a very long time.

League Two Preview...7th May 2011

2011-05-06T19:59:00.000+01:00

So many issues are still to be decided in League Two going into the final day of the season. There’s one place left in the automatic promotion running whilst three teams will battle it out for the final two playoff berths. At the other end, the relegation dog fight has been whittled down to two so an afternoon of high drama is in store.

The title race is still not over either and as it happens, the fate of the playoffs will be decided in part by Bury and Chesterfield who are scrapping over top spot. Chesterfield are at home to Gillingham whilst Bury travel to Stevenage in two games with huge implications. Chesterfield need just a point to be crowned champions whilst Gillingham need AT LEAST a draw to have any chance of the playoffs. Bury must win if they’re to steal the title but their hosts, Stevenage know that a win for them would guarantee their spot!

If you’re still following, congratulations!

While all that’s going on, Shrewsbury and Wycombe will be fighting over the last automatic promotion spot. Wycombe will be hot favourites with a home game against Southend to come through and know that a win would clinch promotion at Adams Park. Any slip ups would allow Shrewsbury back in and they are at home to Oxford.

The other team scrapping for a playoff place is Torquay and their task is easier to understand – win at Rotherham and they will be competing in the playoffs. Accrington are already there and will finish fifth no matter what happens in their game at Burton.

Looking to avoid falling out of the league the other way are Barnet and Lincoln and following months of controversy, recoveries and breath taking drama it comes down to this. A win for Lincoln at home to Aldershot would mean that they are safe but the Imps are on a dreadful ruin of form that’s taken them to the brink. Barnet have one final chance after losing at Accrington last weekend and host port Vale at Underhill. The Bees know that a victory for them and a draw for Lincoln would see them safe but anything other than three points would mean that they drop back into the Conference once more.

Stockport are already down but will be hoping to end on a high as they host Cheltenham whilst only pride is all that’s at stake in the games between Macclesfield and Hereford and Bradford and Crewe.

One last weekend will have implications on the history of a whole host of clubs and there’s bound to be a frantic afternoon up and down the country as radios are pinned to ears, hearts are broken and heroes are made.

Final day with nothing to play...strange!

2011-05-06T19:54:00.003+01:00

Morecambe v Northampton Town

League Two

Saturday, May 7th 2011

A last day of the season with nothing to play for and nothing at stake, unless of course you count the fact that we could overtake Morecambe in the final standings, is a rarity at Northampton Town. There doesn’t seem to be many chances to enjoy a day out and, barring a couple of mid-table finishes in League One including the memorable “Doctor Day” at Donny, we always seem to be nervous going into the last fixture of the season.

So it’s with some relief that I write this pretty relaxed and hoping only for a win that would give us a little ounce of pride back for the final placing. Having escaped the drop last weekend, it would be a fine way to finish off and reward the hardy fans that have really come good in the past few months with a win to draw a line under the 2010-11 campaign.

Morecambe will want to end on a high as well and following their 7-2 trouncing at Port Vale last week, the Shrimps will be fighting to restore some parity of their own. They will be shuddering at the score line from the Vale game after losing on aggregate by the same score in last season’s playoff semi-finals to Dagenham and Redbridge.

It’s been a more reserved season this time as Sammy McIlroy steadied the ship rather than going for broke and safety has always been the foremost of their concerns. On another tight budget it’s been a job well done once again with the move to their new Globe Arena last summer a decent step forward.

For this final game of a trying season, many Cobblers players could have played their final games in claret after meeting the big bosses this week. It’s been made apparent that a good number of those players that weren’t offered deals will not be travelling to Morecambe so we should have a better idea as to who will be on their way after this Saturday once the squad is announced.

Just seven players are actually under contract so there is likely to be a massive turn around in personnel with Ryan Gilligan, Andy Holt, Shaun Harrad, Nathaniel Wedderburn, Michael Jacobs, John Johnson and Tadhg Purcell the only ones with a place for next season unless they move on of their own accord.

Adam Rundle could return for Morecambe after ending his loan spell with Gateshead this week. Wholesale changes could be made after that hammering last week and with a view to next season’s squad.

So it’s down to one final game and let’s enjoy it and still be proud as ever that we’ve come through the rough patch as a club. It’s time to [push onwards and ending the season on a high would be the first step in the rebuilding of our beloved Cobblers.

June 17th...

2011-05-05T09:55:00.001+01:00

...is the date to put in the diaries. That’s the date that next season’s fixtures will be announced and planning can begin once more.

It seems odd to look forward to next season after the dismal campaign that the Cobblers have had but once the season is over we’ll all miss it in some way. With a strong West Country contingent coming down in Swindon, Bristol Rovers and Plymouth and of course the wealth of Crawley coming up it already promises to be a tough league to escape from.

Let’s just hope we try to get out the right way next time!

Where did it all go wrong?

2011-05-04T14:28:00.002+01:00

A mini pitch invasion, scenes of jubilation at Sixfields and players celebrating on the final day of the season. Scenes that we dreamed of back in August. But on the final day of the season who would ever have predicted that we would be chanting “We are staying up” rather than “we are going up” into the summer evening?

So many things have gone wrong that it’s hard to know where to start but Anfield would be as good a place as any. It was to be Sammo’s last real heroic memory of a Sixfields tenure that stretched over two decades as he led warriors to a penalty shoot out victory over a Liverpool side full of internationals and potential internationals. Michael Jacobs came of age. Kevin Thornton finally fulfilled his potential. Even Courtney Herbert made a cameo that reflected his early days at the club rather than his stop-start Cobblers career since. Alistair Slowe made it to the warm up. Such was the uniqueness of that night. But how damaging was it in the long term? Victory over Bradford the following weekend appeared to continue the momentum but there was trouble around the corner and to me this is where it all began.

Whether it was big headedness, naivety or if we just excelled ourselves that far at Liverpool that it could only possibly have happened once. Between then and the next round, a comfortable defeat at Portman Road, we lost the plot and lost every game following Bradford until exiting the competition that had given us five minutes in the spotlight.

Gillingham were beaten just after Ipswich dumped us out but he damage was done. A pivotal 4-3 home reverse against Hereford at Sixfields in which the Cobblers led 3-0 at one point was the peak of our failings.

There was a brief resurgence with that Gillingham victory and a 2-0 win at Sincil Bank. That’s how backwards this season was, we actually won at Lincoln! Sweeping aside Forest Green in the cup and flogging Stve Guinan off there meant that things were looking up but then came another big moment – the 4-1 loss at Barnet that suddenly shoved us right back in the mire and undid a couple of weeks of impressive work that had also included a goalless draw with then high flyers Port Vale.

At least we would go into Christmas mildly happy after wins over Stockport and Stevenage but as the wintery weather played havoc with the schedule the momentum was lost. Victory over Crewe, incredibly 6-2, on a Tuesday night at the start of February did a similar job of Liverpool as making us feel unbeatable. For the next six games we were certainly that, but we were also a team that could not buy a victory.
Sammo’s sacking after game seven of this run, the 3-2 loss against Burton at Sixfields, was upsetting, and had it been for two of those draws coming good and turning into a win he may still be here now, such is the fine line in football.

Enter Player Two, Gary Johnson, who was quickly installed. Alas, no time for a honeymoon period on planet Cobblers and three defeats spun Johnson’s new charges towards the trap door. Here lied another problem. Upon his appointment, everyone at the club was talking about “planning for next season and in my eyes this was very wrong. It sent the wrong message out to the players, letting them know that not only were changes going to be made in the summer but that the higher powers thought it was all over and that there was nothing to play for. There most certainly was.

Cue more bad times until the drama of the last couple of weeks at least made people stand up and take notice of what trouble we were in. Three consecutive 2-2 draws had us dangling nervously over the drop zone and Barnet were chomping away at any gap between us. Fans and players alike finally began to do battle and just at the right time, Stevenage were beaten to secure safety on Saturday.
While the excitement over the win is going to last a few more days, the summer is going to bring about a real shake up. Those out of contract will struggle to hold on to their Cobblers careers with Johnson planning a big turn around of players.

This could lead to the excuse next season that we would take time to gel with a whole new side almost. Unfortunately there can be few excuses and we have to hit the ground running so the work that Johnson does between now and the start of next season is absolutely pivotal.

We’re being promised that this dire season won’t be repeated but just because the powers that be say so it doesn’t mean it won’t or can’t happen.

So enjoy the final week of the season, be grateful that there’s nothing but league placing on Morecambe away and get set for a big summer of change at Sixfields.

Safety sealed but big questions now being asked...

2011-05-02T16:33:00.001+01:00

Northampton Town 2-0 Stevenage

League Two

Saturday, April 30^th 2011

Relief, jubilation and, finally, an enquiry. Three emotions quickly being rotated around the minds of Cobblers fans this weekend as a first victory in nineteen long, long games brought about survival in the Football League. The fact that we were so happy to end the season with our status in tact shows how dismal the campaign has been since that night at Anfield in September.

We can, for now, just breathe that sigh of relief that came after goals from Liam Davis and Kevin Thornton earned the crucial win over a Stevenage side that would end with just nine men on the pitch. We had luck along the way with a goal that probably should have stood for the visitors but any Town fans exiting Sixfields would not have cared a jot because combined with Accrington’s win over Barnet, it meant that we were just about there.

Davis picked up where he left off in the last home game. He netted that vital equaliser late in the day against Rotherham and unleashed a belter of a left footed shot from distance past Chris Day to give the Cobblers the lead after just three minutes this time.

There was controversy at the other end with Chris Beardsley’s shot rattling off the underside of the cross bar and bouncing on the goal line before the returning John Johnson headed it away. From the replays it certainly looks a goal and Stevenage can feel hard done by, as they would again before the half was over.

Nana went in for a 50/50 ball with Luke Foster and the Stevenage man’s lunged was adjudged to have been sufficient for a red card and the chances for that first win in an age increased following another border line decision. It seemed harsh to show Foster a red, particularly having seen a lot worse challenges be let off the hook this season. It was a shame to see so many of our players and staff appealing for the red and surrounding the officials as well but on we went and the crucial lead at half time wasn’t to be sniffed at. This was after a bizarre incident that saw a penalty appear to be given to the Cobblers before referee Mr Tierney overturned his decision!

Michael Jacobs tested Day in the early stages of the second half before the Stevenage keeper had to be at his best to match a good effort from Shaun Harrad.

But the break through just before the hour mark brought the house down. Just minutes after Accrington took the lead against Barnet, Michael Uwesu released Kevin Thornton, another to regain his starting place, and his run took him towards goal. Thornton’s right footed shot was saved but Uwesu was following up and finished coolly for 2-0.

With both results going our way, it was celebration time and the game was all but over when John Mousinho’s challenge on Michael Jacobs brought about the second red card of the game and reduced his side to nine men.

The full time whistle produced the expected pitch invasion but the celebrations/relief will have been weighed down a little by the fact that we were down in the mire in the first place. There’s plenty to point fingers at and, like I say, perhaps now is not the perfect time for that. The inquest, though, will begin now and I need to gather my personal thoughts before sharing them!

We can allow a Holiday Monday to relax ahead of the weekend trip to Morecambe now with the challenge of overtaking our opponents on the final day of the season a bit of something to play for. It’s a lot nicer than the alternative...

League Two Preview...30th April...

2011-04-29T19:27:00.002+01:00

Spotlight on...Accrington Stanley v Barnet

You know how it goes...”Acccccrington Stanley, who are they?2”...”Exacccctly”

Who’d have thought that those two little lads supping milk would be quoted in years to come not as the slur as was originally intended but ironically instead as the aforementioned club rose to prominence back in the Football League.

It’s not bad playing for Stanley these days and the joke may be on us now because we really need them to continue their emergence as promotion candidates by beating Barnet at the Crown Ground on Saturday afternoon.

It would be a dream finale to the season for John Coleman, who is the modern day Mr Accrington having joined the club way back in 1999 when the club were battling it out in the Northern Premier League. Three promotions later and Stanley had turned into a club quoted more for their football rather than for an 80’s advertisement. Coleman’s form didn’t drop either and he impressively led the club to safety in his first season before ever increasingly finishing in higher league positions each season since their elevation to League Two in 2006.

Lat season’s fifteenth was the best they’ve done but this time around there’s been an improvement that not even the most optimistic Stanley fan could have predicted.

Defeat at the hands of Saturday’s opponents Barnet back December 11th left the club in eighteenth and expectant of just another season trying to improve league form. But the winter break, enforced by the weather, seemed to rejuvenate the side and on their return on New Year’s Day came an astounding turn around. It started with an away win at Morecambe but it was at home where momentum began to pick up.

An eleven game unbeaten run at the Crown Ground is still not over and the 0-0 at Shrewsbury last weekend even kept faint automatic promotion hopes alive. But realistically it’s the playoffs that Stanley are chasing and who would bet against them going all the way with the form they’re in going into the final knockings of the season. A fourth promotion under Coleman would be the biggest of them all.

Barnet have gone the other way in the seasons since they themselves rejoined the Football League in 2005 following a four year hiatus in the Conference. After two mid-table finishes, the club narrowly avoided relegation in the last couple of years and were only safe last season thanks to a 1-0 win over Rochdale on the final day.

They may well need another great escape this time around and with the Cobblers and Lincoln wobbling above them there has been no better time for them to hit form. Martin Allen’s three game reign saw momentum pick up and the failings above them have given them belief that they can do it again.

Allen’s acrimonious departure threatened to knock them off course but last weekend saw them end Gillingham’s long unbeaten run before claiming another points at home to Oxford.

Ending another unbeaten sequence on Saturday would go a long way in setting up yet more last day drama for a club that just does not want to say die.

This weekend’s other games...

Chesterfield will be chomping at the bit to get back to winning ways on Friday night as they travel to Torquay hoping to earn the three points needed to force Bury into a must win situation on Saturday in the title race. The Spireites were promoted thanks to United’s draw with Wycombe last week and can go a long way to sealing the top spot if they put a dent into the Gulls’ playoff hopes. They sit just outside the top seven at the moment and have a chance of piling on the pressure for those around them by earning an early three points.

Bury are looking for Torquay to do them a favour before they host Wycombe on Saturday at Gigg Lane. After that thrilling contest on Monday that saw the gap at the top close to two points, they have a chance to take the battle to the last day. Wycombe are in their own promotion dual with Shrewsbury, who they overtook with a 2-0 home win against Crewe on Monday.

That looks like another contest that’s going to the wire and Shrewsbury are at Cheltenham hoping to turn the tide back in their favour once more. The Robins alleviated any relegation fears with victory at Lincoln and go into the game with most of the pressure on their visitors.

The playoff issues will look a lot clearer after this penultimate weekend of the season and it looks like one from four to join Shrewsbury or Wycombe. That means Gillingham can afford no mistakes in their home game with Macclesfield. In fact, should Torquay lose on Friday, all of the others will be playing for a confirmed pace in the top seven going into their own games on Saturday.

Rotherham and Port Vale are hoping for mass slip ups above them but they first have to win their games at Aldershot and at home to Morecambe respectively.

Stockport’s relegation should be confirmed on Saturday and unless they pull off something of a miraculous score line in both of their final two games then they’ll be gone. They go to Crewe in their final away game knowing that by the end of the day their demotion could well be complete.

Lincoln are shaking and no wins in nine means that they’ve been dragged right back into the race. They need to get something at Oxford to avoid still being involved on the last day of the season, particularly with their dismal goal difference, the second worst in the league after Stockport.

Hereford should still be safe despite only picking up one point from nine ahead of their final home game of the season against Bradford who finally passed the fifty point mark with Monday’s 2-1 win over Aldershot. And Burton have a chance to put their fears well and truly behind them as they go to Southend.

Last home game of the season promises high drama...

2011-04-29T10:00:00.001+01:00

Northampton Town v Stevenage
League Two
Saturday, April 30th 2011

The tension is becoming too much. For every podcast and newspaper I come across that discusses the permutations of the next couple of games or recalls last day of the season memories there’s a hint of a sickly feeling entering my body.

Why oh why could this not have been over before the last two games? Why did Aldershot have to score so late to equalise in September? Why did not one of the long drawing sequence in January and February turn into a win? It’s these questions that will haunt us should Stevenage beat us on Saturday, for that will guarantee that one way or another this relegation fight goes to the wire irrespective of what Barnet do at Accrington.

I’ve got a good feeling that Stanley will come good so that would leave us with needing a win to bring it home but there’s not a lot more trickier opposition around than Stevenage when you need three points. They themselves, probably working slightly in the favour of the Cobblers, need a win to strengthen their playoff claims which should see them come out and play a little bit at least.

Graham Westley, love him or hate him, has done a fine job in getting his side into the reckoning and will be just as desperate for the points having come this close and this far.

When Ryan Gilligan scored the only goal in a somewhat surprising and rare away win at Broadhall Way it was meant to be the Cobblers that began a run to the top seven, the start of the regular surge in the second half of the season. But those draws began, Sammo was removed and now Gary Johnson has began a surge of his own, leading us to the brink of the Conference! Time for talking about him is not now and we must trust in the players to unite with the new boss to get this result to at the very least put it in our own hands.

Johnson has been at loggerheads with Westley but stands to lose a lot more should his new band of struggling players not get the job done. Westley and Stevenage, having propelled themselves into sixth place with a much needed 1-0 win over Port Vale last weekend, face a worst case scenario of just missing out on the playoffs while Johnson has a reputation at stake and losing his own battle would mean catastrophe if Barnet come up with the goods.

The problems continue off the field with injuries forcing Byron Webster and Leon McKenzie out for the season and Chris Dunn being rushed back into goal with a protective face mask. Kevin Thornton may return after missing a couple of weeks and Marcus Hall and John Johnson may still give him extra defensive options after recovering from their problems.

With tension at the top and bottom for this one, I spoke to Stevenage fan Matthew Kett about his thoughts on the game. Matt runs popular blog FCBoro and gave his views on his team’s manager and playoff expectations...

You've shot up the league in recent months, what's been the secret?
Consistency. Westley seems to have found a team and a system that has worked and stuck to it. An important player in our last 8-10 games has been Luke Foster as he has allowed the likes of John Mousinho and Michael Bostwick to come out of their shells in midfield. Mousinho in particular has been very influential.

There's been some complaints that Stevenage have been overly physical...is that a fair reflection or is there more to it?
It seems to be the tag line that every opposition manager uses after playing us. I don't see it to be fair. We have some strong players like Ashton, Roberts and Bostwick, but we are not a "big" team. I think the opposition just use the "physical" tag because of our direct style of play. It isn't pretty to watch, but it is effective.

Graham Westley wasn't a hugely popular choice of manager on his return to the club...what's he done to change people's minds?
He's been successful. He was the last person that the supporters wanted to take over back in 2008, but he has built a formidable side that has been winning games consistently for nearly 3 seasons now. You can't argue with that, even though the football isn't the most entertaining.

If you do make it to the Playoffs, who do you fancy coming up against based on this season? And who would you be worried about?
I think the final four play-off positions will consist of ourselves, Shrewsbury, Accrington and Gillingham.

I don't fear any of them, but would rather not have to go to Accrington again. It's an absolute hole.

What's your thoughts on the Playoff Final being played at Old Trafford rather than Wembley? Would it take away any of the magic for you?
It wouldn't take any of the magic away. We've been to Wembley 3 times since it's opening in 2007. We could do with a year off!

Who will be the Cobblers' main threats this weekend?
John Mousinho and Lawrie Wilson. Mousinho has been superb recently in a more attacking midfield position. If he plays well then the team usually follows. Wilson is also in good form and will give Marcus Hall a tough afternoon at left back.

Are you ready for League One?
Yes and no. The table doesn't lie and at the moment we are the 6th best team in this division. However, I think it would be very, very tough in League 1 if we got promoted. That's not to say we wouldn't be able to survive. This team is always learning and improving and some of our players like Ashton, Bostwick and Mousinho could easily play at that level.

Cobblers plot to work past physical Stevenage

2011-04-27T11:10:00.000+01:00

The rough and tumble reputation that Stevenage are getting for themselves may be a bit over the top at times but Gary Johnson needs to figure out a way of dealing with a big physical test this weekend.

Graham Westley has led his side impressively to the top seven in the last few weeks and though it’s not a style that’s going to please everyone, it’s getting the job done. The Cobblers can identify – last season’s playoff push was built heavily on the back of Bayo Akinfenwa’s fitness and the long ball game up to the big man meant it was route one for a lot of the run-in.

So we can have no complaints if Stevenage come and do the physical job on us on Saturday and instead have to forge our way and think our way past them to try and survive. Matching them probably isn’t going to work so we’ll have to rely on the pace in the side rather than attempting to go man for man. Liam Davis’ fitness could be crucial in that case but it’s hard to tell just yet whether he’ll be available for the crunch game.

It’ll be tough to focus on trying to play a passing game with the stakes so high but with a victory at Broadhall Way earlier in the season the players will be confident of pulling off a league double that would mean we would be safe should Barnet lose at Accrington.

The fans will be crucial. With a big game feel, there’s set to be an increase in Cobblers support as the town unites to get behind their team. Attitudes are changing in that we’re all beginning to battle through now and analyse later which can only be a good thing. The time for talking is in the summer and for now, no matter how, we need to send Stevenage off with nothing!

Dunn ready to return

2011-04-27T10:50:00.002+01:00

Chris Dunn may be forced to play through the pain and return this weekend between the sticks for the crucial home game with Stevenage. Dunn has had his stitches removed after a painful collision during the home game with Bury threatened to end his season.

But with Steve Collis taken off on Saturday, Dun looks likely to return wearing a protective mask a la Petr Cech to help his side in the bid for safety. Paul Walker, who came on at Edgeley Park, is available but it would be a bit like throwing him to the lions in a game that the Cobblers desperately need to win to protect their league status.

Leon McKenzie’s latest injury looks like keeping him out for the season and could well end his time with the Cobblers with his contract set to expire in the summer.

Another draw as County leave it late

2011-04-26T13:07:00.002+01:00

Stockport County 2-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Monday, April 25th 2011

The Cobblers were never going to be the most popular team yesterday with the rest of the country appearing to will Stockport on to a big win that would create the most unlikely of chances to save their skins. All the talk was that the Great Escape would be back on should the Hatters win at Edgeley Park but, in another roller coaster of emotions, the Cobblers recorded a third straight 2-2 draw to keep the nerves jangling and the run of winless games going to eighteen.

Barnet’s draw, by the same score line, means it’s as you were apart from the fact that Lincoln are a bit closer to the drop following another defeat, this time at he hands of Cheltenham who are now surely safe.

Gary Johnson had to make changes once again with Byron Webster added to the injury list and Ben Tozer coming in at the back rather than midfield as he started Friday’s game. Paul Rodgers began at the back meaning Guillem Bauza was pushed to the right hand side of midfield and Leon McKenzie started up front with Shaun Harrad.

Bauza would give the Cobblers the dream start. Only two minutes were on the clock when a cross from McKenzie was bundled home by the Spaniard and after falling behind in a dreadful first half on Friday, it was a crucial moment in getting our noses in front.

The first half continued cagily and County would slowly get into it, creating a couple of half chances before equalising mid-way through the half. Adam Griffin found space to get on the end of a cross and Paul Rodgers, scorer of another own goal on Good Friday, was unlucky again to be credited as Griffin scored via the former Arsenal man.

The Cobblers were on the back foot and only the offside flag denied Anthony Elding an equaliser a couple of minutes later. Leon McKenzie then had to leave the game after half an hour through injury, Andy Holt replacing him. It’s not know whether McKenzie will play again this season and with his contract up we have to hope that it’s not his final game for the club.

Half-time came at a good time for Town and a regrouping was definitely in order.

The break freshened up County as well though and soon after James Walker shot side and Steve Collis had to match a good effort from Matt Mainwaring and tip the ball over the bar.

