Season In Review 2009/10...November...

Time to look back on November now and coming off the back of Sammo’s appointment the previous month all things were steadying up at Sixfields. The first game of the month, though, saw us struggle past non league Fleetwood Town in the first round of the F.A. Cup.

Sean Clancy was beginning to think that he would be the cup hero for the minnows when he equalised Luke Guttridge’s opener but the Cobblers midfielder struck again in the second half to see us scrape through to Round Two.

There was more cup action in midweek with the trip to MK Dons in the JPT. But this particular cup adventure would come to an end with a comfortable enough 3-1 win for the hosts. Dons were three goals to the good by half time and Steve Guinan’s consolation in the second half wasn’t enough.

A drab 0-0 draw with Grimsby at Sixfields was followed a week later by a much more exciting encounter. Crewe were the visitors and were two goals up by the break with John Johnson helping them out with an own goal. But the Cobblers rallied and Bayo Akinfenwa scored twice in ten second half minutes to earn a point in a game that either side could well have won.

A mid-week trip to Aldershot saw the Cobblers come home empty handed though as the Shots recovered from Guttridge’s early goal to win 2-1 thanks to an eightieth minute Scott Donnelly penalty and a stoppage time Marvin Morgan goal.

The month would end with more cup action back at home and for the second time this season Southampton knocked the Cobblers out of a major tournament. Papa Waigo and Adam Lallana had the Saints in control at half time before Dean Hammond struck a third. Hammonds’ own goal at the other end, though, gave us some hope before Ryan Gilligan’s spot kick nearly gave us some late drama but it was just not enough.

Cobblers in for Jeffers?!

The rumour doing the rounds at the moment is that Sammo is interested in bringing in former England International Francis Jeffers on a free transfer! The "fox in the box" was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season and is available, prompting the Town boss to show some interest in gaining his signature.

The striker was one of the top earners at Wednesday but is reportedly prepared to take a pay cut next season.

Interesting one developing there and we'll keep tabs on that as the next few weeks progress!

Season In Review 2009/10...October...

Ian Sampson would confirm his appointment after the first game of October, a game that didn't produce a win but did see his Cobblers side battle to a 2-2 home draw with Bradford City. After a goalless first half, Simon Ramsden and Michael Boulding put the visitors in control but Alex Dyer pulled one back before John Johnson headed home his first goal for the club in the dying seconds.

So the decision was made and the Cobblers officially had the man for the job. Sammo was signed up until the end of the season and would be on trial as such until the summer months. It was a massive task with the club languishing in the lower reaches of the table but it would be a positive start to full time management for the former Town player.

The first official game in charge for Sammo was the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Second Round game at home to Bournemouth and despite a Danny Hollands goal in the first half, Steve Guinan equalised and there was once again a late sting in the tale. Bournemouth thought they had won it when awarded an 86th minute penalty but Lee Bradbury saw his kick saved by Chris Dunn. The Cobblers went up the other end, won a penalty of their own and Ryan Gilligan showed how it was done by slotting home and putting us into Round Three, the area Quarter Finals.

There was yet another come back the following weekend as the Cobblers fell 2-0 down at Bury but Courtney Herbert scored a stunning solo goal to out us back in the game before Adebayo Akinfenwa made it 2-2 and the fighting spirit was well and truly back in the squad.

Back at Sixfields and the always hard to beat Lincoln City were seen off by a Steve Guinan goal with just under twenty minutes to play.

Guinan was on target again the following week as he put the Cobblers in front at Morecambe. But it looked like all was lost as the Shrimps came from behind to lead 2-1 through a Phil Jevons penalty and a Stuart Drummond goal just before the break. That spirit shone through again though and the Cobblers scored three times in the last twenty minutes to win the game. Andy Holt, John Johnson and Adebayo Akinfenwa were on target and the travelling fans went home delighted.

The month would end in narrow defeat though and with a number of chances going begging at Torquay it always looked like we would end up on the losing side and it was an ex Cobbler that stole the show. Chris Hargreaves scored with seven minutes remaining and showed his respect for the Cobblers but not celebrating.

All in all October was the month when we finally got going and even with that late defeat at Plainmoor we were rolling and had ourselves back out of danger at the wrong end of the table.

Pre season taking shape

The 2010/11 pre-season schedule is just about finalised with a good mix of fixtures arranged in the past couple of weeks. The Cobblers will host Championship sides Coventry City and Watford and Premier League Birmingham City as well as coming up against a host of old faces at the likes of Long Buckby and Kettering Town.

Further trips to Corby and Nuneaton Borough have also just been added to give the pre-season fixture list a healthy balance of opposition.

Provisional Pre-season fixture list

Sat Jul 10 Long Buckby (a)
Tue Jul 13 Kettering Town (a)
Sat Jul 17 Corby Town (a)
Wed Jul 21 COVENTRY CITY (H)
Sat Jul 24 WATFORD (H)
Tue Jul 27 Nuneaton Borough (a)
Sun Aug 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY (H)

Harris signs extension

Seb Harris has signed a one year contract extension to stay at Sixfields for a further season. Harris, who can play up front or at the back, scored the winner against Cheltenham Town in one of his first appearances for the club and appeared from the bench a few times towards the end of the season.

The big man was waiting on a contract offer from the club as Adebayo Akinfenwa made his mind up but now Bayo has gone there is a bit of a room for flexibility and Harris agreed to stay around.

Abdul Osman and Liam Davis remain the only players unsure about their futures of those offered new deals.

Season In Review 2009/10...September...

As the Cobblers entered September 2009, Stuart Gray was well and truly on his last legs. The month would see a managerial change, a shocker at Meadow Lane and the start of a Cobblers legend stamping his mark on the team.

Gray earned himself a small stay of execution with a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory at League One Wycombe Wanderers as an entertaining 2-2 draw ended with the Cobblers going through on penalties. Wanderers managed to miss all three of their spot kicks to help us on our way through to Round Two.

But Gray wouldn’t last much longer. The home league game with Barnet on the following Friday night sealed his fate. Despite Ben Marshall continuing his early good form after joining on loan, Barnet went top of the table by striking three times in twenty second half minutes through Ahmed Deen, Paul Furlong and John O’Flynn.

Gray was sacked in the days following that defeat and his then assistant Ian Sampson took charge, temporarily at first. His first mammoth task was to try and sort out a disorganised and demoralised team for a trip to big spenders Notts County.

Alex Dyer gave us a surprise lead at Meadow Lane but then it all went wrong in front of a dejected away following, many of whom left before the full time whistle. County hit back and were 2-1 up by the break through Matt Ritchie and Lee Hughes. The home side went on to score five with Hughes completing his hat-trick and Ritchie getting a second to completely obliterate the Cobblers. By the time Andy Holt scored a consolation to make it 5-2 the game was long over and there weren’t many of our fans left to see it!

The performance was at least a lot, lot better the following week in Sammo’s first home game in charge and despite Rochdale coming away from Sixfields with a 2-1 win there were signs of better things to come. Ryan Gilligan got the Cobblers goal.

A 3-0 defeat at Shrewsbury was another depressing afternoon though and it was looking gloomy for Sammo’s chances of taking the job full time but there was to be a break through in the final game of the month at home to Rotherham.

Ryan Gilligan hit the opening goal and had us in front by half-time before the emergence of young Courtney Herbert saw him bag his first ever senior goal to make it 2-0 just after the break. The tide was turning and Ian Sharps’ own goal all but sealed the points for the Cobblers with Adam Le Fondre’s late penalty not enough for the Millers.

Sammo had given himself some leverage and was just a couple of weeks away from getting the job full time. After a dodgy start to 2009/10, things were starting to look up!

Gilbert signs one year deal

Defender Peter Gilbert is the latest to answer his contract offer and today boosted Sammo's squad for next season by agreeing to a one year deal. Gilbert was one of the most consistent players of last season and the fact that he was barely noticed says a great deal about his work. It's an important signing in terms of continuity following the departures of Bayo and Holt yesterday and means that there are now just two players that we're waiting to hear back from.

Abdul Osman and Liam Davis are yet to answer but have a little longer to reply and but we at least have some idea of what's happening, something that's not been too aparant in previous seasons. The budget is greatly reduced but Sammo will now have some idea of what he has to work with and this is even before the season has officially ended. Seb Harris, meanwhile, is looking likely to earn a deal with Bayo leaving and will be hoping to sort something out in the next few weeks. The American could be a useful asset as both a defender and forward and the Cobblers boss hinted that he may well yet have a role to play in his future plans.

Season In Review 2009/10...August...