The tide turned again though. Bauza volleyed over before Harrad struck the post. It was anyone’s game and the nerves of everyone present and listening at home were stretched to their limits.

But with ten minutes to go, we thought we had it. Andy Halls brought down Guillem Bauza in the area. As the last man he was lucky to only see yellow but at the time our thoughts were solely on the upcoming spot kick. Harrad confidently stepped up and blasted the ball home. 2-1 and all we had to do was hang on and we would be sealing that first win in eighteen.

We had to do it without Collis, who had been hauled off (another injury victim to add to the list) and Paul Walker was brought on for his debut in goal, a baptism of fire if ever I heard of one

Cure more drama and a significant moment in the season. County were relegated as things stood. But they somehow earned a stay of execution when substitute Greg Tansey produced a goal of the season candidate with a scorching effort from all of 35 yards that beat Walker. The young keeper had no chance. The Cobblers had to settle for another draw.

Barnet’s lives are hanging in the balance just as much as ours and their draw at home to Oxford keeps them tight on our heels, just a point behind. As long as we match their results for the two remaining games then we’re safe but to go to a final day would be absolutely agonising. Shrewsbury in ‘93 will more than likely come up in the next week should Stevenage prove too tough on Saturday and we may yet need the same sort of luck that saw Pat Gavin’s backside become thing of folklore.

The spirit is there, that’s for sure and we now need to match that with defensive quality because scoring goals isn’t the problem. Harrad, Bauza and McKenzie, if he returns, all have goals in them but if we can just shore up at the back for two games then we’ll be safe.

Sounds easy, but something tells me that this time next week we’ll be talking about another painful last day of the season ahead.

D-Day at Edgeley Park

2011-04-24T16:21:00.005+01:00

Stockport County v Northampton Town
League Two
Monday, April 25th 2011

Just when we were all jumping around lording pitch invasions led by a fan in a wheel chair and everything was right with the world, along came Stockport, Barnet and Burton to pile on the pressure once more. Of course, the two longest unbeaten records in the league were ended by the Cobblers’ rivals.

Gillingham were not only beaten but confidently seen off by Barnet at the Priestfield by a side that look back to full confidence after last week’s defeat at Bury. Izale McLeod is worryingly on fire and his hat-trick could have been four had he not gone for cheek rather than class when taking his second penalty of the game.

Burton’s victory ended the second longest unbeaten run in the league by winning 2-1 at the EBB Stadium. Calvin Zola’s winner means they move up to seventeenth and are suddenly looking like strong favourites to survive after picking up seven points from three games in the past week.

But it’s perhaps the Cobblers’ opponents on Monday, Stockport County, who would cause the biggest stir. Seemingly down and out thanks to Liam Davis’ late equaliser on Friday night, the Hatters beat Port Vale at Vale Park and closed the gap to six points on Town going into a game of extraordinary significance tomorrow.

County will be relegated if we end the seventeen game winless run at Edgeley Park. But if, God forbid, they come out on top then it puts them three points behind us and no matter what Barnet do at home to Oxford it would be a nightmare scenario going into the final two games. It’s set to be the biggest game for both County and the Cobblers for many a year.

It makes it no easier a game with the fact that Sale Sharks played on the Edgeley Park pitch on Friday and it’s sure to be a rough and tumble affair, frantic to the end and the Cobblers need the spirit of Friday’s second half to roll over and not only that but we need warriors and warhorses.

Andy Holt, who came off the bench on Friday, is crucial and to me should start if fully fit. Holty is one of the only men you could truly pick out of this squad and know that you’re getting just what you need for a battle like this one. If anyone else proves to be similar then I would love to see it because with three games of this epic battle to go there’s no room for anything else.

So in around twenty four hours we will know a hell of a lot more than we did before this weekend. With all games kicking off at 3pm it has the feel of the final day of the season. It could be the end of the road for Stockport but it could just as easily be a disaster for Northampton Town.

If anyone has any finger nails left after yesterday then they need to grow back pretty damn quickly. I don’t think I can take much more!

Keep believing!

Late drama, pitch invasions and wheelchairs

2011-04-23T08:52:00.002+01:00

Northampton Town 2-2 Rotherham United
League Two
Friday, February 22nd 2011

Relief. Utter, utter relief. I’m fortunate enough to have never truly felt what relegation to non-league, or the threat of it, feels like. When I first starting going to the old County Ground we were in a similar position to this with the only difference being that the players on our books weren’t expected to be promotion candidates. I was too young to truly feel the emotions of the dog fight back then but around eighteen years on and a goal against Rotherham in the last seconds saw me let out a groan out that made my fiancé believe that we’d conceded again and not equalised.

The guilt I feel at not being at the games these days is in a way justified by the fact that I still feel things so much and have to suffer from radio commentary or rolling score tickers that will tell me whether my team are going to be still in the league next season. It’s a kind of punishment that I’m more emotionally attached to the club than ever before despite being away from the games themselves but nothing could prepare me for that moment last night.

Overdramatic you might say this is but I genuinely was close to letting out a tear of relief when Davis’ goal went in. Relegation from any league is horrible but from this one it’s double that of the panic running through me when we drifted out of League One at Elland Road. I have real sympathy for Stockport fans heading to Port Vale today knowing that if they don’t win they’re the first to fall through the trap door and it’s all because of this one moment at Sixfields.

After a first half where the Cobblers were second best, Nicky Law’s shot deflecting heavily enough off Paul Rodgers for it to be called an own goal and Ryan Taylor doubling the lead in stoppage time, it seemed all hope was lost. It wasn’t that Rotherham seemed particularly impressive but more that the Cobblers were just not up to matching them.

Cue Gary Johnson throwing caution to the wind. On came strikers Leon McKenzie and Michael Uwesu for defender Byron Webster and unfortunate midfielder Rodgers. The gung ho approach took time to get going but when it did, Claret and White Night ignited with it.

Shaun Harrad fired over from ten yards but soon after the deficit was halved as McKenzie prodded the ball home following a goal mouth scramble and it was game on. With the Cobblers’ recovery from two down in the reverse fixture back in November, the Millers must have been anxious that their playoff hopes would be hit by another turn around.

It didn’t seem like their fears would be realised as corner after corner, attack after attack rained down on Jamie Annerson’s goal. The Millers’ defence cleared off the line and despite a hearty and admirable effort from the Cobblers home support it just didn’t look like coming.

Then it happened. Deep into stoppage time, the ball somehow found its way to Liam Davis. The ground held their collective breaths and Davis smashed the ball home. Emotions poured out of the stands and onto the pitch as a mini pitch invasion was sparked. A legend in the making led the charge with an unknown fan in a wheel chair joining the celebrations on the hallowed turf. Twitter instantly woke up with #ntfcwheelchairfan tweeted double the amount of #ntfcfightback or #liamdavis.

There was no time for much more and the Cobblers had another point towards the ultimate target of safety. If it means we continue this sequence to twenty games without a win (it’s now seventeen) by the time the season ends then as long as we’ve got enough points to survive then I really don’t mind one jot.

Ironically it’s now over to last season’s hero Bayo Akinfenwa whose Gillingham side meet Barnet at the Priestfield today. If the Gills lose that one then the Cobblers’ result last night looks less impressive with a Bees win taking them to within a point of us. So Bayo, do your business big man!

We also have to keep an eye out on Burton of course as they slipped below us. The Brewers are at Aldershot tomorrow so we’re hoping for the league’s two longest unbeaten runs, the Gills’ and the Shots’, to continue. If they don’t then the fears will double up again ahead of the crunch game at Stockport on Monday. County can prolong their stay in the Football League by winning at Vale Park today and that would mean that they’ll be even more up for Monday’s tussle. We wait and see what comes out of this Saturday but either way it’s going to be another nervy one.

You get the feeling that all is far from over and that something else is bound to happen this afternoon so for now it’s recovery time for everyone at the club. It would be nice to have a week’s break now but it’s straight back into it unfortunately and I’ll be very surprised if my hands contain any finger nails at all by close of play this Monday!

Good Friday? We really hope so!!

2011-04-22T17:46:00.002+01:00

Northampton Town v Rotherham United
League Two
Friday, April 22nd 2011

Judgement weekend is upon us then as the Cobblers face two games that could change the course of our history should they go the wrong way. A first win in seventeen games this evening against a Rotherham side still coming to terms with the recent dip in form that’s taken them away from the playoff places would be the ideal start to the Easter weekend.

It’s vital that we go into Stockport away, a potentially dangerous fixture particularly after a rugby match played at Edgeley Park this afternoon, with some momentum and there can be no more room for error. Despite Barnet losing Martin Allen, Giuliano Grazioli’s first game in charge was at high flying Bury so we can ill afford to be counting chickens that they will be o the slide from here on in.

A couple of months ago this would have been a real toughie against one of the better sides in the league but the backlash from Ronnie Moore’s exit has been lasting and the Millers are in grave danger of ending a season that started so brightly with the goals of Adam Le Fondre flying in once more with nothing to play for.

They have, at least, got a new man in charge in former Brentford boss Andy Scott and his first game in charge ended in a stalemate at home to Hereford on Saturday. That result meant that they were four points off a playoff place going into the Easter weekend and Scott will be desperate for his charges to recreate the form of their only win in their last ten games, a 6-0 victory at Lincoln.

But the Cobblers are beginning to show spirit on and off the pitch and finally it seems that it’s clicked with the Sixfields faithful that we need them more than ever to put everything else aside and get behind the team. A Friday “Claret and White Night” should do the trick before hand and if an atmosphere gets going then there may yet be a chance of that illusive win.

It’ll feel like a cup final win once we do get it and relief would be overwhelming on a final whistle should three points come our way. We must stay positive and remember the stunning fightback at the Don Valley Stadium in the team’s last meeting, the 2-2 draw in November.

Guillem Bauza has declared himself fit for the game after an injury scare at Wycombe but John Johnson and Kevin Thornton are still struggling. There appears little need to change what was a strong side at Adams Park and it’ll certainly be nice for Gary Johnson to name an unchanged line-up.

Rotherham are waiting on the fitness of striker Ian Thomas-Moore and keeper Andy Warrington but Adam Le Fondre is expected to return to the starting line-up after sitting on the bench for the last couple of games.

We need this more than ever, get right behind the team tonight and let’s bring home that win. Team Positive!!

League Two Easter Preview: Part 1

2011-04-22T13:48:00.002+01:00

Focus on...Oxford United v Chesterfield...

The Kassam Stadium in Oxford will be awash with blue and white this weekend as Chesterfield expect to clinch the League Two championship after months of running away with a promotion bid that’s never seriously been threatened. The Spireites have been odds on favourites since Christmas to return to League One and have steadily picked up points while all below them struggled to keep up with their blistering pace.

As with Brighton in League One, there can be no doubting that Chesterfield are the rightful winners and only a ridiculous run of results can now prevent them from lifting the title, something they can do tomorrow afternoon with a single point at the Kassam.

They will return to League One after four years out with a fresh look in their new B2Net Stadium, the 10,500 seat venue that has had the best possible christening in its first season as the Spireites’ home. It’s almost destiny that after flirting with the playoffs during the final three seasons at Saltergate (the club finishing 8th, 10th and 8th again) that as soon as they moved into their new home everything fell into place.

John Sheridan had led the club to the brinks of the playoffs last season, his first in charge, and although the season wouldn’t end with a spot in the top seven, there would be a fitting farewell to the old ground when an injury time winner from Derek Niven saw off already promoted Bournemouth. Following two pitch invasions, it was time for the change to come and what a job Sheridan has done over the last twelve months.

Craig Davies joined on a year long deal in July and after scoring the first ever goal at the B2Net Stadium and also becoming the first to be sent off there, hit eleven goals in the opening thirteen games as his new side became the early pace setters. Nothing has stalled since then either and Davies’ tally has risen to twenty four goals. Add to that the fifteen from Jack Lester, fourteen from Danny Whittaker and eleven from Oldham loanee Deane Smalley and it’s not difficult to tell why the club are not only runaway leaders but also the top scorers in League Two with eighty goals.

Since the turn of the year, they’ve opened up a huge gap between not just themselves and the chasing pack in the playoffs but also second place as they aim to wrap up the title and promotion in quick succession. The last two away games have produced unexpected wobbles at relegation threatened Barnet (2-2) and Hereford (0-3) but two home successes steadied the ship to make it five straight home victories as they close in on that promotion.

Oxford, then, will be relieved that the game will be on their home turf, the still three sided Kassam Stadium, as they cling on to what is now a very much outside chance of the playoffs.

After winning a place back in the Football League following a 3-1 Conference pPlayoff Final against york City in May last year, the U’s have equipped themselves well and have been around the edges of the top seven all season.

That’s a testament to the steady progress of rookie manager Chris Wilder who is slowly making a name for himself in this division, his first as a manager in the league.

Wilder cut his managerial teeth at Alfreton Town before moving on to Halifax Town just after they were relegated from the league in 2002. Staying there until 2008 when the club went into liquidation, Wilder joined old pal Alan Knill at Bury and became his assistant manager. Six months later and he was on the move again though as Oxford came calling in December 2008. After missing out on the playoffs in that season, Wilder led the side there in his first full campaign and sealed it with that fine win over York.

While not making huge waves it’s still a fine achievement for Wilder and co to finish in the top half and the season, whatever happens from here on in, will be seen as an important stepping stone to the next level.

Surrendering a 2-0 lead at home to Wycombe a couple of weeks ago will probably be seen as the end of the playoff hopes with a draw last weekend at Accrington seeing them drop to seven points behind Gillingham and the playoffs.

They’ll still be eager to prevent a party in their ground though as Chesterfield search for that point they need to become the second Football League side promoted this season. The U’s will also take heart from the victory at the B2Net Stadium earlier in the season when they came from a goal down to win 2-1. If they have their way, the Spireites might just have to wait a little longer to start the party!

Elsewhere in League Two...

Bury will be hoping to keep the pressure on Chesterfield but a victory against Lincoln on Friday will also go a long way towards their own automatic promotion hopes. The Shakers have seen off the Cobblers and Barnet at Gigg Lane in the last couple of games and will be looking to make it a triple victory over relegation threatened sides at home. Lincoln are poised just above trouble but they’ll be looking over their shoulder until they get another win under their belts. Gigg Lane probably isn’t the best place to go when you need that though!

There’s also a massive game at Plainmoor on Friday as Torquay play Shrewsbury with both sides gunning for the top three. Shrewsbury, in fourth, are four points ahead of their hosts but United know that victory would not only close the gap on them but also edge them closer to the automatic promotion places before Saturday’s games.

Another team in sight and level on points with Torquay are Stevenage who will want to get an early run on the other playoff chasers behind them as they travel to Southend tonight. Graham Westley’s side have risen from the depths of mid-table to join the elite for the final stages and will be bitterly disappointed if they lose that place now.

Crewe and Morecambe are in the “nothing to play for” category but the Shrimps are looking to extend a three game unbeaten run at Gresty Road as they aim to overtake Dario Gradi’s men and finish in the top half.

The pick of Saturday’s other games sees Gillingham defend their seventeen game unbeaten run as they welcome Barnet to the Priestfield for a game with massive importance. Gillingham remain in a playoff place thanks to a late Cody McDonald leveller last weekend and the on loan Norwich man is proving to be the difference between the Gills holding on to that spot and ending up outside the playoffs. Barnet are of course on our tails and should the Cobblers fail to win on Friday night they’ll have a huge incentive going into their game.

Hereford have given Jamie Pitman a new two year deal to remain as manager after the former physio led the Bulls to the brink of safety. Pitman’s charges host promotion chasing Shrewsbury looking to follow up excellent results against Wycombe, Chesterfield and Rotherham in the last couple of weeks.

It’s near enough last chance saloon for Stockport and Port Vale as the two meet at Vale Park. Vale are one good result from getting right back in the payoff mix but more seriously for Stockport is that the Hatters would be as good as down with defeat.

Accrington are just a couple of goals away from the top seven and will be favourites to see off a shaking Bradford side. Peter Jackson’s men still aren’t safe and won’t be relishing a trip to a ground where no away team has won in ten games.

Macclesfield have gradually pulled away from danger and can overtake Cheltenham if they beat them at Whaddon Road. The Robins were beaten at Burton last weekend but have Andy Gallinagh available after his ban was overturned from that game.

Burton used their last game in hand to overtake the Cobblers and they are finally level on games with everyone else as they prepare to face Aldershot and attempt to end the Shot’s ten game unbeaten run.

The Run Ins!

2011-04-20T15:47:00.001+01:00

It’s a race that’s set to go right to the wire at the foot of the Football League and although there are other who could be dragged into the battle, four teams, one of them the Cobblers, are quaking in their boots as they are set for four of the biggest gamin their histories.

Looking at the ruin ins, there’s a couple of names popping up like Port Vale and Accrington who play two teams involved in the scrap and they will have a massive say on who will join them next season if they are to stay in League Two themselves.

The Cobblers have two tough home games against Rotherham and Stevenage but trips to Stockport and Morecambe are winnable despite a lousy record on the road for Gatry Johnson’s men.

Rock bottom County will have to win on Saturday if they’re to stand any chance of clawing away at us on Monday with a genuine hope of survival. They visit Port Vale in preparation for a game in which we could conceivably relegate the Hatters. If they have any last gasp hopes after that they will rest on a visit to Crewe and a home clash with Cheltenham.

Barnet’s short run that sparked their season back into life was halted last week when Martin Allen defected to League One Notts County and the team lost on the pitch 2-0 at Bury. That was a baptism of fire for new caretaker boss Giuliano Grazioli and Saturday’s trip to Gillingham isn’t much more appealing. On Monday the Bees at home to Oxford before travelling to Accrington on the penultimate weekend. But they finish at hom and you wouldn’t bet against them having something to fight for when Port Vale come to Underhill on the last day.

Burton, meanwhile, off the back of four points gathered in the last two games, take on Aldershot this Saturday at the EBB Stadium and return home for a clash with promotion chasing Torquay on Monday. Then it’s Southend away before they host Accrington on May 7th.

So who’s your money on? To me Stockport are near enough gone with a massive task ahead of them and though I take no joy out of the thought, I have a feeling the the Cobblers will play a role in sealing their fate on Monday. I hope and pray that I’m right with Barnet as well simply because their momentum is seemingly gone along with their saviour to be. Unless Mr Grazioli can steer his men to at least four points this weekend then I reckon it could be curtains for them.

I wouldn’t like to hold those predictions up too much though as I just know it could come back to haunt me but I still believe that it could go to the last day. After the last few weeks though, anything can happen, anyone can be dragged in and there’s bound to be another twist or two along the way. Hopefully, for our sake, not too big of a twist!

Bradford City 1-1 Burton Albion

2011-04-20T12:37:00.000+01:00

As tremblings at the bottom of the table continued last night, Burton and Bradford played out the final game in hand to leave the Cobblers looking on relatively happily despite slipping a place. There was a period of time last night when Burton rose up the League Two table into 17th place as they led at Valley Parade.

That goal just before half time for the Brewers came through a John McGrath header and had the travelling support dreaming of overtaking not just the Cobblers but Bradford, Hereford, Macclesfield and Lincoln into what would have been, psychologically at least, a fine position going into the final four games.

But Bradford would have the final say and thankfully levelled the game when a long throw wasn’t dealt with by the visiting defence and Jake Speight swooped to earn his side a point. That should make City fans themselves breathe a little easier ahead of an Easter weekend fixture list that will surely be the defining weekend of the season.

Every League Two team plays twice over this weekend and by the end of it things will be an awful lot clearer at both ends of the table.

Last chance for Brewers at Valley Parade

2011-04-19T12:34:00.001+01:00

Bradford City v Burton Albion

After four months of trying, the games in hand will be done after tonight and League Two will finally be equal in terms of everyone playing the same amount of games. Following the meeting of Bradford City and Burton Albion at Valley Parade, we will all have four games to play and the run in will well and truly begin.

For Albion, a result of any kind would lift them above the Cobblers and morale has been restored slightly following a 2-0 home win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday. But it’s away from the Pirelli Stadium where Paul Peschisolido’s men have fallen down this season having won just twice in twenty attempts on the road, one of those being at Sixfields.

Peschisolido was charged with misconduct today after his protests over Sam Winnall’s sending off at Bury last Tuesday landed him in hot water with the FA. But there will be no appeal from the former Derby striker as he focuses on the final game of Albion’s rearranged list that stretched back to Christmas time. Victory tonight would see them go above opponents Bradford who are wobbling again after a decent start under Peter Jackson.

Victories over Rotherham and Morecambe in the early days of Jackson’s reign have long been forgotten and since then they’ve won once in six games including heavy defeats in their last two, at home to Torquay (0-3) and away at Southend last Friday (0-4).

The Bantams were missing seven players at Roots Hall but have recalled Omar Daley from his loan spell at Rotherham and the winger goes straight into the squad for tonight.

For both these sides one win could really change the outlook of the final four but defeat would keep those lingering fears in the minds as the trap door remains wide open. I’m thinking a Bradford win would be best for us and not the draw some are hoping for. I would imagine City will have enough anyway and I wouldn’t really like to picture the scene tomorrow morning of the Cobblers being just one place above the bottom two.

Lots riding on this one then...and after that it’s down to a straight race to survive!

Spireites on the brink!

2011-04-16T21:36:00.002+01:00

League Two Round Up
15th-16th April 2011

Chesterfield were given a scare by Macclesfield but eventually edged to the brink of League One with a 2-1 win at the B2Net Stadium. Only a ridiculous swing of goal difference can stop the Spireites now and they could have wrapped up the title by the end of the Easter weekend. Lewis Chalmers gave Macc a surprise lead on the stroke of half time from the spot but Craig Davies netted one of the goals of the day to equalise before Danny Whittaker netted the all-important winner.

Bury saw off Barnet 2-0 at Gigg Lane and boosted their own promotion hopes as well as sending Barnet three points away from Burton at the bottom. Giiuliano Grazioli was in caretaker charge for the Bees but he couldn’t prevent Bury from securing a fourth straight win to keep them second.

Shrewsbury took advantage of Wycombe dropping points as they beat Stockport at the New Meadow. Tom Bradshaw and Nicky Wroe saw the Shrews to a comfortable victory but for Stockport it’s a result that all but seals relegation as they surely now can’t make up an eight point gap with four games left to play.

Meanwhile, Torquay will be happier with their goalless draw at home to Port Vale than their visitors following a tight contest at Plainmoor. United are now eight unbeaten and remain in fifth, almost winning the game when Chris Zebroski struck the post.
Stevenage were also held in their promotion bid with Aldershot who are now ten without defeat following an entertaining encounter. Alex Rodman turned the game around after Darius Charles had put Stevenage ahead but they would have to settle for a point when Luke Foster equalised with just under twenty minutes to go.

Gillingham clung on to their playoff place with a late goal providing them with a draw at home to Morecambe who looked to have won the game through a Phil Jevons penalty. But Cody McDonald was on target once more to keep his side in seventh place.
That’s because Accrington couldn’t find a way past Oxford at the Crown Ground in a goalless draw that keeps them outside the playoffs on goal difference. Stanley were looking for nine consecutive home wins but Oxford held out well in a good defensive showing.

Another 0-0 came at the Don Valley Stadium as Andy Scott’s first game in charge of the Millers didn’t end with the right result to send them back into playoff contention. With the teams above them drawing it could prove vital that they couldn’t get past Hereford who hit the post through Joe Colbeck.

Lincoln ended their losing run with a draw at Crewe. Paul Green gave them the lead but Crewe levelled things with a penalty from top scorer Clayton Donaldson late on. The Imps are now six points clear of the relegation zone and should be on their way to securing league status for another season.