And so begins the round up of another season at planet Cobblers…a season which once again lived up to the usual roller coaster entertainment of previous campaigns. At least we can look back now as a League Two club and be thankful that we are still in the Football League, something that back in the early going was, rather shockingly, looking less likely!

After relegation from League One, we needed a good start to the season and backed with a clutch of new signings there was a perfect chance to do just that at home to unfancied Macclesfield Town at Sixfields. Craig Hinton, Chris McCready, Dean Beckwith, Billy McKay and loan signing Ben Marshall were handed debuts but the Cobblers could only manage a goalless draw in an edgy start to the season.

A midweek trip to the south coast saw Stuart Gray come up against one of his former clubs as Southampton proved too powerful in the Carling Cup. Rickie Lambert began a terrific season for himself by netting from close range before Adam Lallana put the result beyond doubt and the Cobblers out in Round One.

Things continued to look bleak in our first away game of the league campaign as Chesterfield began their final season at Saltergate with a win courtesy of Donal McDermott’s winner, condemning us to a narrow defeat.

But relief was, temporarily around the corner as the Cobblers convincingly picked up a first win of the season at Accrington the following Tuesday. Steve Guinan, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Billy McKay were the scorers as we finally got off the mark.

The corner looked to have been turned with another victory, the first home win of the season, just a few days later as Bournemouth were put to the sword. Bayo struck early on and Marshall rounded off an impressive display by following up a Billy McKay shot to seal the points.

All of that hard work, though, would dramatically fall apart the following weekend as the Cobblers as we travelled to Burton Albion. Albion scored three times in the opening ten minutes to stun the Cobblers and begin Stuart Gray’s final descent. Although Guinan and Ryan Gilligan clawed goals back late on it wasn’t enough and the Cobblers boss would not see another full month of action as Town boss.

Bayo to go...it's official!

Well the deadline has passed for Bayo's decision to be made and despite the agent and the player both asking for more time Sammo thought that the time given was plenty and has ended all the speculation. One of the biggest players, in both senses of the word, to play for the club in the last decade has decided that his future lies elsewhere.

This, we cannot fight, and if we'd have gone up it might be a different story that you read right now. But as it is it was always going to be a fight to keep a player that has contributed bags of goals and livened up the squad whenever he's played. For this, we are truly thankful and we've now unfortunately lost two great figureheads of the club in one day.

Bayo and Holty, we wish you both well and the Cobblers now move forward into a new era as such as replacements are sought to fill two giant holes.

Holt turns down deal and departs...

Following the good news from Kevin Thornton, there's disappointment as Andy Holt leaves Sixfields. Holt turned down a two year deal on less wages than last season and brings to an end a loyal stay at the club.

It's a shame to lose a real favourite from the squad and a blood and guts type player who has given us a lot over the last few seasons but ultimately wanted to seek a better deal elsewhere.

Thornton signs!

Cracking news today from Sixfields as we wait for Bayo to make his mind up with the news that Kevin Thornton has agreed a new one year deal to stay with the Cobblers. Thornton signed in January on a free transfer and has gradually shown his quality in small bursts.

If we can get him fully fit then we have a superb player on our hands and with a pre season behind him this could be a massive signing for Sammo and a direct replacement for the departing Luke Guttridge.

So that's 1/6 signed on so far...we await further good news...come on Bayo!

Sammo expects some decisions "this week"

Sammo is expecting some of the players offered new deals to respond this week with Bayo Akinfenwa the key to the summer spending on wages. Bayo has promised to answer either way by the end of this week on the offer that's been on the table for two months now. It is likely that should he sign, we will have a smaller squad to work with next season and if not we could have a larger squad.

Meanwhile, Kevin Thornton is also set to make his decision with Sammo stating that it was between him and Luke Guttridge as to who to keep on. Abdul Osman and Liam Davis have a little longer to answer the call of the Cobblers boss whilst Peter Gilbert and Andy Holt are also making their mind up.

It promises to be a nervy couple of weeks for the Town boss and fans as we find out who will be around for the summer.

Retained list released by Sammo

The retained list is out and, as was the case with Fabio Capello's England squad announcement this week, there are one or two small surprises in there. As expected, Bayo, along with Abdul Osman, Andy Holt, Liam Davis, Peter Gilbert and Kevin Thornton. All seem good decisions by Sammo and we now wait nervously as our most prized assets think about where their future lies.
 