On Friday night, Bradford were hammered 4-0 at Southend and now face a nervy Tuesday night meeting with Burton Albion as they try to shake off their worries. Albion will go above the Bantams on goal difference should they win at Valley Parade. Southend, on the other hand, made it seven games unbeaten at home with that convincing win.
Burton were winners today and set up that crunch game on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over ten man Cheltenham. Greg Pearson put them in front in odd fashion on the half hour mark. Pearson rode a challenge from Andy Gallinagh and scored but the referee brought the game back and sent off Gallinagh before Pearson score the penalty. The lead was doubled by Jacques Maghoma with a close range effort late on.

There will be no more games in hand following Tuesday’s game and it’ll be a straight four games to go for everyone as we come to a big close in yet another tight league. The Cobblers aren’t safe yet, but have today taken one small step for man.

Vital point earned at Adams Park

2011-04-16T21:34:00.001+01:00

Wycombe Wanderers 2-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, April 16th 2011

A point before this game, had it been offered, would have been gratefully received by all connected with the Cobblers but having been two goals to the good against a promotion chasing Wycombe Wanderers you can’t help but be shattered by a late equaliser that turned three points into one. The efforts, however, along with the positive energy coming from the Cobblers fans en route to Adams Park means that it was a pivotal moment in the season.

Attitudes on the road from the hearty and vocal Cobblers support are always going to be right behind the team and in the current plight it’s perhaps away from the boo boys that are sometimes present at Sixfields where we’ll pick up the points needed for survival.

We’re, of course, not over the line yet and with Burton Albion picking up a big victory over Cheltenham Town today we will drop down a place should the Brewers get a result at Bradford on Tuesday night. Barnet, beaten at Bury, are now three points away and with the Cobblers boasting a better goal difference we’ll all sleep a little easier this Saturday night than last.

Steve Collis came in for this one and should be in between the sticks for most of the remaining games this season after Chris Dunn’s injury last week. Dean Beckwith returned in defence whilst Paul Rodgers came in on the right hand side of midfield. Michael Jacobs also started after recovering fully from illness.
Against a side battling to gather enough points for a swift return to League One, it was expected to be a backs to the wall experience but the Cobblers came storming out of the traps and were rewarded with a twentieth minute penalty after Rodgers was fouled. Shaun Harrad stepped up and converted for his fifth goal in Town colours and suddenly there was hope of an extraordinary result to drag us out of the mire.

Guillem Bauza was impressing alongside Harrad and after sending a header into the side netting, incredibly made it 2-0 ten minutes before half time. Josh Walker played the Spanish striker in and he fired in a sweet left footed effort that beat in form Wycombe keeper Nikki Bull. Bull pulled off a good save a few minutes later to deny Bauza again and we didn’t want the break to come when it did such was the momentum.
Harrad and Bauza are becoming the key to our survival and it was Harrad again just after half time that tested Bull with a close range effort that could have ended the game as a contest. But it was Wycombe who, crucially, scored the next goal and that would be the boost they needed to battle back from two goals down for the second week in a row.

Scott Donnelly coolly made it 2-1 on the hour to set up the most nervous of endings but for the Cobblers it just wasn’t to be and despite a gutsy effort including a couple of outstanding stops from Collis that eased Town fans’ minds about him taking Dunn’s place for the next few games we would end up taking home just one point from the game. With eight minutes to play, Leon Johnson rose highest from a corner to head home the leveller and end the hopes of a major upset.

The Cobblers could still have won it in a frantic finale when a break away ended with Abdul Osman scuffed a shot perhaps out of panic more than anything and we ended the game continuing this run of what is now sixteen games without a win.

But what came from this game could yet be the rejuvenation that the Cobblers need and we could do with a bumper crowd on Good Friday when Rotherham United are the visitors. A club that are going through changes of their own and ending the season far less impressively than they started are certainly not as big a threat as they once were and if we can create an ounce of an atmosphere with positive support at Sixfields then we have a chance of getting that illusive win that would mean so much.
If anyone doubted that the spirit and togetherness of this Cobblers squad was drained then this afternoon’s events were a very welcome surprise!

League Two Weekend Preview 15th-16th April 2011

2011-04-15T13:31:00.003+01:00

Spotlight on...Torquay United v Port Vale

The story of the last month in the history of Torquay United and Port Vale represents a shining example of how quickly things can change in football. On 8th March, United were undone at Aldershot, becoming the first side to lose to the Shots in ten games. On the same day, Vale pulled off a fine result in a 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury that kept them well in the hunt for the top three. The league table saw the Valiants in sixth, seven points clear of Torquay with the two sides having played the same amount of games.

Fast forward just seven matches and how the tables have turned. During a 3-0 defeat at Accrington just two games later, Vale midfielder Exodus Geohaghon was involved in ugly scenes with the travelling support after receiving increading levels of abuse that culminated in the player confronting some of his detractors. Striker Marc Richards would call the comments from his own support as “not acceptable,” and “harsh”. There was more fall out from that game with manager Jim Gannon, snuck out of the Crown ground “for his own safety,” shown the door permanently in the aftermath.

Step forward Mark Grew and Geoff Horsfield to take temporary charge, Horsfield the man who had that famous bust up with Gannon just a few weeks prior to his sacking whilst on the team bus to Aldershot. The incident that saw both Gannon and Horsfield leave the bus before arriving in Hampshire is one of the more bizarre stories of the past couple of years in the Football League but the former striker stayed on and is now assisting Grew in his attempt to steer the club back towards the playoffs.

Horsfield has hinted that there may be changes to the starting line-up coming this week with Louis Dodds, Sean Rigg and Lewis Haldane all starting for the reserves in a 1-0 defeat to Bradford on Tuesday and staking their claims for a place in the first team at Plainmoor.

With four teams above Vale all three points clear of them, it’s a must win game for a club that earlier in the season had much loftier ambitions.

Their opponents on Saturday are headed in the opposite direction and having started in record breaking fashion are now finally getting back to the heights of those early days of the campaign.

Having kicked off the season passing a record breaking run of ten clean sheets over the end of the previous campaign and the start of this one, the mood at Plainmoor was jubilant and early signs of a promotion push were beginning to show. Winning their first four games saw the Gulls as the pace setters in League Two but, despite some fine individual results including wins at Oxford and Wycombe, by the start of the calendar year they were outside the playoff places following a draw at Hereford.

Indeed it had been draws that had been keeping the club at bay for the most part but after a fiery FA Cup Fourth round defeat at home to Crawley Town in a game that could have seen them get through to a best ever run in the competition United started to turn the corner.

An unbeaten four game run kicked things off but it was really the 5-0 hammering of Shrewsbury Town in March that got everyone’s attention. Jake Robinson, on loan from the Shrews, scored twice that day against his parent club and the win was a catylist for a seven game run without defeat that continued at Bradford last weekend in a mightily impressive 3-0 victory.

Top scorer Elliot Benyon moved to Swindon in January but that’s only made the likes of Billy Kee, Gavin Tomlin (on loan from Dagenham) and Chris Zebroski step up to the plate. Tomlin and Kee both netted at Valley Parade and the result keeps them in a playoff place that they’ve had to really battle to regain over the last few months.

The four point gap between themselves and Wycombe could well have been closer as well if Torquay hadn’t hit the woodwork a massive 27 times this season, more than anyone else in League Two!

For them, it’s a case of holding on to a place in the top seven immediately but still having a cheeky look up just in case something happens at Adams Park involving the Cobblers and that coveted first victory in an age! For Vale, all thoughts are on the playoffs and this could be one of their final chances to end the season with something to play for.

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

This week’s Friday night action sees Southend host Bradford at Roots Hall with both suides playing for pride alone. The Shrimpers have fallen away from a playoff bid and are now eleven points away from the top seven despite a decent draw at port Vale last time out. Bradford are just about safe but will be wanting to make it absolutely sure because Peter Jackson’s positive start as manager has slightly fallen by the wayside in recent weeks. A 3-0 home defeat to Torquay last weekend moved them to within six points of the bottom two but they should have enough to hold off the sides below them, especially with a game in hand.

On Saturday, Bury against Barnet is the pick of the games that affect both ends of the table. The Shakers crept past Burton on Tuesday night but will have to go without the suspended duo of Damien Mozika and Efe Sodje after both saw red against the Brewers. Barnet are now just a couple of goals away from overtaking Burton in the table but even a defeat for the Bees could see them go above Albion should they lose by a heavier margin! Bury are seven points away from Chesterfield at the top and know that they still have to play them so might yet have eyes on the title.

Chesterfield can seal promotion to League One should they see off Macclesfield and Shrewsbury don’t pick up maximum points. The Spireites were stunned at Hereford last weekend but will be desperate to clinch promotion and ease any worries of being caught by Bury in the race for the title. Macc’s point at home to Accrington last Friday night was their first in five games but that late, late equaliser was vital to steady their own fears of being brought into the relegation battle. They’ll be wanting one more win to be sure but it’ll have to be a monumental effort to see of a team on the brink of celebration.

Stockport may yet be able to stake a claim for a dramatic survival thanks to the failings of Burton to pick up points from their games in hand and following a 2-2 draw with Stevenage last weekend they face another massive test at fourth placed Shrewsbury. After a 3-0 reverse at Aldershot, it’s a massive game for the Shrews to attempt to claw back ground on the top three and they’ll see it as a must win game in terms of their automatic promotion ambitions. Craig McAllister is back in contention for them after missing over two months following a hernia operation.

Top of the League Two form table are Stevenage with five wins and a draw from their last six games and they’ll be slight favourites to continue a run that’s taken them to fifth as they host Aldershot. The Shots are now in the top half though having put together nine games without defeat including that terrific result against Shrewsbury last weekend. Something has to give here with two teams that have shot up the table in recent weeks.

Gillingham complete the playoff positions and following a 4-0 trouncing of Lincoln last weekend will be determined to win again due to the fact that they’re one of four teams all on 64 points going into the weekend. The Gills are now fifteen games unbeaten with their last defeat coming way back in January against Chesterfield. Opponents Morecambe are improving again just at the right time and are up to fifteenth in the table. Veteran striker Paul Mullin will play no further part for them though as he announced his retirement this week. The former Accrington man’s final goal came during the 3-3 draw with the Cobblers in February.

Meanwhile, Accrington will feel unfortunate to have dropped out of the top seven last weekend having succumbed to that late goal at Macclesfield and they are another side on 64 points as they prepare to welcome Oxford to the Crown Ground. United are still six points from the playoffs despite back to back wins and they will see this as a massive chance to get back into the mix.

Burton face Cheltenham at the Pirelli Stadium having blown most of their chances to escape the relegation fight. With just one goal now between themselves and Barnet they can afford no slip ups against the Robins. Town restored some pride last weekend by holding Rotherham after losing 8-1 at Crewe seven days earlier and will be aiming to top last season’s points total, something they need just one more to achieve.

Lincoln are a side in real trouble once again after five straight defeats. Steve Tilson has insisted that the streak needs to end as they travel to Crewe tomorrow. Tilson will be without leading scorer Ashley Grimes though as the Millwall loan man is suspended following his tenth booking of the season during the defeat to Gillingham last week. Crewe are looking to put defeat at Barnet behind them but it still looks a long shot for them to gatecrash the playoff party.

And former Brentford manager Andy Scott will take charge of Rotherham for the first time tomorrow after joining the Millers on a three year deal on Thursday. His first test comes at home to Hereford and with his new troops four away from the top seven Scott will need maximum points from that one. The Bulls’ win over Chesterfield was one of the shocks of the season and they’ll be full of confidence for the trip to the Don Valley.

So with ‘permutations’ the key word you’re likely to hear all weekend long, we wait to see if Chesterfield can become the first team promoted from League Two and how much the other issues are shaken up. With just four games to go after this round of fixtures, there really is no margin for error at all!

Toughest test at crucial stage as Town travel to Wycombe

2011-04-15T13:21:00.003+01:00

Wycombe Wanderers v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, April 16th 2011

There aren’t a lot worse games than we could face when on a run of fifteen games without a win than Wycombe Wanderers away from home. The Chairboys are deservedly in the top three and are three points clear of fourth in their bid to return to League One at the first attempt. Gary Waddock’s rebuilding of the squad in January of last year came too late to save them from the drop but the former Aldershot man has helped Wanderers to within a few games of an instant return.

A draw at Sixfields in August was seen as a real positive in our stuttering start to the season and that shows what an uphill task we face coming up against a confident Wycombe side that came from two goals down in the M40 derby last weekend to draw 2-2 at Oxford and make it five games without defeat. The last four league meetings between Wanderers and the Cobblers have ended in draws and a fifth in that sequence would be a fine result despite this frustrating and worrying run of winless games.

If we’re to get anything then ex Posh striker Scott Rendell and veteran Gareth Ainsworth will both have to be stopped. Rendell has struck sixteen times this season, including the first at Oxford, whilst Ainsworth has been on fire since joining the club just over a year ago. The 37-year-old has shown no signs of letting up from his slick, skilful ways and has ran rings around defenders half his age this season! Ainsworth is a doubt but could well make the bench. At the other end, Wanderers have kept an impressive fifteen clean sheets this term, so the form of Shaun Harrad and Guillem Bauza is crucial to the cause.

Bauza and Byron Webster, signed new deals at the club this week and are with us now until the end of the season so both are available tomorrow. Chris Dunn needed fourteen stitches in his head after the collision early in the Bury game and will be missing for a couple of weeks at least. Michael Jacobs only played a half last weekend but is fully fit once again after recovering from illness but John Johnson and Andy Holt are still doubtful.

So with both side so desperate for the win that could save one side or lift the other, it’s a crunch game with permutations ringing out at both ends of the league no matter what the result! It would take one hell of a performance to finally end this winless streak but stranger things, most certainly, have happened!

Nine man Shakers down Cobblers rivals

2011-04-13T12:43:00.000+01:00

Bury 1-0 Burton Albion

So all those games in hand are now down to just one for a Burton Albion side that came away from Gigg Lane with nothing but an extra suspension and increasing worries of relegation. As we head into the weekend, even Stockport County will be looking at it and thinking that they might yet escape after the promising position the Brewers let slide.

It was always going to be tough against a Bury side hoping for the win that would put them into second place and just seven points off Chesterfield but there were plenty of twists and turns on another nervy night even for the teams and fans not involved.

The fun and games started just before half time with the dismissal of Bury’s Damien Mozika for a poor challenge on Tony James and you thought the balance might shift to the visitors. But Albion were also reduced to ten in the second half when Sam Winnall took down Steven Schumacher and was given his marching orders. Tom Lees headed the home side in front as the team numbers were levelled abut the drama wasn’t over yet. Efe Sodje became the third player to see red, the second for Bury, and there was an anxious wait for the final whistle. But it did eventually come and Albion weren’t able to fight back against the nine men.

That means that Burton are separated from Barnet by a single goal going into this weekend but Bury have a real platform now to go on and reach League One. The Shakers play Barnet on Saturday so can really help us out again before taking on Lincoln, the side one place above us, in their next fixture. Burton are at home to Cheltenham next and will be praying that their form returns in a game where they will be targeting as one that they can get a result from.

As last night proved, one game can capture the attention of three or four sets of players, supporters and staff and that’s what this stage of the season is all about. Not sure if my nerves can take much more!

Brewers face tough task in latest game in hand

2011-04-12T13:12:00.004+01:00

Preview for tonight's all important game as Bury host Burton Albion...

And so the battle for survival goes on and either way there’s going to be significant movement this evening. Burton go to the Cobblers’ weekend conquerors Bury knowing that a defeat by more than two goals would mean that they drop into the bottom two below Barnet with just one of their games in hand left to play.

Psychologically that could be the Brewer’s downfall because after going for so long using their games in hand as a back up that’s meant on paper they shouldn’t be in trouble, they would be staring relegation in the face for real for the first time.

Back on February 1st, Albion were in the same league position and had just had their excellent FA cup run ended by Championship side Burnley. After defeat to Shrewsbury, in what was a rare league game at that stage, left them on 25 points alarm bells were still far from ringing. For after a winter of sparse games in League Two, it was assumed that they would make use of six games in hand to ease themselves out of the troublesome position they found themselves in. Since then, though, the extra games along with the normal league games played yielded just sixteen points from seventeen games, all crammed into hectic Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedules.

The final game in hand comes next week away at Bradford and sandwiched in between is a home clash with Cheltenham so it’s a massive seven days in which the Cobblers and Barnet will only play once.

Bury’s promotion bid continues though and they can go second tonight if they pick up all three points. Even a draw would take them there but victory might yet have Chesterfield looking over their shoulders at a seven point gap rather than ten as it currently stands. The two sides also meet at the B2Net Stadium on Easter Monday.

Ryan Lowe and Nicky Ajose caused havoc at Sixfields on Saturday and we’ll be hoping for more of the same tonight (well it’s only fair!) from a strike partnership that’s produced 37 goals this season. One man who won’t be there is Chris Holroyd who was recalled from his loan spell by parent club Brighton this week.

Not that the strikers seem to need any help but Robbie Fowler has joined the club for a week to work with the prolific attack and hopefully will have a big effect as the Shakers battle the other two prime candidates sitting between the Cobblers and relegation. Richie Barker has won both games handsomely since he took caretaker charge and scored seven goal in the process so Burton could be in for a rough ride having won just twice on the road all season, one of those at Sixfields of course!

Bury are less prolific, in terms of points gained, at home but you still wouldn’t choose it as the first place to go when in desperate need of something as Burton are tonight. Cobblers fans are set to be Shakers for the night as another chapter is written in this intriguing survival battle.

Another twist in the tale as Allen takes County job!

2011-04-11T13:02:00.001+01:00

There might yet be hope. We have to take what we can but the news coming in this lunch time is that Martin Allen has left Barnet after just three games in charge to take the reins at League One Notts County. Allen had led the Bees to within goal difference of safety but has now been appointed as County boss leaving them in limbo after only joining them on a non contract basis!

County have lost their last seven games and are in the League One relegation zone so chairman Ray Trew is obviously thinking that Allen can work his magic once more. As for Barnet, it’s back to the drawing board and we have to hope in a morbid way that this dents their chances of staying up.

Off the back of a 2-1 home win over Crewe at the weekend, they travel to Bury and Gillingham next, two promotion chasers. But they could be lifted out of the bottom two should Burton lose by two or more goals at Bury tomorrow night.

The drama of this relegation scrap goes on and on!

Bury defeat leaves Town with nightmare finish

2011-04-11T06:20:00.003+01:00

Northampton Town 2-4 Bury
League Two
Saturday, April 9th 2011

I woke up in a cold sweat on Sunday morning. Whether or not it had anything to do with the events of Saturday and the impending end of season run that could see the Cobblers become a non-league side had anything to do with it I don’t know but going downstairs to watch a repeat of the Football League Show in the early hours brought it all back and twice flashed up a league table I’ve not seen the likes of since my first games at the old County Ground. That was 1993 and now eighteen years later we’re in a similar predicament.

The heroics that kept us up at Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury in a come from behind, off Pat Gavin’s behind, win prompted everyone involved to think “never again”. But now in 2011 we’re poised just two points above the relegation zone with five games to go thanks to a relentless Bury side who showed no signs of compassion at all for our predicament by slamming home four goals before the hour mark at Sixfields.

The Shakers tore a fragile defence apart and never was there a worse time to come up against League Two Player of The Year Ryan Lowe and strike partner Nicky Ajose. Gary Johnson had the team prepare in the East Stand dressing room in a bid to freshen up the lead up to the game but Bury were having none of it and eased into the automatic promotion places.

Lowe was the first to strike, with a neat close range finish past substitute Steve Collis. Chris Dunn had left the pitch on a stretcher early on and we’re yet to know the full damage from his brave block on the advancing Damien Mozika.

Ajose got in on the act a few minutes later, racing on to a through ball to finish well past the Cobblers second choice stopper, whose debut was not going to be a memorable one in the slightest. A deflected shot that gave Collis no chance from Mozika's shot made it three before the break and the gloom surrounded Sixfields once more.

Ajose would strike again early in the second half for 4-0 and with Barnet leading at Crewe and Hereford starting an excellent trouncing of Chesterfield it meant that we were staring down the barrel.

Shaun Harrad provided relief for the few that stayed behind after the fourth goal went in by providing a glimpse of what he’s capable of when put through on goal. First, a fine finish just seconds after the Bury killer strike and then a lovely lob over the keeper to make it 4-2. The second came in stoppage time though and was far too late to give renewed hope to a recovery of Newcastle v Arsenal proportions.

It means we’re in the mire again and the point in midweek becomes even more important. Burton’s games in hand are running out and defeat by two or more goals to this Bury side on Tuesday will see them replace Barnet in the bottom two following the Bee’s 2-1 home win over Crewe. They’re the ones on form, the team looking every bit like survivors. It could well come down to who’s more up to the fight between ourselves and Burton, both sinking to a dreadful conclusion.

Bury have a lot to say in this relegation matter because after Burton on Tuesday they meet Barnet on Saturday while the Cobblers face the most daunting of trips to Wycombe.

It’s starting to feel ominously like the last relegation, from League One at Elland Road, where no-one thought it was possible that we could go down in the position we were in. As hard as that was to take, if we are to go into the last day at Morecambe knowing we need to win to stay up, it will undoubtedly be the most nervous day I’ve ever had supporting the Cobblers. For those at Shrewsbury in ’93 who said they never wanted to see it again, it could be their worst nightmares returning. For everyone else, the unthinkable may yet provide us with a repeat of dark, dark days.

League Two Preview (8th and 9th April 2011)

2011-04-08T13:16:00.003+01:00

Focus on...Stockport County v Stevenage...

With the Cobblers embroiled in a fight to keep away from Barnet and their “mad dog era, mark 2” it’s easy to forget that there’s a side even worse off. A proud member of the Football League as a continued member since 1905 are on the brink of losing their place and you would have to have a heart of stone to not feel for Stockport County. The story of the last few years at Edgeley Park is one of a slow descent that looks certain to culminate in the ultimate demotion.

April 2009 saw the club go into administration whilst in League One and they eventually only survived on the final day of the season. Not so lucky a year later though, County were relegated and there started a campaign to get the club back to where they came from. Gary Ablett, the man who oversaw just five wins in all of the relegation season, was sacked and in came Paul Simpson with the backing of the “2015 Group” consortium.

But just as things looked set to reignite, everything went wrong once again. Simpson was sacked in January with the club just four points clear of the relegation zone and Peter Ward didn’t fare any better with just two wins in twelve. Ray Mathias is now charged with the “worst job in football” and faces a race against time to keep the Hatters in the league. Brief hope came from a rare win a couple of weeks ago in a last gasp effort against Southend but it was back to earth last weekend in a 2-0 reverse at Wycombe and Mathias’ side are six points away from Burton who of course still have two games in hand.

At the other end of the scale and the other side of the pitch tomorrow are Stevenage, a side on opposite parallels to their opponents. Since promotion at the umpteenth attempt in 2010 they’ve spent little time in getting acclimatised to the surroundings that they were denied access to in 1996 due to insufficient facilities.

A positive first half of the season kept them in the running on the back of excellent home form but it was the combination of that with some improving away performances that have propelled the club to within a few games of a second successive promotion. Impressive wins at Crewe, Port Vale, Wycombe, Burton, Oxford and Macclesfield – six in a row on the road – have moved them up to fifth place, a position cemented by a 2-1 home win over Bradford last week and it’s not just the playoffs on the radar with just three points separating them with third place Shrewsbury, the last side to beat them on their travels.

Having taken several, agonising years to get to this stage, could it be that Stevenage are about to elevate themselves again in the quickest of fashions? Or is there a most surprising sting in the tale from a team desperate to salvage a league status that’s been theirs for 115 years?!

Elsewhere in League Two...

Accrington Stanley may be on absolute fire at home despite not being paid this month but it’s away from the Crown Ground that could end up testing them to full potential if they’re to keep their playoff place. Stanley have won just three times on the road all season and will be looking to improve that stat and move closer to the top three in Friday night’s trip to Macclesfield. The Silkmen are without a win in four at home and have collected more points away from Moss Rose this season but relegation is surely still a distant worry for Gary Simpson.