Steve Guinan and Craig Hinton are both still under contract but have been made available for transfer this summer. Of the others, Luke Guttridge is a surprise name on the list of those departing with his untimely show of frustration that resulted in the red card at Rotherham possibly a factor. A mutual agreement is likely to have been made there I would think. Alex Dyer is a little unfortunate to also be included in the departures list after a few years coming through the youth system and a couple of strong showings from the bench. Also released are Gary Mulligan, Joe Benjamin, Stephen O'Flynn and John Curtis, maybe less surprisingly.

So the wait is on to see who's going to be back next season and who wants out of League Two. Hopefully Sammo and Malcolm Crosby have sold their visions well and that come this time next month we'll have a strong base to launch our assault on the basement league once more. Crosby, importantly, has already signed a new deal and will be on board next season.

No miracles as season ends in damp squib

Northampton Town 1-1 Bury
League Two
Saturday, May 8th 2010

There was to be no fairy tale ending, no miracle and not even a lap of honour at the final whistle. The 2009/10 season was locked away into the vaults in far less dramatic style than we've become accustomed to. Results elsewhere eventually meant that we wouldn't have made the playoffs even with a win and the mood from the stands seemed to reflect onto the pitch as the season ended with a home draw, ending Bury's hopes along the way.

There didn't seem a lot of hope in the stands before the game and Cobblers fans seemed to be attending more in hope than expectation with a massive task ahead. The rain and wind didn't help and the game was drained out by a stubborn and well organised Bury side and the lack of confidence running through our own players.

Bury's fans were more up for it and did their club proud right up to the final whistle as they also fell short of the top seven. It was they who were in front at the break with Ryan Lowe providing them with a glimmer of hope when he found himself in space inside the Cobblers area.

If we had an uphill task at the start of the game it had just got even steeper. Bayo and fellow half fit star Kevin Thornton had to play on and eventually got through ninety minutes each as we looked to scrape back into the game.

Ryan Gilligan tried to get us going ten minutes into the second half with a low shot before Luke Guttridge replaced Paul Rodgers on the right.

The season was draining out of us though and passes were skidding away, long balls being eaten up by the big Bury centre halves and our only real hope left came from the sending off of the Shakers' James Poole for a bad challenge on John Johnson.

We wanted to at least end the season with something and if anyone was going to score the final goal of the season it was Bayo. The big man scored what could be his final goal for the club via a deflection and that was that.

So the 2009/10 season is over...a season of changes, shaky performances, a resolute reorganisation, a couple of months of real hope and a finish that saw us fall just at the wrong time. Stuart Gray's reign perhaps ended too late after a bad start and Sammo had to readjust with loanees for the remainder of the season.

What Sammo and Malcolm Crosby have done is provide us with a battling squad again and now the hard work truly begins in trying to keep them together. With around 3/4 of the squad out of contract this is a massive summer. If we keep this group together we can do good things. If not, it's going to test the mettle of the management team in bringing in the right players to start again.

The dream is over, the season is over and all we can do now is try and put it to bed, enjoy a couple of months of relaxing and then all come back in good spirits once again for 2010/11. Remember, it could have been a relegation dog fight today...let's be thankful it wasn't and look forward to the twists and turns of the summer months to come.

It's been tough and it could get tougher but we'll be back no matter how much we moan and groan. It's another season in League Two...you love it really!

Bayo takes Player of the Year Award

As expected, Adebayo Akinfenwa has won the Cobblers' Player of the Year award for 2009/10. Bayo has once again been the leading scorer this term and has for the most part gained full fitness to try and help the chase back up League Two. Second place went deservedly to John Johnson with Ryan Gilligan's eleven goals from midfield earning him third.

Stand up and be proud for final day

Whatever the result, whatever the outcome tomorrow we really have to remember what has happened in the last few months. Any signs of discontent now are ridiculous and what Sammo, Malc and the lads have done is superb after the dismal start under Stuart Gray. Even the current regime took time to get together but after fighting relegation at Christmas it's been a terrific response from the same players and staff that had us in the mire earlier in the season. For that, we should be thankful. It's going to take a miracle of giant proportions to get us into 7th place now, not just from us but mainly from Darlington who host Dagenham and Redbridge. The Daggers were pipped to a playoff place on the last day of last season and will be desperate to avoid a repeat.

All we can do is focus on what we're doing and try to enjoy the final day of another roller coaster season. What started in disarray has ended with at least more hope than we had at the end of last term. Our club is still being ran by someone that genuinly cares, the manager is a Cobblers legend who gives us intensity on the touch line, a connection to the fans and loyalty to the cause and most of the players do give a damn about the shirt they're wearing. I actually can't name one of the current squad who isn't a team player, fighting for the shirt and wanting to play for us rather than pick up the wage and stroll around the pitch.

That, despite the relegation this time last season, shows some progression. It's likely that we're going to be in League Two again next season but to say that we have a chance, albeit a very slight chance, of the playoffs on the final day is something that none of us could possibly imagine back in December. So let's salute this effort, give the lads the lap of honour they deserve for giving us hope and belief in our team again. Northampton Town is back in good hands again and that's something to be truly proud of.

Sixfields hosts playoff melting pot

Bury come to Sixfields tomorrow knowing that they too have work to do if they're to get into the top seven. All four sides of the ground will be intently looking out for results around the country and both teams know that they can end the hopes of the other by winning the game at Sixfields. The Shakers have dropped out of the top seven after last weekend's surprising and damaging 3-0 home defeat to Torquay United at Gigg Lane and, like us, face a huge mountain to climb.

The Cobblers are likley to continue to throw Adebayo Akinfenwa on for as long as he can last and Kevin Thornton's cameo roles are expected to go on with a place on the bench once again for the former Coventry man. A big finish from both men are key to any success and if both are still with us in August it will be massive for the club whatever league we find ourselves in.

Bury look like having a fully fit squad to choose from with the only worries being the slight knocks of David Worrall and Ryan Lowe. Both, though, are likely to at least make it into the squad.

So here we go then, one more game to settle nine months of hard work. We desperately need help but here's to at least a big performance from our claret heroes.

Don't stop believing...

Back to the old badge!

Northampton Town F.C. have announced that from this summer we'll be reverting back to the traditional badge used by the club up until 2006. Based on "comments by supporters", the club have made the decision to go back to the crest of old. The change back will kick in officially from July 1st.

Time to clutch at those straws...

It's time to clutch at straws...well I thought as Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the best in the business, was doing so I would follow suit. Our situation, of course is a lot more desperate than Ferguson's with United needing to make up just a one point deficit to reach their aims...so if they're clutching at straws, we must be well and truly grabbing at hay - or something more straw-like.

Here's the break down again....can this really be done?

Northampton Town vs Bury: Cobblers MUST win...but so must Bury, making this first ingrediant to the battle very tasty indeed. Both teams need all the points to stand a chance of grabbing seventh place with a draw probably not enough for the Shakers either. But we certainly can win this one, with one final push at Sixfields.

Darlington v Dagenham and Redbridge: This is the big one...Dagenham need to fall to defeat at the league's worst club. All we can hope for is that Darlo want to go out on a high and with nothing to play for and nothing at stake we must rely on their pride.

Chesterfield v Bournemouth: Not too bad a game in terms of slip up potential this...nerves at Chestefield should be sky high and a free and already promoted Bournemouth could cause them problems. Remember, we only need a draw in this one.

Port Vale v Shrewsbury: Same deal with this one...a draw will do us and Shrewsbury put up a decent fight in their home game with fellow playoff hopefuls Morecambe at the weekend, eventually going down 3-2. They'll want to end a disappointing campaign on a high though and will certainly test Vale.

So can it really be done? Well last season we didn't think we could go down based on other results...this time we need the opposite effect and if we gain all three points at Sixfields and that information is relayed around the country then nerves could spread like wildfire. Then again, Redbridge could be 7-0 at half time and ruin my dreams.

We have to hang on to any sort of hope we have...i am indeed clutching at those straws but what else can you do? Keep the faith, keep the pride and keep believing till the end. There may be a twist or two to come just yet...

Sinking feeling again in Yorkshire

Bradford City 2-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, 4th May 2010

If the Cobblers are picked to play in Yorkshire in the final away game of next season I think we should all just boycott it. Exactly a year on from the devastation of Leeds and relegation came this 2-0 defeat that could well be the final nail in our coffin in terms of playoff hopes. Nothing short of a miracle will do us now and once again we’ve got the worst luck at the worst time.