On Saturday, Hereford, fresh from their three point deduction and subsequent drop back into the dog fight, host leaders Chesterfield who are still a massive thirteen points clear of fourth place and within two wins of promotion. The Spireites could clinch promotion as early as next weekend should all results go their way and that inevitable “P” next to their name will surely be there sooner rather than later.

There’s a massive M40 derby at the Kassam Stadium as Oxford, still harbouring outside playoff dreams, face second placed Wycombe. Over 9,000 tickets have been sold for what is regarded as the biggest game of the season for U’s fans and after a goalless draw early in the season at Adams Park it promises to be another tight one tomorrow. Wanderers will be weary of Bury’s threat with their game in hand and need to keep their form up with the likes of Stevenage and Accrington closing in.

Third placed Shrewsbury travel to Aldershot with their own place in the top three under threat. But since a 5-0 defeat at Torquay a few weeks back it’s been full steam ahead for the Shrews who went on to draw with Wycombe and then win their next three games, culminating in a 4-1 demolition of Macclesfield last Saturday. No Football League side has drawn more games than Aldershot this season and they made it seventeen tied matches in their last outing against Southend.

Meanwhile, Torquay were deducted a point yesterday but still remained in the top seven and their recent run of six games without defeat is tested with a home game against a Bradford side coming off the back of a Tuesday night victory at Macclesfield. The Bantams had started to fall back down the table in the games before that but are now surely out of danger.

Gillingham were knocked out of the playoff places due to Accrington’s win in the week and having been the only side in the promotion chasers to drop points last weekend they will want to get back on track in their game at Lincoln. They’ll have to do it without Dennis Oli though as the winger has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The Imps are without a win in five games since Steve Tilson oversaw a victory over his former club Southend and are just above the Cobblers in the table.

Barnet are rejuvenated under Martin Allen and following a last gasp draw with Chesterfield and a hammering of Burton they’ll be full of confidence going into their home game with Crewe. The Alex hit eight in their last game against Cheltenham at Gresty Road but they’re less efficient on the road with just four wins away all season.

Burton’s draw with the Cobblers on Tuesday night wasn’t enough to take them much further away from danger and they go to Morecambe. The Brewers will be given hope from the fact that their hosts have lost their last three at home but Albion have lost three and drawn one of their four away games since winning at Sixfields.

Cheltenham look to recover from that shocker of a day when they host Rotherham at Whaddon Road. The Millers are now tenth having fallen out of the playoff places with back to back defeats. Coming up against a wounded Robins outfit won’t have been top of their list of games that they would have wanted and there could well be a backlash for them to face.

And Port Vale, overtaken by the surge of Stevenage and Accrington in the last few games, welcome Southend to Vale Park. The Shrimpers’ playoff hopes all but evaporated after defeat at Accrington on Tuesday night but they will still be looking for a strong finish. Vale will be without striker Tom Pope who returned to parent club and fellow promotion chasers Rotherham this week.

Final furlong arrives with six games to go

2011-04-08T13:04:00.003+01:00

Northampton Town v Bury
League Two
Saturday, April 9th 2011

The final six games are upon us. If we put this in terms of Saturday's Grand National, we would be looking at the final furlong as four or five horses battle for the finish line. As it is, six games will decide the fortunes of nervy relegation threatened sides and ambitious clubs fighting for promotion. Team on both ends of the scale will be on show tomorrow afternoon as the Cobblers, five points above the drop zone, host Bury, a point away from third place and the automatic promotion places.

After Tuesday night’s massive six pointer at Burton, it’s a game that starts a three game run against sides gunning for promotion in way or another. Wycombe follow this game for the Cobblers while Rotherham visit Sixfields on Good Friday, three games that on paper we shouldn’t take a lot from but in reality that we really have to.

First up are the Shakers, manager less but no less seeking their ultimate goal of reaching League One for the first time since 2002 when they were relegated in the same season as entering administration for financial irregularities. Helping them along their way is Ryan Lowe, who netted his twenty fifth goal of the season during the 3-0 win over Oxford United last weekend.

Lowe, in total for Bury, has notched up an impressive forty two goals in seventy eight appearances for the club and was named League Two Player of The Year at the Football League awards a couple of weeks ago. Not bad for a man who arrived on a free transfer from Chester City in 2009 and his goals eclipse any of his team mates’ efforts this season. To say Lowe is the danger man tomorrow afternoon is the understatement of the season so far!

In the dugout in the absence of a full time boss is Richie Barker, the former Rotherham United striker and it was announced yesterday that Robbie Fowler will help out the management team for a week starting from next Tuesday. Barker will be hoping that his side will be able to match their last four league away games, in which Bury have kept clean sheets in all four.

The Cobblers have to end that particular stat but still have some injury concerns rolling over from Tuesday night. John Johnson is struggling with a thigh problem while Michael Jacobs is touch and go after falling ill this week.

So as those final six games commence and a run of three incredibly tough fixtures kicks off at Sixfields, there’s no room for error for two sides with very different aspirations.

Points deduction for Hereford and Torquay

2011-04-07T13:05:00.002+01:00

The Cobblers have moved up a place in League Two after Hereford United were docked three points and fined for fielding an illegible player during their game with Torquay United on 1st February. Torquay have also been deducted one point for playing Jake Robinson during the same game in which neither player registered for in time. There was a deadline of 12pm on the day before the game and because both were registered after that time, both teams are punished leaving the top and bottom of the table looking slightly different.

In Town’s favour, it add Hereford to the relegation battle once again as they join us on 43 points, just five above the drop zone. The Bulls also face leaders Chesterfield, Rotherham and Shrewsbury in their next three games so are right back in the dog fight.

At the other end, Torquay remain in the playoffs on goal difference despite losing that point but it could still come back to haunt them come the final knockings. It leaves the Gulls five points off an automatic promotion place.

Why the points deduction is different is still unclear though Hereford are considering an appeal considering that their paperwork is said to have been received earlier than Torquay’s did for Robinson.

I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this one but the affects are instant and gives us another rival in the fight to survive.

Town draw in biggest game of season

2011-04-06T17:27:00.001+01:00

Burton Albion 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, April 5th 2011

So in the end we’re still neither here nor there. A frantic finish to the first half was the ultimate deciding factor last night as the Cobblers and Burton cancelled each other out in quick fire fashion to leave both side teetering just above the drop zone and the lurking Bees of Barnet. The point will be celebrated more by Burton thanks to their two games in hand but away games against Bury and Bradford in those two games won’t be too forgiving.

As for Town, it’s a straight race for the final six games now and with the promotion chasing Shakers to play on Saturday ourselves the nerves will not go away just yet. More injury news that forced Gary Johnson into changes last night are also set to play their part in the conclusion of this season, with John Johnson (thigh), Michael Jacobs (ill)and Michael Uwesu (hamstring) all ruled out of a game that was billed as the biggest for the club for many, many years.

Such a game felt like it should have a winner either way but after a dramatic few minutes at the end of the first half a point apiece seemed frustratingly fair. Shaun Harrad, against his old club, went close twice in the first twenty minutes but it was his strike partner that opened the scoring. Just moments after Burton’s Jimmy Phillips had been denied by Chris Dunn, Josh Walker cleverly set up Guiillem Bauza who curled the ball home for his second in Cobblers colours.

Those celebrations were soon over though as Burton levelled within minutes. A Scott Malone free kick wasn’t cleared and Aaron Webster converted from close range to undo all the hard work of the Cobblers in the early going.

So all to do again in the second half as Albion started brightly. Jacques Maghoma, a half time substitute, sent in a dangerous cross/shot that Dunn had to be alert to before John McGrath shot wide.

The nerves seemed to be kicking in as the game turned into a real cat and mouse affair, end to end without any real chances. That was until ten minutes to go when Harrad so nearly got his moment. It seemed like fate for him to score and when the former Burton man sent in a left footed effort that beat the keeper all ends up it looked like the winner until the ball agonisingly crashed off the angle of post and bar!

Burton nearly won it as well with Malone going for goal instead of setting up the better placed Webster and a free kick deep into stoppage time also threatened the already shattered nerves of everyone involved backing Town.

But a draw it was and the trap door is only slightly closed for now. The last six games are going to provide heart stopping action and I just really hope that come the Morecambe game we’re not all putting radios to ears once again in the hope of slip ups elsewhere.

With what lies beneath that trap door, we cannot afford to slow down yet.

Cup Final Number One: Burton v Cobblers

2011-04-05T13:45:00.003+01:00

Burton Albion v Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, April 5th 2011

The importance of tonight is so high that the old “cup final” quotes are doing the rounds with Gary Johnson using the description to get an atmosphere going this evening at Burton. The difference is that cup final defeats usually just leave you dejected at being runners up, not staring at an uncertain future that would hang in the balance should the result go against you.

The target of winning for the first time in thirteen is less important than winning meaning what it would mean tonight. That being some breathing space and seven points worth of a gap between ourselves and Barnet going into the final six games of the season. It all adds up to a tense, nail biting evening whether you’re at The Pirelli Stadium or not.

We only have to cast our minds back to two recent games between the sides to know that we could be in trouble. Two out of the three meetings we’ve had since Albion rejoined the league have ended 3-2 to the Brewers (the other a 1-1 Sixfields draw) and on both of those occasions we’ve found ourselves three down in the first half.

So Plan A will be to score first, to get in the game and not collapse to leave ourselves frantically fighting back. Plans B and C, probably even D could be needed but it’s fair to say we need this. Burton will feel exactly the same though as their mid-week win last week was cancelled out by Barnet’s 4-1 victory on Saturday at the Pirelli. A win for them and they’ll see themselves as pretty much safe with a couple more games in hand to follow.

The Cobblers look set to be without Andy Holt, someone we really need in this sort of games and are definitely without another, in Ryan Gilligan who will be out for the rest of the season. Gary Johnson has indicated that changes could be made so that could mean Leon McKenzie returning to the starting line-up.

A bonus story line to the evening of course is the return to Burton of Shaun Harrad who will hopefully score the customary goal against the former club. Harrad missed out on a quick fire appearance against his old mates when he was suspended for the game at Sixfields that cost Sammo his job back in March but will be fired up to get stuck in tonight.

Burton have Russ Penn back from suspension this evening after sitting out of the last two games. Penn picked up his tenth booking of the season in the 3-0 reverse at Oxford but is back in contention tonight to leave Paul Boertian as their only absentee.

The thing spurring them on tonight is the thought of going above Town with victory and the hopes of burying the shocking 4-1 home defeat to Barnet at the weekend.

Steve Kabba’s return to his old club was the catalyst for Barnet’s success on that day...if only Shaun Harrad can do the same then we will all sleep a lot easier tonight!

Tonight’s other League Two action

Wycombe’s ambitions of catching Chesterfield must surely now be ending but they can take a step towards League One football with victory at Hereford this evening. Wanderers kept up the pace with a 2-0 home win over Stockport on Saturday and with most around them picking up points it was a crucial three points. More of the same tonight and they’ll be well on the way to automatic promotion. Hereford won’t want to be reminded of their last outing in mid-week, a 4-0 reverse at Accrington last Wednesday but they did pick up a decent point at Gillingham on Saturday.

Accrington themselves know that a draw will be enough to take them into the top seven on goals scored but victory tonight against Southend would be an eighth straight home win in the league. The Shrimpers have disappointingly slipped away from the top seven over the last few weeks and tonight surely is their final chance to get back in the thick of things. If they can upset the form book and take home three points from the game, they would be back in the top half and six points from the top seven.

The final game of the night sees two sides moving away from the relegation zone clash at Moss Rose. Macclesfield won at Bradford back in November and the two sides meet again tonight. The Bantams have Peter Jackson in charge now and despite a good start to his reign, two defeats recently have got the nerves jangling again and his side will be desperate to put their fears finally to bed. Macc are two points better off but have lost their last three games, making tonight a crunch one for two teams clambering for a final move away from the bottom.

The "R" word worries return as Town lose at Stanley

2011-04-04T13:06:00.001+01:00

Accrington Stanley 3-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, April 2nd 2011

Worried yet? Another weekend goes by, another defeat, another win for the accelerating Barnet under Martin Allen. Where’s the next win going to come from? More importantly, can we possibly do what the Bees did and win at Burton ion Tuesday night to start putting these doubts to bed.

Another frustrating and capitulating afternoon is the reason for these fresh concerns as Accrington tore us apart in a first half show that unfortunately mirrors past performances from this season. Michael Jacobs’ well taken free kick in the second 45 meant nothing more than consolation for the travelling fans that are starting to grow weary as an incredibly big game looms on Tuesday at The Pirelli Stadium in Burton.

That was the venue last season where it all went tits up for Stuart Gray as his side were three down by the break. Ian Sampson also lost his job after this season’s first meeting with the Brewers, again seeing his side drop three before any sort of response began.

It’s fair to assume that Gary Johnson won’t go the same way should we lose tomorrow but it’s beginning to look an ever desperate situation and the positive nature of the two previous draws just wasn’t matched in a poor showing at Accrington.

Stanley themselves are bombing towards the playoffs and with a seventh straight home win behind them they now face Southend at home on Tuesday night knowing that a win would lift them into the top seven and incredibly to within three points of the automatic promotion places. Ian Craney did most of the damage against the Cobblers by slotting in a rebound before getting a touch to Jimmy Ryan’s shot to double the advantage. Sean McConville completed the rout on 35 minutes and left us chasing another huge deficit but giving his side real hope of a promotion challenge.

Meanwhile, the Cobblers lick their wounds once more and what we would give now for any sort of result at Burton. It’s not just about the monkey on the back any more, not just about getting a win for winning’s sake. The future of the club is well and truly on the line and my finger nails won’t be able to take much more if that win doesn’t come at the Pirelli.

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

Steve Kabba was the man on the mark for Barnet as he hit four past his former side Burton to reignite the Bees’ hopes of avoiding the drop. Sam Winnall had given Albion the lead in the relegation six pointer but Kabba stunned them with an incredible performance after the break. Martin Allen will be relishing the challenge ahead of him and watching on for Tuesday’s action as the Cobblers travel to the Pirelli Stadium.

Meanwhile, Crewe were the team making all the headlines in League Two this weekend as they hit EIGHT past Cheltenham at Gresty Road. The win included hat-tricks for both Joel Grant and Clayton Donaldson with Ashley Westwood and Shaun Miller getting the others. Dario Gradi missed the game through illness but there’s nothing like eight goals to get the smile back on your face!

We won’t dwell on that too long just in case there’s some Cheltenham fans still lingering around the internet and trying to get some sort of reasoning back after that so we’ll move on to Chesterfield who are still eleven clear at the top after a 2-0 home win over Port Vale. The Spireites’ win, thanks to goals from Jack Lester and Deane Smalley, means that only a couple more wins will seal promotion.

Wycombe saw off Stockport, who look dead and buried now, to keep their promotion aspirations going. Lewis Montrose opened the scoring for the Chairboys before Scott Rendell netted from the spot. Meanwhile, Shrewsbury thumped Macclesfield 4-1 to stay third with substitute Lionel Ainsworth doing the damage with a brace.

Bury certainly didn’t let up either as they saw off Oxford 3-0 at Gigg Lane and they now face a crucial week in which they visit Sixfields and then play their one game in hand against Burton next Tuesday night. Stevenage still haven’t given up on the top three either and won for the sixth straight game, Bradford the victims this time around.

Torquay had keeper Scott Bevan to thank for a remarkable save with the game against Lincoln poised at 0-0 and the Gulls went on to win the game with a double assist from Craig Stanley to keep them in the running. Gillingham, meanwhile, lost ground after they were held at home by Hereford but the surprise of the day was Rotherham’s defeat at home to Morecambe as their bizarre couple of weeks went on.

Southend and Aldershot both stay in mid-table after a goalless draw at Roots Hall but the Shots came off better having completed an eighth game without defeat. Barry Corr nearly won it for the Shrimpers but his late effort hit the bar.

Odds against Town in search for win...

2011-04-02T09:22:00.001+01:00

Accrington Stanley v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, April 2nd 2011

Two teams couldn’t be more opposite in terms of form, hope and short term ambition than when the Cobblers take to the field at expectant Accrington this afternoon. John Coleman has led his team through a winter of few games and many postponements, through a catch up period that seen them claw their way up the table and to a place where they can now genuinely call themselves playoff contenders.

The Cobblers, on the other hand, have been battling the elements from the start of that same cold spell. But it’s not the games called off that were the problem, it was the ones that made it to the final whistle without a positive result.

Stanley will go into kick off today with just one defeat in twelve games, Town of course on a run of eleven without a win. Our hosts have only been beaten three times in 2011, all to playoff or promotion contenders, during a period in which we’ve seen the wrong end of defeats to the likes of Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion.

So you would forgive anyone labelling Stanley as favourites for this one and momentum is certainly with them following a 4-0 home win on Wednesday night against Hereford United. They sit just three points off the playoffs with still one of those games in hand so will be desperate to keep this run going for a dramatic last push for a place in the top seven.

Terry Gornell should keep his place in the Accrington line up after scoring in the week with Rory Boulding set to take up a place on the bench.

The Cobblers are without Ryan Gilligan, whose season is now over after he was booked in for surgery on his troublesome ankle injury. Billy McKay is also still missing but Leon McKenzie could come back into contention. Striker Michael Uwesu could also be used after missing the signing on deadline for last Friday’s game against Torquay.

So two records at stake today and we need the form book to be turned completely on its head if that illusive, and very overdue, victory is to come.

Gilligan’s season over

2011-03-31T09:22:00.002+01:00

Ryan Gilligan has confirmed that his season is over after deciding to have an operation on the ankle injury that’s been niggling away all season. Gilligan has played through the pain many times during this campaign but confirmed on his Twitter account:

“It’s not good. Operation on Thursday, then long three to four months rehab and recovery, so my season is unfortunately finished.”

Here’s wishing Gilly all the best in his operation and subsequent recovery!

Late drama as Brewers claim vital win

2011-03-31T09:16:00.002+01:00

With ten minutes to go last night at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton Albion looked all set to remain just two points clear of the bottom two. Emile Sinclair had just headed in what looked likely to be the winning goal for Macclesfield Town against the Brewers with his second of the night. Sinclair had already put the visitors in front once, after just twenty two seconds, before Calvin Zola equalised for the home side just before half-time.

And when the Macc striker captured his brace, it was looking like another gloomy night for Albion. That was until Adam Boulder nicked a second leveller of the night for his side and in a dramatic last minute, Burton’s Jacques Maghoma was felled by Izak Reid in the area and suddenly there was a chance to win it. Step up Sam Winnall to break the hold of the Silkmen and break the hopes of Barnet, who are the visitors in a do or die meeting at the same ground on Saturday.

The Bees have a massive task to escape but they would have taken hope from another Burton defeat last night with the upcoming visit on the horizon but now Saturday’s encounter has become even more do or die than it already was.

At the other end of the table, Accrington Stanley trounced Hereford 4-0. Terry Gornell scored twice to fire his side to within three points of the playoffs with a game in hand. Gornell opened the scoring from close range with Jimmy Ryan and Sean McConville adding goals in between Gornell’s first and second of the night, the second completing the rout after a mistake from visiting keeper Adam Bartlett.

The win leaves Stanley in a good position going into Saturday’s visit from the Cobblers and they’ve now lost just once in eleven games.

Midweek Preview, Part 2: Burton v Macclesfield, Hereford v Accrington

2011-03-30T12:09:00.002+01:00

Tonight sees the focus turn to the bottom end of the table with Burton’s struggle to catch up with games and get out of trouble continuing. They take on Macclesfield Town and the Cobblers will be hoping that the same Macc team turns up as the one that won at Sixfields a couple of weeks ago.

Albion are on a run of five games without a win and were beaten 2-1 at Moss Rose earlier in the season. That result saw the Brewers drop to thirteenth in the table, a position they would be mightily happy with right now! The subsequent cup run that followed took them to the fourth round when they were eliminated by Championship side Burnley but more telling was that they played just three league games during the time it took them to get through three cup rounds due to a heavy load of postponements.

The effect on their season has been nothing short of chaotic and the midweek fixture list has been filled with rearranged games for the tired and weary legs of Paul Peschisolido’s men to trawl through. At the time of year when injuries and suspensions are rife, the games in hand have been, in the main, a real hindrance and forced a relegation battle until the time comes when the games start turning into points.

Tonight would seem, on paper, an ideal time to strike against a Macclesfield side wounded by a 4-0 home defeat to Stevenage Borough at the weekend that halted a run of results that saw the Silkmen go unbeaten for five games and get out of trouble themselves.

The job done by Gary Simpson cannot be ignored though and getting a club to the upper reaches of the bottom half of League Two wouldn’t usually be regarded as a major success but for one like Macclesfield it’s a fine achievement to have no real lingering fears of the drop with eight or nine games to go. So a stern test of resolve once again for a Burton side still trying to distance themselves from that very problem tonight.

Hereford are a team that have just about got out of trouble at the right times during the second half of the season. Jamie Pitman, who took charge in October with his side bottom of League Two, has slowly turned the form around and is now so close to completing the great escape following a vital 1-0 home win over Crewe on Saturday.

The Bulls have also had to deal with the loss of the beast like front man Mathieu Manset after he joined Reading in the January transfer window. But Stuart Fleetwood has overtaken his goal tally and the winner against Crewe made it sixteen for the season and the striker seems to have finally found his club after four loan spells while on the books of Charlton Athletic having come out of non league with Forest Green Rovers to join the Addicks.

Unfortunately for United, tonight’s opponents Accrington Stanley are planning a late surge on the playoffs after storming clear of the nether reaches of the table during a superb 2010 so far. Stanley currently sit six points from the playoffs with two games in hand, one of those being tonight’s encounter at Edgar Street.

Badly hit by the weather themselves at the end of 2010, 2011 has seen Stanley lose just three times and all of those were to sides currently fighting for promotion in Shrewsbury, Rotherham and Gillingham. After reaching the top half, suddenly you started to look at their games in hand and thinking that maybe, just maybe they can reach the promised land.

Since rejoining the league in 2006, Accrington have made progress every season, finishing 20th, 17, 16th and 15th in the final tables since. They’re surely going to better it once again but there might yet be a chance to make it an extraordinary campaign if they can gatecrash the end of season party.

Millers miss out as Shrews take place in top three...Vale climb into playoffs

2011-03-30T12:03:00.000+01:00

And so it was a far from fruitful night Rotherham last night as they were well beaten at home by Shrewsbury, who now overtake Bury and go into third place, the final automatic promotion position. James Collins opened the scoring on twenty minutes and the Shrews never looked back, controlling the game and going on to double their lead before half time. Collins was brought down in the area and Nicky Wroe stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Two became three quickly after the break as Tom Bradshaw, scorer of both goals in the weekend win over Bradford, charged down a clearance from Andy Warrington in the home goal and the ball fell kindly for Collins to net a second of the game. Adam Le Fondre, returning from injury, was only on the bench but came on to score and give his side hope with twenty minutes to play but it was Shrewsbury who took home maximum points in a fine performance ahead of Saturday’s home game with Macclesfield Town at the New Meadow.

Meanwhile, there were opposite fortunes for another manager less side in Port Vale as they did get the win needed to take them back into the playoff positions. It didn’t look good for them when Lincoln took the lead at Vale Park through a third minute strike from Gavin McCallum.

But the hosts hit back in what could be a defining turn around for their season. Marc Richards netted his 100th career goal and 50th league goal for Vale just before the hour mark and the victory was sealed ten minutes later when Doug Loft scored what sounds like being one of the goals of the season, a belting left footed shot from 25 yards that beat Imps keeper Elliot Parish all ends up.

So that means Shrewsbury are into third place and Bury are the ones to slip out into fourth, though the Shakers do still have a game in hand. Vale, who go to leaders Chesterfield at the weekend, go above Torquay into seventh but everything is still almightily close.

Millers Tale continues in massive midweek fixture plus Vale look to rejoin the pack

2011-03-29T16:36:00.005+01:00

“...and so it was that later, as the miller told his tale, that her face at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale...”

It’s a long shot that Procol Harum were, in 1967, talking about Rotherham United in their Whiter Shade of Pale days but the words of their best known hit can certainly be echoed by the current day Millers who are telling their own tale that a certain Mr Chaucer would be proud of. A week ago, United had not a care in the world barring an assault on the top three places of League Two that they’d fallen from in recent weeks.

Then came a seven day period that no-one could have written. Ronnie Moore was incredibly sacked following a 5-0 defeat at runaway leaders Chesterfield. Heavy as that was to take, it seemed harsh at the very least to dismiss an experienced hero of the club. Fast forward a week and the club were under the caretaker charge of Andy Liddell and faced a tricky trip to Lincoln in their first game post-Moore.

Again not even the most optimistic of Millers fans could predict what would happen that night. The astonishing thing wasn’t just the 6-0 away win against the Imps but the fact that Ian Thomas-Moore, the departed manager’s son, scored a hat-trick at Sincil Bank!

And so to the final game of a cycle that leaves Rotherham doing battle to regain the playoff place that was lost after Moore’s final game in charge. The surroundings of temporary base the Don Valley Stadium are the setting for a hugely important clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury this evening. Thankfully for Millers fans, the far from ideal venue will be their home for only one more season with the club set to move to a new 12,000 seat venue at the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site in Rotherham town centre in time for the 2012-13 kick off.

For now though, they’re working on bringing not just the club, but League One football, back into town. Standing in their way tonight is a Shrewsbury Town side that have been in or around the top three themselves for the majority of the campaign.

The Shrews have recovered from their own 5-0 defeat from a couple of weeks ago that saw their own player, on loan Jake Robinson, score twice against them for Torquay. But a subsequent draw with Wycombe and victory at Bradford have stabilised their position just outside the top three. Indeed a win tonight and Graham Turner’s men will be back in the automatic promotion places, albeit having played a game more than Bury.

Turner sold Hereford United last summer and left his position as chairman and manager to return to his old Shrewsbury roots. The campaign started with a five game unbeaten run and has never really stalled enough for them to drop out of contention for a place in the end of season shake up that’s looking closer and closer by the week if you discount Chesterfield and their runaway lead.

Tonight is their chance to put their mark on the league once again but a suddenly rejuvenated group of Millers may yet have their own new twist to an ever engaging tale.

Meanwhile, Port Vale are also on a mission tonight as they host the team beaten so heavily by Rotherham on Friday night, Lincoln City. Vale’s similar fall out of form as well as a bizarre incident on the coach to Aldershot a few weeks ago means that they’re also no strangers to controversy and incident this season. Manager Jim Gannon and Geoff Horsfield’s well publicised row saw both depart the team coach before hitting Aldershot and despite a brief period where differences were apparently set aside, Gannon was shown the door after just 74 days in charge.

Horsfield is now in joint caretaker charge of the club along with Mark Grew and Saturday’s home draw against high flying Bury is a sign that the old form is returning to the club just in time for the final furlong of the season.

Lincoln have their own, far from lofty, ambitions under Steve Tilson who could make one or two changes for tonight’s game following that mauling on Friday. Their supporters will be delighted just to be out of harm though and the fact that they now sit eleven points clear of the bottom two is testament to the slow but sure way Tilson has guided the club away from danger in the last few months.

Since joining the Imps back in October, his side have had gone to the very foot of the table, following a defeat by Wycombe on January 15th, up to 13th place just a month later and are now steadying the ship ahead of next season when they could well be dark horses for another go at the right end of the table should Tilson have a productive summer in the transfer market.

Ashley Grimes, the striker on loan from Millwall, returns for tonight’s game and will provide a massive boost after missing out against Rotherham with an ankle injury. Grimes has scored seventeen times this season and his value increases when you consider that all of his nearest rivals in Lincoln’s scoring charts have netted just four!

So plenty of action condensed into two games tonight with the league finally catching up on the wintery weather that halted the season in December.

League Two round up...28th March 2011...

2011-03-28T09:41:00.003+01:00

So a busy weekend of League Two action is over and to say that things are heating in the relegation, playoff and promotion issues is an understatement. It all started on Friday night with the Cobblers’ dramatic draw with Torquay at Sixfields and an extraordinary start for Rotherham under caretaker boss Andy Liddell. The Millers bounced back from the 5-0 defeat at Chesterfield that ended Ronnie Moore’s time at the club with a 6-0 away win at Lincoln. Ironically Moore’s son, Ian Thomas-Moore, grabbed a hat-trick at Sincil Bank!

Saturday’s all important clash saw Barnet recover from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Chesterfield at Underhill. A bizarre goal deep into stoppage time that saw Sam Deering’s cross fly over the head of Spireites keeper Tommy Lee and into the corner of the net gave his side fresh hope of staying up under new boss Martin Allen.

The Bees had been temporarily overtaken in the table earlier in the day as Stockport conjured up late drama of their own. With their home game against Southend moving into injury time, Danny Rowe rose to head home a crucial winner that takes them to within a couple of points of safety.

At the top of the table on Saturday, there were huge away wins for Wycombe and Stevenage as their respective promotion bids continued. Wycombe scored three in quick succession at Morecambe to move into second place while Stevenage are now two points off the top three following their 4-0 success at Macclesfield, their fifth straight win.

Bury are down to third after their goalless draw at Port Vale. Bury survived the sending off of captain Steven Schumacher and two Vale efforts that hit the woodwork to hold on to a decent point in their bid to hold on to an automatic promotion place.

Shrewsbury are still closing the gap though but did it the hard way at Bradford. Going into the final fifteen minutes a goal down, Tom Bradshaw scored twice to turn things completely on their head and to keep his side in touch at the top.

The only other game on Saturday was Aldershot’s 1-1 home draw with Accrington. Rory Boulding gave Stanley hope of closing in on the top seven but a late header from Darren Jones earned the Shots a share of the spoils.

Sunday saw three more games take place and the Cobblers were sent down a place in the table thanks to Hereford’s 1-0 victory against Crewe. Stuart Fleetwood raced on to a through ball from Kenny Lunt to score the winner that takes the Bulls up to nineteenth.

Better news for us came at the Kassam with Oxford hammering Burton 3-0 and the Brewer’s poor form is now giving them more and more trouble. It got worse for them with the sending off, and subsequent suspensions, of both Darren Moore and Tom Parks during the game and with more games in hand to get through without two big players it’s going to be a nervy end to their season.

Elsewhere, Cody McDonald stunned Cheltenham with a brace within the final four minutes as Gillingham stole three points from Whaddon Road. Steve Elliot had given the home side the lead after just three minutes but McDonald left it late to move the Gills into sixth.

Late drama as Town get vital point

2011-03-26T16:39:00.002Z

Northampton Town 2-2 Torquay United
League Two
Friday, March 25th 2011

You got the feeling that it wasn’t a normal night when Torquay’s team bus was late to Sixfields. That was to be just the start of things though as two goals were scored after 10pm and deep into stoppage time in an extraordinary finale to an entertaining game that saw the Cobblers claim an important point in the battle to move away from the bottom few sides.

The Cobblers were unchanged for the first time under Gary Johnson, something that certainly should help the cause of continuity and started well but it was Torquay that created the first good chance of the game. On loan forward Jake Robinson sent a shot just wide with the Gulls appearing to show no effects of their late arrival due to a motorway accident.

Indeed it was the visitors who took the early lead with winger Eunan O’ Kane netting to give their small band of travelling supporters hope that by the end of the night they would be in the top three. The game was open enough to suggest that the Cobblers could challenge that though and on the half hour mark, a free kick was nodded down by Abdul Osman into the path of John Johnson who headed home from close range.

Game on then and as the half grew on so did the confidence of a Town outfit that are desperately trying to put things together under Gary Johnson’s leadership. The scores were still level at the break though despite two penalty shouts for the bundling over of Michael Jacobs both times.

It was the same at the beginning of the second half and Jacobs was involved once more, this time getting on the end of a good move involving Byron Webster and Guillem Bauza only to be denied by visiting keeper Scott Bevan.

Torquay threatened at the other end as Chris Dunn had to be alert to another effort from the lively Robinson and Guy Branston headed wide from a corner. The late drama was preceded by chances at both ends for Robinson and Bauza but when Billy Kee scored two minutes into stoppage time it looked certain to be the winner.

We reached six minutes of added time when the Cobblers won a contested free kick. The ball would drop to Bauza who sent in a fine volley that flew into the net via a deflection and somehow we had nicked a point in the most unlikely of circumstances. Gulls manager Paul Buckle was seething at the free kick decision that sent his side back to Devon having dropped a couple of points when in a winning position but we have to take whatever we can get at this moment in time!

As I said after last week’s draw at Bradford, every point is crucial and picking them up in singles is helpful as long as the rest of the pack down with us keep slipping. The main threat, Barnet, take on leaders Chesterfield this evening so hopefully that game is as academic as it should be…unless there’s a real mad dog twist to come!

Accrington away up next for us but another week to prepare and with the relegation worries hopefully dying down and the fans back on side we can go there and play a bit more freely and finally claim those illusive three points!

Friday night action as Gulls visit Sixfields

2011-03-25T09:53:00.006Z

Northampton Town v Torquay United
League Two
Friday, March 25th 2011

The aim of Torquay United this evening is to leave Sixfields having bagged a place in the top three of League Two. The Gulls will hope to take advantage of playing a day earlier than their promotion rivals and know that a win would give them a spot in the automatic promotion places for the night at least. The Cobblers will be thinking otherwise though and Gary Johnson, still looking for his first win in charge, will be encouraged by his side’s performance at Bradford last weekend – possibly enough so to name an unchanged side.

Johnson does have Dean Beckwith fully fit again so faces a choice as to whether to put him straight back into the starting line-up or stick with the partnership of John Johnson and Doncaster loanee Byron Webster who looked solid enough at Valley Parade. Leon McKenzie and Andy Holt are still major doubts after not training this week whilst Ryan Gilligan will be out for a few weeks with an ankle injury picked up in the warm up last weekend.

The visitors will be without loan striker Ronan Murray tonight as the Republic of Ireland Under 21 international is in Portugal with his country. Murray scored his first goal since joining on loan from Ipswich in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Cheltenham at the weekend and was described by manager Paul Buckle as being “a different class,” so we might have had a stroke of luck there! Meanwhile, midfielder Ben Pringle has rejoined parent club Derby County after making five appearances at Plainmoor but Billy Kee could return after an ankle problem.

We’re all so desperate for a win and gradually you can see things turning. There’s certainly been no honeymoon period for Gary Johnson but the Bradford game was a step forward in terms of the players starting to mould into his ways of thinking. With eleven long games separating the present day and that night against Crewe when everything flew in and everything looked rosy. Six goals was great, but right now a scrappy 1-0 win with a goal from a scrambled battle in the six yard box looks very appealing indeed.

For the club, the fans and the sanity of everyone, we need three points!

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend

The only other game tonight sees Rotherham attempt to regain the playoff place that they lost during the week as they visit Lincoln. With just five points separating eleventh and fourth place, the race for those coveted top seven places is well and truly on and the Millers, now under the management of caretaker boss Andy Liddell, will be desperate to get back on track following the surprise sacking of Ronnie Moore.

On Saturday, there could be repercussions at either end of the table with a huge battle at Underhill. Barnet, three points from safety, meet leaders Chesterfield who need just four more wins to guarantee promotion back to League One.

Port Vale, another side manager less and out of the playoff positions, host second place Bury whilst Wycombe in third travel to Morecambe. Both Bury and Wycombe are surely now discarding any hopes of catching Chesterfield and will be hoping to simply keep hold of the three point gap separating themselves and fourth.

Stevenage, meanwhile, have suddenly jumped into fifth after another good win on Tuesday night and they’re at Macclesfield tomorrow afternoon. Shrewsbury have a game in hand on most of their rivals but will still want to bag maximum points at Bradford.

Rock bottom Stockport will go ever closer to the Conference if they fail to win at home to Southend at Edgeley Park as they enter real do or die territory at the foot of League Two. Elsewhere on Saturday, Aldershot play their third home game in a row with ever rising Accrington the visitors this time around. Stanley have suddenly forced themselves back into the playoff picture with a strong run of form and if they can nick another victory at the EBB Stadium they’ll be in a fine position going into the run in.

Because of the Wales-England game on Saturday, we have some rare Sunday games in League Two as well, all of them involving teams with top seven ambitions. Gillingham are at Cheltenham while Hereford will be aiming to stop Crewe from leaping into contention and to ease their returning relegation fears. And Oxford are at home to Burton with both sides clamouring for points for completely opposite reasons.

So a good spread of games over three days this weekend and the excitement mounts for a frantic finish at both ends of the basement league.

Free agent Uwezu becomes sixth Johnson signing

2011-03-25T09:09:00.002Z

There was no late activity on the loan front yesterday but Gary Johnson did bring in free agent Michael Uwesu on a free transfer until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move in the summer. Uwezu, described as “quick, tenacious and a real pain for defenders to play against,” didn’t sign in time for tonight’s game with Torquay United but will be available for next Saturday’s trip to Accrington Stanley.

Starting his career with Arsenal’s academy, Uwezu then moved to Fulham and scored an impressive eleven goals in eighteen games for their under 18s side in his first season. He was allocated a squad number at the club for the start of the 2009/10 season and was an unused substitute in three of their Europa League games en route to the final. But following a brief spell on loan at Lincoln City, he was released from his contract at Craven Cottage before making any senior appearances for the club.

Rejecting a move to Holland, the striker joins up as Gary Johnson begins to look at players he wants in next season and it makes sense to have another option in attack given injuries to Billy McKay, Leon McKenzie and long term to Tadhg Purcell. Indeed there were no attacking options on the bench last weekend so we at least have something different to offer starting next weekend, by which time McKenzie could also be back in the frame.

Young guns to get chance?

2011-03-24T11:09:00.001Z

Gary Johnson has hinted that young Cobblers prospects such as Greg Kaziboni and Malachi Farquharson may get a chance to impress in the final weeks of the season. The Town boss has seen glimpses of the future of the club in practice matches and behind closed doors games in the last couple of weeks and could be set to include one or two in the last nine games of the campaign.

Assuming that we don’t get drawn into a relegation battle, it’s a safe bet that the younger lads will get their chance with Johnson looking to get an early look into the possible squad for next season. It’s odd to think that a year ago we didn’t know a lot about Michael Jacobs – kept on by Sammo in place of Alex Dyer in the summer – but his progression has to be the motivation for the young ‘uns to push on.

Meanwhile, Johnson has stated that his shopping spree is over after five new signings since he joined the club. The loan window closes at 5pm this evening and no new activity is expected at Sixfields.

League Two round up, March 23rd – Town stay clear

2011-03-23T07:27:00.001Z

The Cobblers had as good a night as possible without playing last night with relegation rivals falling to defeats that keep us seven points clear of the drop zone. Barnet have now played an extra game to Town and they were beaten 1-0 at Aldershot last night. The Shots won it with a goal from Danny Hylton on the hour mark to leave Barnet in all kinds of trouble.

They will have gained a little glimmer of hope from the fact that Burton continue to stall in their bid to escaped their clutches as the Brewers went down to a 2-0 home defeat to Stevenage in a result that lifted Borough into the playoff places. John Mousinho struck twice at the Pirelli Stadium to sink Albion and leave them just a place above the relegation zone. Despite their four games in hand it’s always going to be a lingering worry until they get a couple of wins from those games and that will be the hope from the boys from Underhill.

Meanwhile, Hereford could only go level on points with the Cobblers but picked up a useful draw at Port Vale. The Bulls looked to be on their way to all three points when James McQuilkin gave them the lead but Tom Pope’s header three minutes into stoppage time put pay to that.

Macclesfield saw off ten man Morecambe to keep up their good recent form and move 12 points clear of Barnet. Hamza Bencherif’s ninth of the season opened the scoring before Tyrone Bennett made it two. James Spencer halved the deficit but the home side ended with ten men after Stewart Drummond picked up a second yellow card.

It’s all change in the playoff race as Torquay rose to fourth place with a 2-1 home win over Cheltenham. Guy Branston scored for the second time in two days in the first half and Ronan Murray doubled the advantage. The Gulls survived a late rally from Cheltenham that saw Danny Andrew score from a free kick but they held on to go to within three points of Wycombe in third place. Indeed they will go into the top three should they win at Sixfields on Friday night.

There was controversy at Crewe as Accrington were denied a victory when Sean McConville’s shot appeared to bounce off the bar and over the line but nothing was given and the game ended goalless, a result that halts both side’s playoff ambitions.

A point closer...

2011-03-22T08:13:00.000Z

Apologies for the lack of updates over the weekend but fair to say that the Cobblers have made a bit of breathing space over the weekend. The point gained at Bradford can’t be overlooked in terms of importance and with Barnet falling to defeat at home to Morecambe and their free travelling fans it means that we’re a point better off.

Not that it’s the end of the story by any means but what happens tonight could go a long way to deciding whether or not the trembling of relegation return in time for the home game with Torquay United on Friday night. It was, by all accounts, a better performance at Valley Parade but the monkey on our backs that is the eleven games without a win needs to turn around for our sanities at least!

First though, plenty of action of interest tonight as the three teams directly below us are in action. After that defeat at the weekend, Barnet face a trip to Aldershot knowing that time is well and truly running out for their battle against the drop. They, along with the Cobblers, will be praying that Burton continue to be stuck in the mud as they take on Stevenage this evening. And Hereford, who have two games in hand on the Cobblers, are at manager less Port Vale. Jim Gannon was shown the door at Vale Park after just 74 days in charge as they slipped out of the playoff positions over the weekend with a 3-0 defeat at Accrington.

That win took Stanley to within three points of the playoffs and they go to Crewe tonight in one of their two crucial games in hand that could complete a remarkable turnaround for the club in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the two teams above us, Macclesfield and Morecambe, go head to head at the Globe Arena and Torquay, proprietors of Port Vale’s slip out of the playoffs, look to go up to fourth as they play Cheltenham at Plainmoor.

So still plenty of nerves around if results should go against us this evening but the main threat of Barnet could be a little bit more extinguished because they will have played a game more than us after tonight. Concentration on our own games is obviously the key but if staying in the Football League comes down to other teams’ failings then I’m happy with that!

Huge weekend all round as Town go north...

2011-03-18T12:44:00.004Z

Bradford City v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, March 19th 2011

So to the most important weekend of the season. The Cobblers travel to Bradford for a game that we, at the very least, need to take something from. No-one at the club is being drawn into talking about a relegation fight but tension is mounting on the terraces, particularly with the tough run of games coming up. A bad time to go to rejuvenated Bradford then, who seem to have turned the corner away from their own battle against an unlikely drop under new boss Peter Jackson.

It wasn’t long ago that the Bantams were in our position, looking nervously behind them as Peter Taylor’s regime failed to bring about the expected promotion challenge. Victories over Rotherham and Morecambe have propelled them away from trouble though and that could be the danger that the home side will be back to their confident best. It’s a struggle the Cobblers need to man up to and fight for their lives. There will be a small band of Town fans making the trip north with hearts on their sleeves when they’re not in their mouths so the players need to wake up and play for them at least.

Gary Johnson has brought in a fourth loan signing, replacing the outgoing Craig Hinton with Doncaster’s Byron Webster and the centre back goes straight into the squad. Liam Davis played in the midweek behind closed doors friendly at QPR and will be pushing for a recall on the left hand side. Johnson got a look at some of his fringe players in that game so we could see some new faces in the squad.

Bradford could bring Kevin Ellison back in for Scott Dobie but joint top scorer David Syers is expected to start from the bench. Michael Flynn and Jon Worthington have been in fine form to keep Dobie out of the team in recent weeks.

It’s most certainly squeaky bum time. Going to Bradford last season in the final away game we thought that we could still make the playoffs. Defeat there pretty much ended that hope...defeat tomorrow would leave us facing something far more serious.

Elsewhere in League Two...

There’s a massive game this evening in League Two with leaders Chesterfield taking on fourth placed Rotherham at the B2Net Stadium. The Spireites are just a few wins away from promotion and defeating one of the sides pushing for a top three place will go a long way to paving their surely inevitable path into League One. Rotherham, four points off the pace as they chase Wycombe in third, are without a win in four games.

Also tonight, Southend welcome Hereford to Roots Hall. Despite dropping into the bottom half this week, defender Luke Prosser still believes his side can make the playoffs. They need to get back into the fight quickly though and will see a game against a nervy Hereford side, who have slipped back into trouble, as an ideal one to get back on track.

The heat in the playoff fight has intensified with just two points separating fourth and eighth. Torquay’s midweek win at Bury means that they are the form team going into a weekend when they could jump back into the top seven as they travel to Macclesfield, who rescued a late point against Lincoln on Tuesday night.

The sides occupying those coveted playoff spots will be nervously looking over their shoulders as they hit this crucial weekend. Port Vale go to an Accrington side that have won their last four at home, scoring three goals in all but one of those victories. Meanwhile, Gillingham also face a tricky away game at Burton. The Gills were one of the only top sides to win last weekend and will be favourites against an Albion team still trying to escape the reach of Barnet and Stockport.

Yet another biggy comes at the New Meadow with Shrewsbury hosting Wycombe needing to bounce back from their 5-0 defeat in Devon last week. With only a four point gap separating the sides it’s a big chance for the hosts to make some ground up.

Second placed Bury will be hoping for a return to form after they missed a big chance to close the gap on Chesterfield in the week. Finishing in the top three will be all that’s on their minds though as they prepare for a home game with Cheltenham at Gigg Lane. Three defeats in four have surely ended the visitor’s playoff hopes but they need points to ensure they don’t drop any further down the league and salvage what was a positive first half of the season.

It’s not just the top half of the table where there’s big games either. Morecambe fans are being taken to Barnet on free coaches laid on by the club in a bid to get a real atmosphere going for a crunch six pointer. There will, of course, be a little sideways glance from Cobblers fans to this result as well.

Stockport have been in big trouble all season and if they’re to give themselves any hope at all they need to come away from Aldershot with all three points. Ray Mathias has taken charge until the end of the season after caretaker Peter Ward was asked to stand down in a board meeting last Monday and Mathias got his first point a day later in a goalless draw with Burton. The Shots have taken seven points from their last three games, though, so it’s a tough task ahead.

Also on Saturday, two sides hopeful still of the playoffs meet as Oxford take on Crewe at the Kassam. Crewe overtook the U’s on Tuesday as they beat Southend while Oxford were losing at home to Stevenage. Borough try to keep their dreams of a top seven place alive when they play Lincoln at Braodhall Way.

Rovers defender signs

2011-03-17T17:01:00.001Z

Doncaster Rovers centre back Byron Webster has signed a loan deal with the Cobblers that keeps him at Sixfields until the end of the season. Described as a “ball winner and a leader” by Gary Johnson, he goes straight into the squad for the trip to Bradford at the weekend.]

Webster, 23, began his career at York City, making his debut in the Conference at the end of 2004. Just a few days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against Stevenage Borough and went on to make sixteen appearances that season. Signing professional terms in 2006, Webster left the club less than a year later and joined Harrogate Town.

He signed a one year deal with Czech side FK SIAD Most in August 2007 but his new side were relegated at the end of that season. After brief spells on loans and trials with Motherwell and Bury Webster eventually signed for Doncaster after impressing in pre-season 2009. He has made seven appearances in the Championship this season but with a contract that runs out this summer he could be one that Johnson looks at with a view to a permanent deal.

So another one in and the likelihood is that we’ll again be a changed side against Bradford with the Cobblers boss stating that he will play some part in the game.

Hinton departs as Johnson's axe rides again!

2011-03-17T14:39:00.003Z

Craig Hinton has become the next Cobblers squad member to be shown the Sixfields door as Gary Johnson continues his revamp ahead of a crucial end of season and the coming summer break. Last week Alistair Slowe left the club after no appearances but this time it’s a more experienced member of the squad on his way out.

Hinton notched up 44 games for the club after moving from Bristol Rovers in 2009. Injury put paid to his involvement towards the end of last season though and although he did go out on loan to Luton a couple of months ago following his only game this season for the Cobblers, at Ipswich in the Carling Cup, Hinton couldn’t force his way back and now departs Sixfields.

Hopefully this spurs more of the current crop of players on to raise their games before the end of the season with Johnson’s axe already in motion.

***UPDATE: Craig Hinton has, this afternoon, been named the new Assistant Manager of his former club Bristol Rovers. ***

Shakers miss chance as Gulls close in

2011-03-16T09:49:00.001Z

At the start of the season you wouldn’t have batted much of your eyelid with the score line of Bury 1-2 Torquay, the full time result at Gigg Lane last night. The Shakers had made a decent start to the campaign but it was the Devon club pulling up most of the trees on the early roads of League Two version 10/11. Torquay overtook a club record of clean sheets and were looking unstoppable, leaving the chasing pack in their wake. But since then, both sides have made a slight jump, Bury in the right direction, Torquay going the other way. So much so that it was considered a game that Bury needed to win last night to close the gap on leaders Chesterfield.

Cue a rejuvenated flock of Gulls, flying back south with all three precious points that puts them back on the brink of a playoff berth and proving that below the much admired leaders there’s a hell of a lot of competition going on to both avoid and to be a part of the end of season lottery known as the Playoffs. It’s taken a mid table slump for United to wake up and start challenging again but they’ve now won three out of their last four games, hammering Shrewsbury before last night’s just as impressive success.

This massive three points, thanks to a stunning second half recovery, was ground out with two goals in nine minutes. After Chris Holroyd had shot Bury into a half time advantage, Craig Stanley followed up on a goal mouth scramble just after the hour and Chris Zebroski nodded the winner. Torquay are now just a point away from the final playoff position held by Port Vale but perhaps more tellingly are two points from Gillingham in sixth with a game in hand.

Elsewhere, Stevenage, famed for their home form in the first half of the season, picked up another fine away win, this time at Oxford. United’s Harry Worley found scored for them in the first half, the Oxford man turning a Luke Foster cross into his own net but after Josh Payne was brought down in the area by Peter Winn, Tom Craddock scored from the spot to level it. Borough wouldn’t be denied though and Craig Reid notched the winner to keep Borough on track. It was a massive blow for Oxford who are five points from the playoffs having played at least a game more than those around them.

Crewe are up to ninth after they saw off Southend at Gresty Road. Shaun Miller took advantage of a rebounded Clayton Donaldson effort to tap in for the winner and condemn Southend to the bottom half of the table.

The Cobblers came out of the night near enough unscathed in terms of other results with Burton going down 3-1 at ever improving Accrington who move into the top half. Burton’s games in hand have been well publicised and it appears to be a get out clause for their relegation battle but until they win at least two of their remaining four extra games they’ll still be extremely nervous. Phil Edwards, Ian Craney and Andy Procter scored the goals that lifted Stanley to a fifth win in seven.

The other ones we had to worry about were those pesky Silkmen of Macclesfield and it looked like they were about to go down to a very handy defeat when Stephen Hunt’s fine goal gave Lincoln the lead at Moss Rose. But deep into stoppage time, Sam Wedgbury belted the ball home with an unstoppable volley from distance to earn his side a point. Lincoln were hanging on with ten men after Ben Hutchinson was sent off but their resistance failed to hold up until the last.

League Two midweek preview

2011-03-15T09:33:00.001Z

With the Cobblers not playing tonight there’s a chance for a midweek breather for the first time in w while but plenty of games still to catch up on as the final furlong of the season kicks in.

Burton play another game in hand and can close the gap on the Cobblers to just a point should they win at Accrington. Macclesfield will be looking to keep up their good form after winning at Sixfields when they host Lincoln at Moss Rose. The fear now is that a Macc win would open a three point gap between ourselves and the rest of the pack that are slowly moving away from trouble.

At the top, Bury use up one of their games in hand that they must win if they have any hopes at all of catching leaders Chesterfield. The Shakers are at home to Torquay this evening, who made their playoff intentions very clear indeed at the weekend by hammering Shrewsbury 5-0 at Plainmoor.

Meanwhile, Southend, still knocking on the door of a late playoff challenge despite defeat to old boss Steve Tilson and his Lincoln side at the weekend, go to Crewe. The Alex saw off league leaders Chesterfield at Gresty Road on Saturday and moved back into the top ten.

Oxford have played away in five of their last six games, including a goalless draw at tonight’s opponents Stevenage, so will be hoping to make the most of home comforts once again. Borough’s inconsistency has been highlighted in the last two games as they lost at home to Hereford but then went to Wycombe and won by the same 1-0 score line.

So plenty of top action tonight with teams scrambling for points to either close gaps or breathe a little easier as the season veers towards its conclusion.

Time to get serious about relegation battle

2011-03-14T12:07:00.000Z

The next six days in the season of Northampton Town Football Club are the biggest of the season, perhaps the biggest in many a year. The fact that we don’t play a Tuesday night fixture heightens the importance. There’s no cramped period between games, a full week to plan for one massive game and a proper week long build up for Gary Johnson to get his men in the correct mind frame and to wipe away any doubt.

Anyone thinking that this season is a write off is sadly wrong. No, we won’t make the playoffs but what we are involved in is a relegation battle, make no bones about it. Johnson has said that this fact “won’t be swept under the carpet” and that’s an understatement. It’s not something that we can laugh off as something that will never happen with the players we have, it’s not something we’re too big for, it’s a genuine threat that could ruin us.

With the wages surely high for even this division for the likes of Shaun Harrad and Johnson himself, relegation would be an utter disaster and something that the players need to wake up to, particularly with so many of them out of contract in the summer.

Assuming that both Hereford and Burton make good use of their games in hand, that leaves us looking in even more trouble. This weekend, Barnet host Morecambe and something has to give there but you wouldn’t put it past home advantage working for Barnet in that one, especially against relegation rivals. We then still have to go to Burton, Stockport and Morecambe scrambling for the points needed to survive.

What the Cobblers need to do is ensure they prepare, mentally and physically, for their own game at Valley Parade on Saturday. A day out of team bonding or something similar wouldn’t go amiss in my opinion to get them away from the daily grind, not as a reward but as an exercise in rebuilding the spirit that saw us beat Liverpool a few days before our last meeting with the Bantams.

Whatever happens this week it will go a long way to deciding how far towards the edge of our seats we are come the final day of the season at Morecambe. I’d take mid table obscurity over this any day!

League Two Round Up...Saturday March 12th...

2011-03-12T20:39:00.002Z

The result of the day today has to be Torquay’s as they battered ten man Shrewsbury 5-0 at Plainmoor. The Gulls were already in front when Shrewsbury’s Jermaine Grandison was given his marching orders. To make matters worse for them, Jake Robinson, on loan from Shrewsbury, scored twice against his parent club!

Leaders Chesterfield were beaten at Crewe as Clayton Donaldson scored his twentieth goal of the season but the faltering of most of the sides below them meant that they had a bit of a let off when they checked the rest of the results. Rotherham and Bury played out a goalless draw at the Don Valley and coupled with Shrewsbury’s loss and a home defeat for third place Wycombe at home to Stevenage it meant the Spireites kept their ten point lead.

The only side in the top seven to win were Gillingham who notched a 3-1 victory over Accrington with Andy Barcham netting twice and Cody McDonald once to send the Gills into sixth. They go above Port Vale who lost out at home to Oxford, a win that lifts the U’s to within five points of Vale.

Steve Tilson haunted his old side Southend with his new boys Lincoln - the Imps coming out on top at Sincil Bank. Ashley Grimes kept up his fine form to score twice in that one to deny Southend and seriously dent their playoff hopes.

Stockport and Burton played out a 0-0 draw in the big game at the bottom of the table. It could have been so much better for the Hatters had Matt Paterson found the net and not the cross bar in an agonising effort in the second half but County remain four points away from their opponents.

Barnet were the big winners at the bottom as they came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Hereford thanks to a brace from Izale McLeod. Morecambe are another side to be dragged back into the relegation battle following their defeat at home to Bradford. James Hanson’s goal was enough to earn his side a second win on the bounce and send them further clear of trouble. Meanwhile, Aldershot won at Cheltenham to ease their own worries.

Desperate times...

2011-03-12T20:38:00.003Z

Northampton Town 0-1 Macclesfield Town
League Two
Saturday, March 12th 2011

It’s getting desperate now. When Macclesfield Town complete a double over you then there’s nothing you can say to defend your league position. The heady days of six draws in a row seem years ago now and the game that was meant to be the one where a week’s training and analysis from Gary Johnson would all come together following two more difficult games turned out the complete opposite this afternoon.

You have to credit the visitors in all this as well though. They came, saw and conquered Sixfields and could well have had more to show then their 1-0 win that propels them above the Cobblers and puts us into a relegation battle. That’s the reality now as Barnet’s win suddenly means we’re just six points above the drop zone with some tough games to come, not least at a resurgent Bradford next weekend.

With Dean Beckwith out injured, Marcus Hall was strangely given the centre back slot above the more suited Ben Tozer who Johnson really does not seem to like! Ryan Gilligan also returned after his loan spell at Torquay ended and the midfielder replaced Kevin Thornton with Andy Holt back to his strikers’ role.

The game was actionless until the half hour mark when Michael Jacobs almost gave the Cobblers the lead but his shot was turned away by the impressive and in form Macc keeper Jose Veiga. Veiga kept his side in the game on Tuesday night, not least by saving a penalty, against Crewe and his stature seems to be growing by the game.

It would be another clean sheet here as the Cobblers grew ever more frustrated with Shaun Harrad also firing wide in the first half. But the killer blow and a further knock to our fragile confidence came just after half time when Colin Daniel hit a sweet volley past Chris Dunn. It could have been worse had it not been for the Town keeper after a mix up in the defence that led to Sam Wedgebury going through one on one but Dunn kept it out, perhaps justifying his starting place ahead of his new competition from Steve Collis on the bench.

Guillem Bauza came off the bench for his debut but he couldn’t provide the spark needed and we fell to a fourth straight defeat and a league position that’s becoming ever worrying by the week. While teams like Macclesfield, Bradford, Lincoln and Aldershot are getting better we’re getting considerably shaky and when you consider that we’ve played the same number of games as Barnet and face Bradford and Torquay in the next two games then you start to worry.

Gary Johnson arrived planning for next season already and maybe thought he would have time to fully assess his players. But now we are well and truly in a dog fight and if he doesn’t find out anything about his men now then he perhaps never will.

Bauza checks in!

2011-03-11T15:57:00.002Z

Guillem Bauza has impressed Gary Johnson enough on trial and has, this afternoon, signed a month to month deal with the Cobblers. That means the former Espanyol, Swansea and Hereford striker goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game with Macclesfield Town and boosts the attacking options with Leon McKenzie and Billy McKay ruled out along with long term absentee Tadhg Purcell.

The 26 year old began his career with home town club Mallorca but played just one game in which he partnered Samuel Eto’o up front. Bauza went on to play for Espanyol whilst also making it into the Spain Under 16s side that won the European Championships, forming a partnership with Fernando Torres!

Roberto Martinez brought him over to England for his Swansea side in 2007 and scored twice at the end of the season to defeat Gillingham and send the Swans up to the Championship. But in 2010, he was released and spent some time at Charlton on trial before signing for Hereford United. Cobblers fans will remember him from “that” 4-3 defeat at Sixfields as he played a starring role in the Bulls’ recovery from 3-0 down.

So he knows his way around Sixfields and if our new striker can perform as well tomorrow then we’ll be very close to that illusive win!

Beware the "winnable" tag!

2011-03-11T12:55:00.004Z

Northampton Town v Macclesfield Town
League Two
Saturday, March 12th 2011

With two tough games out of the way it’s back to the ‘winnable’ category this weekend when Macclesfield Town arrive at Sixfields. This is one that we really do need to come away from with all three points and Gary Johnson will be desperate to kick start his reign at the club with a positive result against a side struggling despite a good win on Tuesday night.

Johnson is likely to still be without Leon McKenzie so Kevin Thornton should keep his place while he will wait on news on Dean Beckwith before lining up his defence. Either way, though, it appears that he’s targeting a full time role for John Johnson in the centre of the back four so Nana Ofori-Twumasi and Jamie Reckord could be handed home debuts.

Macclesfield have fined every one of the playing and management staff involved in the mass brawl in stoppage time of the home game with Wycombe Wanderers recently and the FA have now fined both sides £9,000. The two players sent off in that scrap, Emile Sinclair and Ricky Sappleton, sit out of the trip to Sixfields in the final game of their suspensions.

The Silkmen were victorious in midweek with a 1-0 win over Crewe at Moss Rose and Ross Draper, having been promoted from midfielder to striker, nicked the winner. Draper could well be back in the front line tomorrow afternoon. Goalkeeper Jose Veiga, a Cape Verde international, is one to watch after pulling off a string of fine saves on Tuesday including one penalty save to help his side to victory.

We need to be vigilant against any signs of over confidence in this one…the name of Macclesfield Town isn’t as threatening as a Shrewsbury or a Chesterfield but the need for a good performance and a good result are massive in order to bring more life back into the club. Both sides will be gunning for the win for slightly differing reasons tomorrow - Macc need it to climb further away from a relegation dog fight whilst the Cobblers need it to ensure we’re not dragged deep back into that very dog fight ourselves!

In League Two this weekend...

Chesterfield attempt to continue their inevitable promotion assault when they visit Crewe – there’s goals in both those teams so it could be the game of the weekend in this division! Bury are keeping up the pace on the leaders but travel to fifth placed Rotherham who are five points behind them in the race for the top three. Third placed Wycombe are at home to Stevenage looking to extend their four point lead on fourth place.

Shrewsbury occupy that spot at the moment and go to playoff chasing Torquay in what looks like a tasty affair on the Devon coast. The Gulls have dragged themselves back into the playoff race in recent weeks and can close in on Gillingham who face improving Accrington. There’s another playoff vs challenger match at Vale Park with Port Vale hosting Oxford.

Meanwhile, down at the bottom, Stockport face a crunch game that could make or break their eventual survival hopes at home to Burton “games in hand” Albion. Win and they’ll give themselves an outside chance but lose and you would have to say it was all over for County. Barnet are in a similar boat and they are at Hereford, a side who were in just as much trouble a couple of months ago.

Bradford look to continue where they left off after Tuesday night’s win over Rotherham when they face Morecambe at the Globe Arena while Cheltenham welcome Aldershot to Whaddon Road. And Steve Tilson comes up against his old club as Lincoln take on Southend.

Bauza in after Slowe's departure?

2011-03-10T17:16:00.004Z

In all seriousness, Slowe’s departure from Sixfields could be the catalyst for the freeing of wages and another new face in before the weekend game with Macclesfield Town.

Guillam Bauza is training with the club and is a free agent so could be brought in should he impress Gary Johnson enough in training over the next couple of days. Bauza scored twice in twelve games in a short spell wit Hereford United earlier this season and could fit the bill as a short term solution to the striker problem. The other two trialists being looked at are both from Birmingham City and would be looked at as short term loan deals.

Shocking news as Town favourite departs...

2011-03-10T16:59:00.004Z

Massive, ground breaking news this afternoon that Alistair Slowe has been released by the Cobblers after an incredible career that spanned zero games in seven bench warming, boot cleaning, onlooking months!

Slowe arrived from Cyprus and went on to star in classic bench appearances such as the Liverpool away game in which he actually found the net in the warm up with an empty net.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Cobblers cope with this loss and Gary Johnson's first wielding of the axe.

Johnson with one loan rabbit left to pull out of the hat

2011-03-10T12:55:00.002Z

There’s only one more chance, under the short term loan ruling, for Gary Johnson to pull off a final signing before the deadline ends. With three loans sealed last week it leaves the new Town boss with just one final option and a difficult decision to make as to whether he brings in a defender or someone further up the park.

A lot may rest on the fitness of Leon McKenzie. With Billy McKay out for a few weeks, McKenzie will be needed but his stop start season has continued in the last week with the former Peterborough man missing the last couple of games with a knee problem. Should Johnson feel that he’ll be ok for the remainder of the season then the defence will be again looked at.

Ben Tozer was dropped on Tuesday night and there was an indication that moving John Johnson to centre back may become more permanent. Dean Beckwith was taken off at half-time at the B2Net Stadium and the Cobblers boss could be tempted by another defensive signing.

Either way, there could well be a fourth new face for the home fans to take in at the weekend game with Macclesfield Town.

Johnson set to meet Town fans

2011-03-10T09:43:00.001Z

Gary Johnson will be meeting the Cobblers fans for the first time this evening (Thursday March 10th) as he speaks at his first Open Forum at Sixfields. In what is likely to be a popular evening for Town supporters as they prepare questions for the new boss, Johnson will be keen to discuss plans for the future as he tries to steer the club in the right direction.

Paul Tyrrell, bar manager of the Carlsberg Bar in the West Stand, will also be in attendance to discuss what improvements fans would like to see in this area. Andy Holt is also expected to be at the forum so a lively night expected!

The forum is free for all supporters (7:30pm for an 8pm start).

Sammo in for Mariners' post?

2011-03-09T10:57:00.002Z

Sammo may be back in the game very quickly indeed as he has revealed that he has sent in his C.V. for the vacant managerial position at our old friends Grimsby Town. Despite it only being a week since his departure from Sixfields after 17 years, Sammo is keen to get right back into work and was in Cleethorpes at the weekend to “have a look” according to local press.

We of course wish Sammo all the best and hopefully he’ll be back in work as soon as possible and maybe we will one day see him back in his new job to get the farewell he richly deserves.

League Two midweek round up...gap opening at top and bottom...controversy at Valley Parade...

2011-03-09T10:40:00.003Z

With Chesterfield defeating the Cobblers, it was vital for Bury to pick up all three points in their pursuit of the leaders and they did so with a narrow home victory over Morecambe thanks to a late goal from Lenell John-Lewis finally breaking down the Shrimps’ resistance. Wycombe opened a four point gap between themselves and fourth place with a single goal win against ten man Barnet at Underhill. Chris Westwood grabbed the winner there with a header from a Matt Bloomfield corner securing a massive win in the promotion race.

The win was made even better for them by Shrewsbury and Port Vale taking points off each other at the New Meadow. Marc Richards scored twice for Vale but goals from Lionel Ainsworth and James Collins were enough to earn Shrewsbury a draw in a result that is a whole lot better for the teams around them but neither Rotherham nor Gillingham could take full advantage.

Rotherham were beaten at Bradford in Peter Jackson’s first home game in charge for the Bantams as Tom Adeyami scored a controversial late winner. With the game poised at 1-1 going into stoppage time, Adeyami struck from distance and the ball seemed to hit the bar but the assistant referee awarded the goal, and ultimately the win, to City. Gillingham could only draw at Southend but keep a firm grip on the final playoff place thanks to that game finishing 2-2.

Of the chasing pack, Accrington Stanley made the biggest strides forward with a 3-0 home win over Stockport County. Phil Edwards scored two penalties for Stanley as they move to within seven points of the top seven with plenty of games in hand. County, along with Barnet, look very much doomed now.

That’s partly because both teams above them, Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion, got back to winning ways last night. Macc saw off Crewe thanks to Ross Draper’s goal after the midfielder was pushed up front for the evening. Burton eased their relegation worries with a home win against Lincoln City. Sam Winnall made the most of a mix up in the City defence to give his side the lead before Aaron Webster added a second and Winnall rounded off the win from the spot. Ashley Grimes’ late consolation for the Imps wasn’t enough and Burton are now four points above the drop zone with five games in hand!

Hereford’s own fears are long disappearing and they picked up another impressive three points at Stevenage – Joe Colbeck netting the winner there. And Aldershot ended their run of nine games without a win by beating Torquay with Luke Guttridge the match winner at the EBB Stadium.

Spireites too strong for Town

2011-03-09T09:54:00.000Z

Chesterfield 2-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, March 8th 2011

Gary Johnson joked on his appointment that today, March 9th, should have been the date he took over as Cobblers boss so as to avoid the perilous two opening games against high flying Shrewsbury and even higher flying Chesterfield. He may not actually be thinking it but you can see his point after a couple of defeats that are showing him that the task ahead is a tough one.

Johnson drafted in two of his new loan signings straight into the starting line-up at the B2Net Stadium with Nana Ofori-Twumasi in for Paul Rodgers and Jamie Reckord replacing Ben Tozer with John Johnson moving to centre back. Kevin Thornton returned in place of Billy McKay and played a more advanced role to try and support Shaun Harrad.

The early pressure was all with the home side and had Craig Davies not missed an open goal in the first five minutes then the eventual defeat could have been a hell of a lot worse. Chris Dunn dropped the ball into the path of Jack Lester who found Davies with a gaping net but the striker somehow contrived to miss.

The Cobblers were hanging on in the early exchanges and John Johnson had to clear the ball off the line after Dunn had blocked from Craig Davies and Derek Niven had followed up with a shot that looked destined to open the scoring.

But slowly we got back into the game and finished the half stronger, threatening to break the deadlock ourselves when Harrad had a shot deflected wide and Thornton also missed a chance right at the end of the half.

A reshuffle was enforced at the break as Dean Beckwith had to withdraw through injury. Ben Tozer replaced him and the words ringing in the players’ ears would have been to keep up the form that had given us real hope before the half-time whistle halted the resurgence. But it was the home side that took back control and with just over an hour played the deadlock was broken.

Lester burst through the Cobblers defence and forced Dunn into a good stop but Davies was making no mistake this time and rattled home the rebound. And it was near enough game over just a few minutes later with Danny Whittaker’s excellent work on the left finished off by Lester for 2-0.

Time wasn’t on the Cobblers’ side but there was one last gimmer of hope with around eight minutes to play. Andy Holt continued his excellent run of form in front of goal with a header from a Jacobs corner making it 2-1 and out of nowhere we had a chance of nicking a point.

Stoppage time drama followed…Johnson had a good chance with his own head to incredibly pull it level but could only direct the ball wide in the final chance. Too little too late then for Town and a third defeat in a week. This one is a little easier to take with Chesterfield storming through the final furlong towards promotion but still there’s room for big improvements.

Gary Johnson has indicated that there might yet be a fourth short term loan man brought in this week but only if there’s an option of a longer term deal afterwards. The home game with Macclesfield needs to yield a victory really and that’s the real test of the beginnings of Johnson’s reign.

Runaway leaders set to welcome Cobblers

2011-03-08T09:42:00.002Z

Chesterfield v Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, March 8th 2011

Gary Johnson takes full charge for the first time this evening and there’s no tougher place for him to start than with an away game at runaway leaders Chesterfield at the B2 Net Stadium. Johnson’s team selection will be the first thing to analyse as things get under way and we’ll see if there’s any significant changes to his thoughts from the side that were beaten by Shrewsbury, one picked by Malcolm Crosby.

One man pretty certain of his place will be Michael Jacobs who scored those two stunning goals at the weekend as the Cobblers twice took the lead at Sixfields only to lose 3-2. Billy McKay dislocated his elbow on Saturday so could be missing for several weeks while Leon McKenzie still doesn’t appear to be ready to return from his knee injury. That could mean Andy Holt filling in up front again unless Johnson has any new ideas regarding the now thin attacking options.

The three new signings that arrived yesterday, Steve Collis, Jamie Reckord and Nana Ofori-Twumasi, should all be available to play

League leaders Chesterfield stretched their advantage to eleven points with a big win at Cheltenham on Saturday and Craig Davies is still firing the goals in for the Spireites to lift them close to promotion. The lead at this point in the season is surely unassailable and the jittery spell in January is now all forgotten as they look to take another giant leap towards League One tonight.

Jack Lester should return to the starting line-up for the home side with boss John Sheridan’s policy of playing him in every home game likely to come into effect once more. Meanwhile Ian Breckin, who has missed his side’s last two games, could return from illness.

So a big night for the new boss to get to grips with and though there’s no real pressure to get a result we all desperately want to see us get back on the winning road. If we can do it tonight it will be a signal of real intent.

Elsewhere in League Two this evening...

If the Cobblers can get anything at Chesterfield, Bury are lurking and in terrific form with Ryan Lowe looking for a tenth goal in successive games for the Shakers. They take on Morecambe who have picked up fine wins over Chesterfield and Southend in the last two games. Wycombe slipped to third at the weekend so will be looking for all three points at Barnet who are looking increasingly doomed despite a good draw at Rotherham last time out.

Rotherham need a response from that one but face a tough trip to Bradford who will be desperate to impress new boss Peter Jackson in his first home game in charge. Fifth plays sixth with Shrewsbury hosting Port Vale and Southend are at home to the team they’re chasing in the final playoff place, Gillingham.

Stockport, off the back of a good win over Oxford at the weekend, go to Accrington still hoping for a miracle escape despite having played a lot more games than most with Burton Albion looking to pull away again with a home game against Lincoln City. Macclesfield Town still need to win their games in hand to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap and they welcome free scoring Crewe to Moss Rose in the hope of doing just that.

Elsewhere, Stevenage and Hereford both hope to bounce back from defeats on Saturday as they clash at Broadhall Way and Torquay travel to Aldershot with their eyes also firmly on the playoff places.

Triple loan signing ahead of Spireites trip

2011-03-08T09:25:00.001Z

Nana Ofori-Twumasi did indeed sign yesterday but wasn’t the only one coming through the Sixfields doors as Gary Johnson got straight to work on bringing in his own players. Another one from Posh, keeper Steve Collis, has been signed on loan until the end of the season while promising Wolves left back Jamie Reckord also comes in.

Collis, formerly of Barnet, Nottingham Forest, Yeovil, Southend, Crewe and Bristol City and provides solid competition for Chris Dunn, something that he could definitely benefit from.

Reckord, who was close to a move to Championship high flyers Swansea City on deadline day, is someone that Johnson has been watching for a long time and is described as “very athletic, strong with power and pace,” by the new Town boss. If Reckord does well, it is thought that a season long deal next season could be in the pipeline.

So Gary Johnson wasting little time then in assessing the squad and with all three of his new men straight into the squad for tonight’s game there could be a real shake up as we prepare to take on the league leaders on their own patch.

Posh defender set for Town loan?

2011-03-07T17:06:00.001Z

Ghanian born defender Nana Ofori-Twumasi could be on his way to crossing the divide from Posh to Cobblers if rumours are to be believed. The full back, who began his career in the Chelsea youth team and went on to captain them, looks like he could follow his old boss Gary Johnson to Sixfields, possibly in time for Tuesday night’s game at Chesterfield.

Ofori-Twumasi, 20, was on loan with Dagenham and Redbridge for a month in 2009 and joined Boro on a free transfer last summer. The defender, despite his roots, has represented England at Under 16, Under 17, Under 18 and Under 20 level.

He’s seen chances at London Road to be limited so far though and could well be the first new face of Johnson’s regime.

League Two round up: Spireites open eleven point gap...Bury go second as Lowe scores again...rare win for County...

2011-03-06T17:30:00.002Z

Chesterfield are now eleven points clear at the top of League Two after a comfortable 3-0 away win at Cheltenham yesterday. Craig Davies scored twice to help the Spireites on their way with Kieron Djilali getting the other one. Wycombe came from a goal behind to lead 2-1 at home to Aldershot but succumbed to a John Halls equaliser as the Shots drew for a seventh time in eight games. That allowed Bury to go second with Ryan Lowe netting for the ninth game in a row in a 3-0 away win at Hereford.

Rotherham’s promotion hunt stuttered again with a 0-0 home draw with struggling Barnet. The Millers finished the game with ten men after Tom Newey shoved Izale McLeod with twenty minutes to play. Port Vale kept up the heat with a 2-1 home win over Macclesfield Town with Louis Dodds scoring what turned out to be the winner with a fine goal from distance and Bayo Akinfenwa scored to help Gillingham keep hold of seventh place in their 2-0 win against Bradford City.

Torquay moved into eighth after beating Stevenage Borough at Plainmoor with Danny Stevens and Jake Robinson getting the goals. The Gulls also had the luxury of missing a second half penalty with Chris Zebroski hitting the bar – Mark Roberts was sent off for the visitors for the challenge that led to the spot kick.

Elsewhere, the Shrimps defeated the Shrimpers as Morecambe ended Southend’s recent good run with a 2-1 win at the Globe Arena, only their fifth win at the new stadium. Two headers from corners, one from former Cobbler Chris McCready earned the points for Morecambe there.

Stockport picked up a rare win at the bottom of the table as they came from behind to beat Oxford United at Edgeley Park. Tom Craddock gave United the lead but Anthony Tonkins then saw red before Matt Paterson levelled the game and Greg Tansey came off the bench in stoppage time to score with one of his first touches.

Burton couldn’t follow up their Tuesday night win at Sixfields as they were beaten at Crewe 4-1 in a game that saw Clayton Donaldson score a hat-trick for the home side. Shaun Miller got the other one for Alex with Sam Winnall replying for Burton.

And Lincoln and Accrington played out the ultimate mid-table battle with a goalless draw at Sincil Bank.

As many questions as answers for new boss

2011-03-06T16:50:00.001Z

Northampton Town 2-3 Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Saturday, March 5th 2011

Gary Johnson learned the best and worst from his new side yesterday as the Cobblers were unlucky to lose against impressive Shrewsbury Town. With the new era starting as the old one ended, with a 3-2 home defeat, it was still an improvement and gave Johnson plenty to think about.

One thing he will be delighted about will be that Michael Jacobs is tied down to a new contract. His two belters that twice gave the Cobblers the lead at Sixfields would have very much impressed the new boss who didn’t pick the team but did insist on being in the dug out despite only joining the club on Friday morning.

Jacob’s crackers weren’t enough though to see off a strong resistance from Shrewsbury who got back on track after a heavy home defeat to promotion rivals Bury on Tuesday night. Their goals weren’t exactly tap ins either as Sixfields was treated to their own mini goal of the month competition.

Shaun Harrad returned but Leon McKenzie was missing through injury as was Kevin Thornton with an illness. Marcus Hall missed out as well so Paul Rodgers filled in at left back. Jacobs was the one setting the pace though and a stunning strike on six minutes, blasted in off the under side of the bar from distance, set the tone for a frantic afternoon.

Shrewsbury were back on terms a couple of minutes later though just as the home fans were catching their breath with David Davis smashing the ball home from just inside the area – game on!

Chances at both ends followed with Harrad unlucky after being sent through with a shot blocked after he lifted the ball over visiting keeper Ben Smith and Jon Taylor testing Chris Dunn and Matt Harrold wasting the rebound for the Shrews.

It didn’t stop in the second half though and Jacobs would go on to net an even better second goal than his opener when he beat one man, dribbled past another and curled an absolute beauty into the top corner.

With our recent record of holding leads, though, it was no surprise that Shrewsbury would hit back. The speed of response was almost as quick as the first with James Collins’ shot beating Dunn all ends up for 2-2 and yet another terrific goal.

It was all set up for a frantic finale but it wasn’t to be for Johnson in his first game in charge. Taylor, having gone close earlier, made the most of hesitant defending from the Cobblers and fired the winner from the edge of the area. Nerves may have played a part but we just didn’t seem to want to clear the ball and paid the ultimate price.

So all three points were lost and Shrewsbury got their reward. They’ll certainly be up there come the end of the season and there’s no real shame in losing to them – as there won’t be should we come back from Chesterfield pointless on Tuesday night. The big test, and a game more likely for Johnson to be judged on, comes next Saturday at home to Macclesfield Town.

Big week in the reshuffling of the Cobblers then, with Johnson already implying that more players will be brought in on loan from his contact book. Defenders are surely on that list after another frustrating result but on the flip side he will have seen the potential of one or two of his most prized new assets.

Johnson on becoming Cobblers boss

2011-03-04T17:27:00.001Z

Gary Johnson spoke for the first time this afternoon on becoming the new Cobblers boss, stating ambitions as a major reason for accepting the job. He said,

"This is the right club at the right time for me. I've taken clubs up at this level before and I am really looking forward to getting going.”

"It has been done very quickly but the chairman has pushed the boat out to get me in and I appreciate that. It isn't necessarily the league you are in, it’s the club you are at and this club matches my ambitions."

For the full interview, check out Cobblers World via the official website (currently running a 14 day free trial offer!)

Johnson named Town boss!

2011-03-04T13:05:00.002Z

David Cardoza has got his man and Gary Johnson has been named the new Northampton Town manager. The former Yeovil, Bristol City and Peterborough man was quickly identified as the number one target and joins on a two and a half year contract.

Having taken Yeovil to two promotions from conference to League One and steered City back to the Championship as well as being the Latvian national manager for two years there’s a wealth of experience coming into the club and having suffered from a real down day with Sammo’s departure the other day this has really lifted the spirits.

We’re yet to learn whether Johnson will be in charge tomorrow or not but either way it’s a tough, tough start for him with Shrewsbury and Chesterfield waiting this week.

Gary Johnson...from Latvia to London Road...

1988: Appointed Reserve team manager at Cambridge United before going on to become assistant manager to John Beck in 1990.

1992: Becomes Cambridge first team manager.

1999: Named Latvian national team coach.

2001: Joins Yeovil Town as manager and wins the FA Trophy in first season.

2002: Helps the Glovers to promotion into the football league.

2004: Leads Yeovil to the League Two title in only second season in the league.

2005: Appointed Bristol City boss.

2007: Gains promotion from League One with City in a season that included an 18 match unbeaten run.

2008: Takes City all the way to the Championship Playoff Final where they are eventually beaten by Hull City.

2010: Departs Ashton gate and joins Peterborough United a few months later.

2011: Sacked by Posh in January.

New era begins as Shrews come to town

2011-03-03T15:04:00.008Z

Northampton Town v Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Saturday, March 5th 2011

With the shock of Sammo’s departure behind us, the Cobblers take on League Two high flyers Shrewsbury Town with new boss Gary Johnson watching on. Will we see a dramatic change in fortunes as players look to impress the new man? Or will the Shrews prove too much for a group still feeling the reverberations from the events of this week?

The visitors will be well up for it as well after a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Bury on Tuesday night that saw them overtaken by the Shakers. So both sides perhaps with a point to prove as we hit the final straight of the season.

The Cobblers will welcome back Shaun Harrad from a three game ban but Liam Davis is missing with an Achilles problem. Ryan Gilligan has returned from a loan spell at Torquay but is not eligible to play until next weekend.

Shrewsbury boss Graeme Turner has admitted that he would happily swap February's manager of the month award for three points tomorrow afternoon. He has Ian Sharps available again after a one match suspension but Sean McAllister is missing. Defender Jermaine Grandison is doubtful after collecting a knock in midweek.

So a new era begins at Sixfields tomorrow and the players will be desperate to end this winless run against one of the sides that we should be very envious of in terms of league position at the moment!

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

Chesterfield, who went nine points clear at the top on Tuesday night, travel to Cheltenham hoping to get their promotion band wagon rolling on. Wycombe, defeated by the Spireites on Tuesday, are at home to Aldershot and will be desperate to get back to winning ways. Bury are now in the top three and go to Hereford full of confidence after that midweek victory.

Meanwhile, Rotherham host Barnet with high value points for both sides at stake. Only goal difference separates the Millers from the top three while Barnet are two points from safety. Port Vale take on Macclesfield Town whilst Bradford begin life after Peter Taylor with a tough trip to one of his former sides, Gillingham.

The Shrimps and the Shrimpers collide at The Globe Arena with Morecambe and Southend doing battle and bottom club Stockport will be aiming to put a dent into both Oxford’s playoff hopes and the four point gap between themselves and safety.

Burton are at Crewe looking to build on the Tuesday night win that got Sammo the sack and the two sides just above the Cobblers, Lincoln and Accrington meet at Sincil Bank. And it’s eleventh v tenth as Torquay and Stevenage both try to keep up their playoff hopes.

Sammo: Legend departs but leaves lasting memories

2011-03-02T17:38:00.001Z

So Ian Sampson has departed Sixfields after a season of more ups and downs than even we as Town fans are used to. A run of five straight draws that ended with last night’s defeat at home to Burton Albion brought about the end of the road for a man who has made Sixfields his working home for the last 17 years.

The shock on this Wednesday afternoon is that a man has been discarded for a league position that is safe enough but apparently not good enough for the future thinking of the board. In under a year, Sammo has gone from signing a new deal following an excellent second half of last season to being shown the door and we can only now pay tribute to a man who has been Mr NTFC for as long as I’ve known.

In his playing days, Sammo never put a foot wrong to my knowledge. A centre back with not a great deal of pace, he made his short comings up in passion and pride in wearing the claret shirt. At London Road, Peterborough in the year 2000, Sammo’s finest hour came when he struck the winner in a 2-1 derby win that will live with us forever. A few years later and he was pulling on the shirt he loved for the final time in that incredible Playoff Semi Final at Field Mill, his 499th appearance for the club.

Going straight into the club’s coaching set up was a logical step and the defender soon became the youth team coach, reserve team manager, assistant manager and then first team manager. It makes it an even more painful departure to chronicle an unmatched loyalty to one team that in this day and age is not something you generally find.

As to this season, it was fitting that Sammo got one final night of emotion and celebration, at Anfield where he led his troops to a remarkable victory on penalties. That night alone will mean his stint as manager will stand out to fans of the future.

For the rest of the season, well it can be argued that some players have let their boss down in certain things, some decisions have gone against him but that’s for another debate. For now, we can only celebrate an iconic figure of Northampton Town Football Club.

A last niggle is that he never got to say goodbye to his fans and the ones that stuck by him, saw his passion for the club and loved him to bits, particularly through the nineties and the revival of the club from nothing through to two Wembley show pieces.

In terms of a manager, I can’t even begin to think who’s going to come in to replace him but believe me, there’s some hefty, hefty boots to fill.

Sammo sacked...a legacy ends!

2011-03-02T16:08:00.002Z

Ian Sampson has today been sacked by Northampton Town Football Club...it's a sad day whatever you think of our form and I need some time to collect my thoughts on a legend departing Sixfields.

All I can say for now is thank you Sammo and that there's a whole lot more to follow.

Albion stun Town at Sixfields

2011-03-02T09:45:00.004Z

Northampton Town 2-3 Burton Albion
League Two
Tuesday, March 1st 2011

Well the sequence of draws is over. But it wasn’t a glorious triumph that ended the run, nor a moment of huge relief but a disappointing defeat to a struggling Burton Albion side that meant the club record for draws was only equalled and not over taken. The result means that the previous run of tied games looks even worse and there’s now a fight on hand for the players to show their worth ahead of the summer and the manager to turn things around before the boo boys start swooping once more.

Burton, who scored three times in ten minutes last season to beat us by the same score line at the Pirelli Stadium, must have sensed a repeat as they stormed into a three goal lead in the first half. The early signs weren’t good with a poor back pass from Dean Beckwith selling Chris Dunn short and Dunn stopping a certain goal.

But the deserved goal that gave the visitors the lead did arrive a few minutes later when good work from Jacques Magoma on the left hand side set up the chance for Andy Corbett to knock the ball home from close range. The Cobblers were simply not in the game and Leon McKenzie’s effort soon after the goal was as close as we would come until Albion stretched their lead to 3-0 through a superb effort from John McGrath and a disaster for Dunn on his 100th appearance for the club. Dunn caught a cross but tumbled into his own net and that summed up the first half.

John Johnson did pull one back before the break but there was still evidently so much work to do. Andy Holt, a stalwart and someone you have to feel sorry for at the moment, hit the woodwork before making it 3-2 on the hour with a header from a Michael Jacobs free kick.

Jacobs had an equaliser ruled out for an apparent push on the defender when turning him but you got the feeling that we would get back into it. McKay hit the post with an agonising header in the late flurry of chances for the Cobblers but after Holt shot wide it was all over and the chance of an almighty fight back was over.

It was the first half showing that killed this one for us and contrary to previous games in which we’ve let leads go it was a few goals against that got us going and creating chances and that needs to be addressed. If we don’t kick on until behind and can’t hold on to leads then we’ll be in big trouble. There’s still time to go either way in this table and the effects of being dragged into the wrong end of the League Two table need to be instilled into the players.

Shrewsbury at home and Chesterfield away are next…daunting prospects at the best of times but it would be just like us to go and win both of those!

Elsewhere in League Two...

Chesterfield went nine points clear of Wycombe at the top of League Two by beating them 4-1 last night. Wanderers still have a game in hand but it’s still looking like the safe money being with the Spireites in the race for the title and promotion. In the other big game at the top, Bury came away from Shrewsbury with all three points in a 3-0 victory that takes them up to third place.

Rotherham have dropped out of the top three after a draw at Torquay whilst Gillingham hold on to seventh after drawing at Aldershot. That’s because Oxford were beaten by Lincoln who had two own goals to thank for their victory.

Meanwhile, Cheltenham were victorious over Stockport who remain rooted to the bottom of the table and won’t be helped by Burton’s win at Sixfields.

Cobblers keep on drawing with more action tonight...

2011-03-01T10:25:00.002Z

So another day, another draw at Southend with again a lead being pegged back. John Johnson rifled us in front at Roots Hall before Barry Corr gave the travelling fans that oh so familiar feeling of going home with a point. Not that it's a bad thing to draw down there but with a club record looming should we tie tonight's game with Burton Albion at Sixfields it really is getting to be too much!

Albion visit having slipped into the drop zone following a home defeat to Rotherham at the weekend and will also be desperate for the win. Calvin Zola, a transfer window target for the Cobblers, won't be involved due to a hamstring injury but Scott Malone returns.

Chris Dunn will play his 100th game for the club tonight but Liam Davis misses out with an achilles problem that looks set to keep him out of Saturday's game as well. Dean Beckwith and Josh Walker are both doubtful which could mean Paul Rodgers comes back into the thinking should Johnson need to slot in at centre back.

Apologies for the lack of updates this week...it's been a mad one! Full service to resume from tomorrow though, and let's hope I'm reflecting on a win and not a new club record!

ps...for my debut post on excellent Football League Blog the Two Unfortunates recalling the 1997 playoff winning side, see here:

http://bit.ly/ftUVJj

Club record close as Town go to the Sea side!

2011-02-25T13:02:00.004Z

Southend United v NorthamptoN Town
League Two
Saturday, February 26th 2011

It’s a rather dubious club record that the Cobblers could match tomorrow. Should the game at Southend end with a sixth consecutive draw we will level the number gained in the 1983/94 season. As I said earlier in the week, a point at Southend wouldn’t usually be considered a poor result particularly with them on such good form but something needs to click into place to get us those much wanted three.

Leon McKenzie is again a doubt after missing out on the Tuesday night draw at Hereford while Shaun Harrad sits out the second of a three game ban that also means he misses the game against former club Burton Albion on Tuesday night. Abdul Osman does return after his three game suspension and should go straight back into the side and Francis Laurent could face the side he left in the summer.

Southend skipper Craig Easton has said this week that his side’s season really starts with Saturday’s game against the Cobblers. The hosts moved up to ninth, just one point off the playoffs, on Tuesday night with a home win over Barnet and will be favourites to extend their recent good run.

Lee Sawyer returned to action for the Shrimpers on Tuesday night after a year out of action. Rebuilding his fitness playing part time for Woking, Sawyer is now back in Football League action and should keep his place for the Cobblers’ visit. Miguel Comminges was another to make his first appearance of the season in the same game but his place in the side could come under pressure from fit again youngster Kane Ferdinand.

So will one point turn into three…or zero?! You never can tell these days but we should just keep the faith and hopefully with the pressure more on Southend we can get something from a very tough game indeed.

Around League Two this weekend...

Bradford manager Peter Taylor will leave the club following his side’s home game against fellow strugglers Stockport County on Saturday. The former Leicester boss has seen his side slump to 21st in the league and it was revealed yesterday that his reign will end after tomorrow’s game. County can close the gap on the Bantams from six to three points with a win at Valley Parade.

Barnet are also looking to escape the bottom two having played plenty more games than their rivals and they host Lincoln City at Underhill. There are implications at both ends of the table as Burton welcome Rotherham and leaders Chesterfield host Morecambe. Wycombe, who went back up to second on Tuesday night, go to Macclesfield and third placed Shrewsbury are at home to seventh placed Gillingham. The Gills are four points behind their hosts and will see this as an ideal chance to close that gap.

Elsewhere, Bury face Crewe at Gigg Lane whilst Port Vale are at Aldershot and Oxford, with now just goal difference separating them from the playoffs, take on Hereford at the Kassam. Meanwhile, two sides just above the Cobblers, Stevenage and Cheltenham, go head to head at Broadhall Way and Accrington Stanley are at home to Torquay.

Should they stay or should they go?

2011-02-24T12:06:00.002Z

There’s a chance that by the start of next season, Cobblers fans will be watching an entirely new side with no less than eleven players out on contract in the summer. Sammo has indicated that most will be playing for their futures at the club over the next few weeks so who should we offer new deals to and who are surplus to requirements? Unfortunately looking at the list shows that most are big players and with the likes of Josh Walker and Ben Tozer ending their loan spells come May it’ll be a nervy time to be a Town fan!

Here’s my views on the guys out of contract:

Chris Dunn...tough one fro Dunny. He’s not entirely consistent but can pull off some moments of quality on his day. Having come through the youth system behind Mark Bunn he’s not hit the same levels but has kept us in one or two games. Is that enough though? Personally I think it could be time to look into other options and for a keeper wanting first team football it could mean the end of the road and a fresh challenge. VERDICT: Let go

Abdul Osman...we’ve all seen how much we miss Osman in the last couple of games so he’s one we need to tie down. Sammo will be desperate to keep his spine in tact and Osman is a key part of that. VERDICT: Keep

Liam Davis...Davis has been attracting scouts from sides at a higher level but hasn’t seemed to get a really good run in the side for various reasons this term. Given a full pre-season and a good formation that we stick to though and he can still have a major role to play. Verdict: Keep

Craig Hinton...out on loan at the moment with his highlight for the Cobblers this season being his fantastic camera and interview skills on the Liverpool “Behind the Scenes” videos that appeared on the official website post match! Seems a good character for the dressing room but is that enough with wages needing to be freed up? Sorry Craig! Verdict: Get rid

Billy McKay...Another tough one. Billy gives everything to his game and doesn’t get the plaudits a lot of the time. I still feel he has a lot to give to us and not just as a substitute to Leon and Harrad for his menacing of defenders and decent goal scoring touch. Verdict: Keep

Leon McKenzie...The goal ratio speaks for itself and we have to just hope that Leon is settled and wants to stick around. A promising partnership with Shaun Harrad is already forming and when both fit and one their form could be one of the best partnerships in the league. Verdict: Keep

Kevin Thornton...Ah, the enigma that is! In and out of the side this season and a real luxury when he’s on his game. Thornton was tipped to be the star of the season but injuries have been cruel to the former Coventry man. Still, Sammo seems to have turned him around and there’s no doubt that we need to keep hold. Verdict: Keep

Marcus Hall...Brought in as a quick fire replacement for Peter Gilbert, Hall has been as consistent as his predecessor at left back. Should stay, and I don’t see any reason why he won’t. Verdict: Keep

Francis Laurent...I’ve not actually seen Laurent play yet but he’s another who appears to need his fitness back before he can get going. Hence the problem with mid-season deals like this one where the player isn’t 100% and always playing catch up. It would only be down to the players’ attitude to his return to form that would be needed to get Sammo on board for a longer deal. Verdict: A tentative Keep

Paul Rodgers...With John Johnson coming in it’s been tough for Rodgers to break into the first team squad but he’s certainly a player that can be useful in many positions so for that reason alone we should hold on to him. Verdict: Keep

Dean Beckwith...Not the quickest of defenders and one prone to the odd error but he’s formed a good partnership with Ben Tozer. Assuming Tozer doesn’t come back we will need Beckwith in tact for continuity. Verdict: Keep

So basically I’m keeping nine out of eleven based on where we are at the moment and assuming that there’s not going to be a miraculous playoff chasing end to the season. Let me know your thoughts either way! Continuity is needed as mentioned but attitudes, discipline and the like are also required so that we can show the undoubted quality that this side has.

The beauty of mediocrity

2011-02-23T13:07:00.003Z

Hereford 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, February 23rd 2011

Ok so it’s five draws in a row now, five points from a possibly fifteen and another instance where we have thrown away a lead. Sammo called it a must win game, as did many of the Town supporters headed for Edgar Street last night. The cause wasn’t helped by Ben Tozer joining Leon McKenzie, Abdul Osman and Shaun Harrad on the “unavailable” list and a spine of a side that desperately needed three points was gone before we’d even kicked a ball. Add to that Josh Walker going off during the game and it was a decent enough showing on the face of it to earn our latest single point.

That’s the first of many positives that we have to look at to save ourselves from going clinically insane at the amount of times we help out those still doing the ppools. Andy Holt was again emplotyed in a more advanced role and he nodded us in front a couple of minutes after half time before the inevitable equaliser. The home side can justify a point after having a goal disallowed and after Chris Dunn had pulled off a fine double save earlier in the contest. Wade Fairhurst nodded them level and the Cobblers went home with a draw once again.

Extending this run to six wouldn’t be greatly received but any other time in the season a draw at Southend, our next fixture on Saturday, would be a decent result! It’s the fine line in football at times like this where one pass, mistimed tackle or moment of genius can turn one point into that sought after three and patience is very much needed. Earlier in the season when we lost five in a row we would have been chomping at the bit for five points so now we need to hope that another little run is started where the corner is turned.

It’s a frustratingly slow time for the club and the fans but sensibility is required. Unfortunately it’s not looking like anything will come from this season but when you look down at Stockport and Barnet you have to understand that these draws are keeping us away from danger of not only relegation but an absolute disaster. It’s a testing time, but cliché it might be, it could be a whole lot worse.

Elsewhere in League Two last night...

Deane Smalley was the match winner for leaders Chesterfield at Bradford and the Spireites extended their lead at the top to nine points. Wycombe moved back to second after thumping Burton Albion 4-1 but Port Vale were halted after a surprise home defeat to Stevenage, who are now back in the top half of the table.

Cheltenham came from two goals down to draw with Torquay at Whaddon Road after Wes Thomas scrambled home a late equaliser. Meanwhile, Southend go above Torquay after their victory over Barnet. Defeat for them leaves them bottom having bow played the same amount of games as Stockport. Burton are a point above the drop zone but still have six games in hand whilst Bradford are five points better off with one game in hand.

Macclesfield moved above Morecambe by beating them 2-0 with former Cobbler Chris McCrady netting an own goal but the game of the night came at Accrington where Stanley beat Crewe 3-2 thanks to a winner fifteen minutes from time Sean McConville.

Cobblers enter “Must Win” territory at Hereford

2011-02-22T12:56:00.003Z

Northampton Town v Hereford United
League Two
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011

It’s getting to the stage where we need three points rather than one and victory at Edgar Street this evening is required not only to get away from a run of four straight draws but to boost a confidence that’s slowly dripping away from the Cobblers players.

After four leads were squandered in the past seven days we need to go into tonight with the aim of blowing away a team that came back from, not one, but three goals down to beat us at Sixfields earlier this season. That day will still be right in the back of the Cobblers’ players minds on the coach and that needs to be the motivation.

We’ll, of course, be missing Shaun Harrad through suspension whilst Abdul Osman sits out the final game of this three game ban. Leon McKenize is only rated at 50/50 so Sammo has hinted at a more advanced role for one of Andy Holt, Francis Laurent or Kevin Thornton to play behind Billy McKay.

Hereford have been on fire since Jamie Pitman took charge and that win at Sixfields was just the start as the Bulls pulled themselves away from the bottom two. They’ve lost just once in their ten league games in 2011 to ease relegation worries. A goalless draw at home to Burton at the weekend kept them above the Brewers and they’ll be full of confidence going into this one.

They are also hit with a suspension for an influential player with captain Jonas Kovacs seeing red at the weekend so he will miss out this evening. Harry Pell will face a late fitness test after a slight knock in the same game but other than that Pitman has a full squad to choose from.

Elsewhere in League Two this evening...

With two of the top three not in action it’s a big chance for Wycombe to get back on track in their game in hand. They host Burton Albion who are still lingering around the bottom of the table following their multiple postponements and cup run. Port Vale can strengthen their position with victory over Stevenage at Vale Park while Torquay, four points of the top seven, go to Cheltenham, still smarting from the last minute equaliser from Barnet on Saturday.

Chesterfield went eight points clear at the weekend and travel to Bradford hoping to gain extra momentum in their promotion bid. At the other end, Maccelsfield and Morecambe are both in dire need of the points when they meet at Moss Rose. Barnet can come off the bottom if they win at Southend and Accrington host Crewe after their fine win at Wycombe on Saturday.

Spireites stretch lead...Macc hammer County...Shock win for Stanley...

2011-02-20T08:33:00.002Z

Chesterfield extended their lead at the top of League Two to eight points on Saturday with a first win in six games at in form Lincoln. Craig Davis netted the first before a late header from Dean Holden wrapped up the points. Their lead was opened up because of the postponement of the big game of the day at the Don Valley with Rotherham and Shrewsbury having to rearrange due to a waterlogged pitch. They remain in third and second respectively though because of Wycombe’s surprise defeat at home to Accrington Stanley. That was the Chairboys’ third loss in a row and the chasing pack had the chance to close in.

Gillingham and Bury are both amongst that pack but they could only get a point apiece in a 1-1 draw at The Priestfield. Ryan Lowe equalised for The Shakers after Curtis Weston had opened the scoring. Port Vale saw off Bradford on Friday night and moved up to sixth thanks to two goals from on loan Rotherham striker and life long Vale fan Tom Pope.

Oxford are on the brinks of the playoffs now after an impressive 3-0 win at Morecambe with Asa Hall scoring twice. The U’s are now only goal difference away from the top seven as they look for successive promotions. Two form sides, Torquay and Southend, drew at Plainmoor and are both four points from the playoffs themselves.

Crewe slip to eleventh following a home defeat to Stevenage Borough with a Scott Laird goal enough at Gresty Road.

At the bottom, Barnet grabbed a late, late goal to deny Cheltenham victory at Whaddon Road. Wes Thomas looked to have give the Town side a first win at home since December but Joe Devera earned a point in stoppage time. Stockport took the lead at home to neighbours Macclesfield but then collapsed to a 4-1 defeat with Hamza BenCherif rounding off a dismal day for County. Hereford and Burton, both still in trouble, played out a goalless draw with both sides reduced to ten men – Russell Penn and Jonas Kovacs given their marching orders.

Harrad off as Cobblers draw again

2011-02-20T08:31:00.002Z

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!

3 points the target as Shots come to town

2011-02-18T13:01:00.003Z

Northampton Town v Aldershot
League Two
Saturday, February 19th 2011

The Cobblers aim to forget about one late equaliser and avenge another tomorrow afternoon as Aldershot are in town. Morecambe’s leveller with a couple of minutes to spare needs to be put on the back burner now whilst we’re still hoping for revenge for that stoppage time goal that earned the Shots a point in our game down at the EBB Stadium back in September.

Town will once again be without Abdul Osman and Kevin Thornton has said that he’s willing to play anywhere along the midfield line if it means getting a game – enthusiasm that’s very much needed at the moment. Apart from the Osman suspension there’s nothing new to report injury wise but Sammo has indicated that he may well have one or two changes in mind.

Aldershot are another team who need to turn draws into victories so will be just as desperate to claim all three points. Jack Rendall has suffered his second broken leg of the season and is out long term whilst Anthony Straker and Damian Spencer are both out on loan. Promising youngster Jermaine McGlashan is the only minor doubt other than that but he should at least make it onto the bench.

Plenty to focus on as we head into a vital few days once again and with consistency the key for both sides it could be another entertaining/nervy ninety minutes!

Also in League Two this weekend...

This evening, Port Vale look to get an early advantage over their playoff chasing rivals when they host Bradford at Vale Park. The Bantams recorded a first win in seven on Tuesday night by beating Wycombe and will be praying that this is the beginning of the corner being turned.

Third play Second in a crunch game on Saturday with Rotherham welcoming Shrewsbury to the Don Valley. The Shrews are just a point above the hosts going into the game and that should be a belter of a game. Top club Chesterfield will be looking for a first win in six games but it won’t be easy at Lincoln who are absolutely flying if you discount the home defeat to Shrewsbury a couple of weeks back.

Meanwhile, Wycombe can guarantee themselves a place back in the top three with all three points against Accrington at Adams Park and sixth plays fifth with Bury’s trip to Gillingham – both sides scrambling for points in the top seven.

Just as vital games at the bottom and Stockport can overtake opponents Macclesfield with victory over them at Edgeley Park. Barnet have slipped to the bottom of the table in recent weeks and go to Cheltenham hoping for a change of fortune. Burton still have plenty of games in hand but will still want to come away with something from Hereford whilst Morecambe, on the brink of the relegation scrap play Oxford, on the brink of the playoffs.

Crewe are still around the upper echelons of the league and will need to see off Stevenage if they’re to get back in the playoff mix. And Torquay, on the back of three straight league wins, host Southend who had a stunning 3-2 win over Wycombe in the week.

Midfield enforcer role needs some back up

2011-02-17T11:17:00.002Z

It was clear that the Cobblers were missing their midfield rock on Tuesday night and the old saying of “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” came into play as we went for an attacking midfield foursome of Thornton, Jacobs, Walker and Davis. It was good to see super Kev back in the fold but the middle of the park was open, with a high scoring draw the result.

All four of the players selected are of the mindset of creating something from nothing, winning the game and heading for the opposition goal rather than their own. The suspension of Osman showed up a lack of depth in the position known as the “enforcer” role.

During the League One relegation campaign a couple of seasons back I was the first to say that Osman was below par, not showing any signs of caring about the plight but to his immense credit the former Gretna man has stepped up to the plate to become one of the biggest assets at the club. Those assets are now becoming clearer now he’s out of the side and Sammo now face a decision on how to approach Aldershot on Saturday, a team still gagging to impress new boss Dean Holdsworth.

It could mean bringing Nathaniel Wedderburn back in whilst you could put forward a case for Andy Holt as well for a crunch game in which we can’t really afford to drop points. Battle, rather than guile, could well be the order of the day…it might mean a scrappy 1-0 win but at this point we’re in real need of points on the board if the loftiest of ambitions are to come to fruition.

Another chance goes begging as goals fly again

2011-02-16T11:22:00.002Z

Northampton Town 3-3 Morcambe
League Two
Tuesday, February 15th 2011

Sixfields is quickly becoming the place to be on Tuesday nights with another six goals flying in on the hallowed turf last night. Unfortunately this time the goals were equally shared and the performance was off form enough for Morecambe to grab a deserved point from a game that they could have nicked right at the death after coming from behind three times.

For them it was a fine point, an excellent night of entertainment and you can hardly begrudge the 39 loyal souls that populated the East stand in support of the visitors. The South Stand was closed in anticipation of a small away following but the ones who did turn up were treated to a fine performance from their side and will be wholly more appreciative of the point than the Cobblers fans who trudged home at the end of a poor evening for them.

The fact that Morecambe recovered three times was frustrating enough but the dropping of points, so nearly all three after scorer of the third for them, Paul Mullin, missed a good chance at the end, is the overlying annoyance from the evening. If we’d have held on to a 3-2 lead handed to us by a Leon McKenzie penalty with twenty minutes to go and we would have been in the top half this morning. But Mullin’s equaliser following a game that swung both ways meant that the negatives were highlighted more than the fact that we found the net three times.

Before that late drama, there was seemingly a goal with each attack. An early headed finish from the returning John Johnson got the ball rolling before Kevan Hurst equalised via a couple of harsh deflections. Kevin Thornton, another back in the starting line-up, tapped in the third goal of the game after excellent work from McKenzie but Jimmy Spencer pegged us back once again for 2-2 to set up that finale.

Sammo called it “the worst we’ve played in months” and fans’ tweets, Facebook and forum messages seem to all agree this morning! It was clear that Abdul Osman was sorely missed with the presence of the midfielder leaving a real hole in midfield. It’s something we need to solve before Saturday’s visit of Aldershot – a team that certainly won’t give us any breathing space in there, particularly now they’re led by former Crazy Gang survivor Dean Holdsworth.

There follows another Tuesday night game, away this time at Hereford, and we need to look for at least 4 points from those two now. It feels like defeat writing like this but to many it’s as bad as. Shame to say it but we’ve once again let a chance go begging.

Elsewhere in League Two last night...

Southend and Wycombe played out an absolute belter at Roots Hall with the home side in a game that saw two penalties and five goals, two in the last couple of minutes. Craig Easton thought he had cost his side all three points when he conceded an 89th minute spot kick that Wycombe’s Scott Rendell converted, this after Blair Sturrock had missed one for the home side, but he then popped up to score the winner in stoppage time!

That meant Wycombe made no ground on Chesterfield who drew at fifth placed Bury with had Ryan Lowe to thank again for earning them a share of the spoils. Chesterfield’s Deane Smalley was later sent off in that one. Meanwhile, Rotherham beat Accrington Stanley 2-0 to move back into the top three at the expense of Wycombe.

Lincoln came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Aldershot while Stevenage and Oxford drew 0-0 at Broadhall Way. Torquay moved back up to tenth in the table following a single goal victory over Burton Albion with the Gulls recording a third league win in a row thanks to Chris Robertson.

Osman ban stands for tonight

2011-02-15T14:10:00.002Z

he red card shown to Abdul Osman on Saturday WILL stand and the midfielder will serve a three game ban starting with tonight’s game at home to Morecambe. Sammo had hoped that an appeal would be successful but this time the decision stands and we will be without Osman for the game tonight along with the visit of Aldershot on Saturday and the trip to Hereford next Tuesday night.

So a reshuffle needed tonight then and it’s likely to mean a place for Kevin Thornton in the first eleven with Michael Jacobs possibly slotting in the middle of the park. The presence of Osman will be sorely missed in the next few games though and we’ll certainly need to adapt the style a tad in midfield to accommodate his replacements. Jacobs and Thornton are more craft than muscle and it’ll be interesting to see if that means a slight adjustment to tactics for the coming fixtures.

Top half once again in sight as Morecambe visit...

2011-02-15T13:13:00.003Z

Northampton Town v Morecambe
League Two
Tuesday, February 15th 2011

Another midweek feast tonight as Morecambe travel to Sixfields and the Cobblers aim to move further into the upper mid-table bracket. The Shrimps are without a win in six games heading into tonight and were beaten 2-0 at Lincoln at the weekend to leave them hovering just above the pack at the wrong end of the table.

A victory tonight would, in fact, take the Cobblers into the top half should Lincoln fail to pick up all three points in their game due to Cheltenham not being in action. The Robins have played two games more than Town so it’s a huge incentive for collecting three points.

Sammo is waiting on news from Abdul Osman’s appeal and that will affect the Cobblers boss’ thinking ahead of the game. Nathanial Wedderburn is doubtful after picking up a knock on Saturday but Kevin Thornton is back in contention along with Liam Davis so there’s plenty of options to go with should those two not make it. John Johnson is definitely out but he’s back in training so could return soon.

Morecambe re-signed striker Danny Carlton this week but the former Bury man won’t be available this evening. Chris Shuker will also be missing with a hamstring injury but Andy Holdsworth returns from an illness and should play some part. Laurence Wilson will also be back in the fold after missing Saturday’s game due to the birth of his baby.

So can we take that leap into the top half of League Two? I’ve asked that question endless times in the last few weeks and it’s a big chance again to do it this time. Psychologically we need to be up there if we’re to eye the playoffs because time is running out!

Elsewhere in League Two this evening...

The big game of the evening comes at Gigg Lane with Bury hosting leaders Chesterfield. The Spireites were beaten at Burton on Friday night but only Shrewsbury of the chasing pack took advantage so it was a slight reprieve. Even so, they will be desperate to recover from what is now a four game winless streak at one of their promotion rivals. Bury suffered a surprise defeat at Stockport so will also be wanting to return to the form that’s seen them hold down a place in the top seven in the last few weeks.

Wycombe lost at Bradford to slip to third and face another tricky away game tonight at Southend. Victory will lift the Chairboys back up there but Southend are fresh following the postponement of their weekend game at Accrington. Stanley are away to Rotherham this evening with the Millers another side of the promotion chasing pack to suffer defeat at the weekend at Oxford.

Burton stunned the footballing world by playing a game on Friday night and won it so they will hope to play again tonight at Torquay. The Brewers escaped the bottom two with that victory and left Barnet and Stockport both looking at desperate situations having played a few games more than their competitors in the race to beat the drop. One of those was Lincoln a few weeks ago but the Imps have powered their way up the league with Steve Tilson leading the charge. They attempt to keep up their fine run with a trip to Aldershot this evening. And there’s a battle of two playoff chasing clubs with Stevenage welcoming Oxford to Broadhall Way.

Osman red contested

2011-02-14T18:44:00.002Z

The Cobblers will, for the second time this season, appeal against Abdul Osman's red card against Port Vale. The challenge on Doug Loft on Saturday led to Osman getting a second straight red against Vale but Town will appeal, as they did successfully back in November.

The club appear to have a decent point with the ball changing direction during the challenge indicating that Osman won the ball and we will learn of the results of the appeal on Tuesday afternoon before the evening's meeting with Morecambe at Sixfields.

Valiant effort from ten man Cobblers

2011-02-14T18:42:00.001Z

Port Vale 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, February 12th 2011

There was a familiar feel to Saturday’s draw at Port Vale with the Cobblers grinding out an impressive point after Abdul Osman saw red contentiously. This result was just as impressive, then, as the one that almost mirrored it back in November. The only difference in the score line was that both sides found the net this time around and this one shades the November ’10 version for the fight back from a goal down and for a general performance that could easily have seen us collect all three points.

That was particularly after a first half in which the Cobblers dominated and with Leon McKenzie back in the starting line-up, the front line looked dangerous. Nothing against the unlucky and gutsy Billy McKay but when McKenzie and Harrad are together it looks like one of the most impressive front lines in the division.

It was Harrad making the early running and Vale keeper Chris Martin, keeping his place in front of Stuart Tomlinson, had to beat away his decent attempt in the first quarter. That was after Josh Walker had seen his long range effort tipped over in a good start for Sammo’s men.

The Cobblers had to battle hard though and at the other end a combination of Dean Beckwith and Chris Dunn denied Jay O’Shea just before half time.

The second half brought the drama though, with the home side recovering well from a subdued first 45 by their standards to take the lead. Paul Rodgers was a little unlucky to see his challenge on Tom Pope result in a spot kick and Justin Richards sent Dunn the wrong way to give Vale hope of closing in on the top three once again.

But McKenzie was on a mission and just a few minutes later we were level when Andy Holt and Marcus Hall combined with the latter providing an inviting cross for the Town striker to nod home and set up what should have been a competitive last half an hour.

Indeed it was the Cobblers who came closest soon after the equaliser with Harrad so unlucky not to notch his second goal for the club when he rattled the bar. But the tide was turned when Osman’s challenge on Doug Loft was deemed a sending off offence and Vale would once more have the chance to take us on with an extra man.

Josh Walker had to head the ball off the line before the end and we had to endure a fair bit of pressure but once again held out for a decent result in one of those games where you begin talks in the pub with “I would have taken a point before the game…”

So we still can’t break into the top half but it’s four games unbeaten and going into a couple of home games we’re in decent shape…now for the next step up!

Cobblers hit the road for toughie at Vale

2011-02-11T11:31:00.003Z

Port Vale v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, February 12th 2011

With plenty of home games littering the early part of 2011, the Cobblers hit the road tomorrow in a tough outing at Port Vale. Last season saw us put in one of the performances of the season at Vale Park as Sammo’s men won 3-1 and this time out we’ll need to match that if we’re to get anything from a team whose fortunes have started to turn again in the last couple of games.

Struggling initially under new boss Jim Gannon, following Mickey Adams’ departure to Sheffield United, Vale have beaten Rotherham and drawn with Wycombe in the last two games and confidence is starting to pour back into the side ahead of the Cobblers’ visit.

Vale’s Chris Martin looks set to keep his place in goal despite the return of number one keeper Stuart Tomlinson from a hip injury. Martin, the first choice last season, has impressed in the last couple of games and should remain in his place tomorrow. Skipper Gareth Owen will definitely miss the game though and although his ankle injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as first suspected he will still be missing for at least a month.

John Johnson’s medial ligament injury could well keep him out of the game while Andy Holt is another major doubt. Leon McKenzie wasn’t fit enough to start against Barnet but could come back into the starting line-up whilst there was better news this week with both Liam Davis and Kevin Thornton returning to training. Both could play some part at Vale Park.

With the Cobblers hoping to chase down the playoff places, there’s no better team to beat than the one in seventh place going into the weekend…Vale, and the gap between us, are the targets on the claret radar…

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

League Leaders Chesterfield kick things off tonight as they visit a Burton Albion side who just want to play a game of football! Victory for the Brewers will take them out of the bottom two but their higher flying neighbours want to end a run of three draws in a row and extend their lead at the top before the rest of us get going on Saturday.

Any slip ups by the Spireites will give Wycombe the chance to close the gap when they visit Bradford and Shrewsbury, back in the top three after that thumping of Lincoln in midweek, will also be hoping to keep the pressure on as they host Stevenage. Shrews boss Graham Turner has insisted this week that his side can still go on to win the title.

Bury, who have hit seven goals in the last two games, visit rock bottom Stockport aiming for a fourth straight win. Fourth placed Rotherham face a trip to Oxford after slipping out of the top three in the week with defeat at Gillingham. The Gills go to Crewe on Saturday in a big game in terms of the playoff places.

Barnet need points quickly and host Torquay in an attempt to put more distance between themselves and the drop zone. The Gulls had a first win in five games on Tuesday night when they beat Stevenage and have turned their attention back to a playoff place after returning to the top half of the table. Lincoln will hope to be rid of any hangovers from the 5-1 defeat to Shrewsbury when they welcome Morecambe to Sincil Bank and Macclesfield visit Aldershot with the threat of relegation still well and truly hanging over the Silkmen’s heads.

Hereford are also looking to pull clear of the bottom two and travel to Cheltenham with the Robins coming in off the back of a decent draw at Morecambe. Meanwhile, Southend, whose winning run was ended last weekend, attempt to get back on track with an away game at Accrington.

Gilligan joins Gulls on month loan

2011-02-10T17:26:00.003Z

With the loan window back open again, Ryan Gilligan has flown the Sixfields net this afternoon and joined League Two rivals Torquay United on a one month loan deal. Gilligan's place in the team is under threat with the arrival of Josh Walker and the return to fitness of Kevin Thornton and he's decided to make a loan move to get first team football.

Gilligan has made over 200 appearances for the club and joins the Devon club with a view to a longer deal until the end of the season.