All was going ok on Saturday with the Cobblers evenly matching their hosts until the twelfth minute when Gareth Evans decided to strike a hammer blow to our chances of the top seven with an unstoppable volley. Other playoff rivals were blowing hot and cold and a goal for the Cobblers could well have given us fresh impotence in the race for the end of season lottery.

As it was, the next big incident in the game saw us reduced to ten men when Peter Gilbert played too short a pass to Dean Beckwith and the central defender hauled down Leon Osborne. Referee Mr Crossley, another bad omen for the day, sent Beckwith off and the uphill struggle turn into a mountain of a task for the rest of the afternoon.

Still, Billy McKay should have scored with a gaping goal late in the first half but could only find the post. That was to be a massive point in the game.

Sammo threw on Steve Guinan, Courtney Herbert and Kevin Thornton with fifteen minutes to go to try and galvanise an equaliser that could have made next weekend a little bit nicer a task but it was Bradford who struck the killer blow on the counter attack – Evan getting his second of the game to seal the win.

This leaves us needing a miraculous final day of the season with four teams between the Cobblers and 7th heaven, the final playoff place. We need ALL of the following to happen:

- Cobblers to beat Bury
- Dagenham to lose to bottom club Darlington
- Port Vale to draw or lose at home to Shrewsbury
- Chesterfield to draw or lose at home to Bournemouth

So it is going to take one hell of a final day for the Cobblers to reach the playoffs now but either way it would be nice to end this season with a win that would secure a top ten finish at the very least – something that Sammo and Malc deserve. Whatever happens, I hope you’ll join me in giving the lads a good send off and whatever league we’re in next season we know we’ll be back.

Now, I’m just off to look for that flying pig…up The Cobblers!

Emotional Valley Parade to welcome Cobblers

One team stands in the way of the Cobblers taking the playoff fight to the final day of the season. Bradford City, in an emotional occasion for their own club, block the route to the top seven and it promises to be a day full of drama from the off. City, and the travelling Cobblers fans, will pay their respect to the 56 people who lost their lives in the Valley Parade Fire before the game, creating a backdrop for a hugely important game.

With a big attendance expected, there will be plenty of atmosphere in both ends and the Cobblers players will need to be on their game from the off. Bayo is set to play once again at 60% fitness and we can only hope that he has a big impact once again before he’s replaced later in the game. The big man once again holds the key to what needs to be three points in Yorkshire.

Last season our campaign ended in Yorkshire with relegation at Leeds. We can only hope and pray that this season doesn’t end just up the road at Valley Parade.

Thornton's wonder strike sparks team celebration

It was evident yesterday that after Kevin Thornton majestically swung his left foot to curl the ball into the top corner of the Shrewsbury net that he's been waiting a long time to produce a moment like that once again. Thornton's well documented problems off the pitch meant that a drop to non league to get himself back on track was very much needed.

After Sammo signed him on, we saw brief glimpses of a real talent and despite a red card a few weeks ago, hopefully the troubles are behind him. Thornton's first goal for the club against the Shrews was met with a massive celebration as he rushed to the bench to be surrounded by Cobblers substitutes in an outpouring of relief, perhaps the result of months of uncertainty over his career and a good bond with his new team mates.

If the midfielder can get to anywhere near 100% before the end of the season then we have a real ace in our pack!

Cometh the hour...

Northampton Town 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Saturday, April 24th 2010

The sun rays of early summer descended on Sixfields this afternoon and the Cobblers eventually claimed a big, big win to all but end Shrewsbury’s season and to keep alive our hopes that we could yet find our way into the top seven once again just in time for the season’s end.

The news that we were all waiting for was forthcoming at around ten past two with the announcement of Bayo on the team sheet and despite not scoring himself, the man who is quickly becoming an icon of Northampton Town, the striker was his usual presence and reminded us what we’d been missing in the previous three and a bit games. Andy Holt surprisingly kept his place in the back four even though Craig Hinton was available again but the man who is quickly becoming Mr reliable slotted in with a terrific display in the middle of defence.

Bayo was quickly in the middle of the action when his flicked header from a Holt throw in was just missed by Abdul Osman at the far post. It had been a decent opening from the Cobblers but the first half seemed more about neither team taking any major chances with so much at stake and both sides appeared to be waiting for the other to make their move.

Akinfenwa saw his header fly over the bar before an excellent double chance befell Liam Davis. Bayo worked the ball well on the right hand side of the goal before chipping it in towards Davis who appeared to only need to get a slight touch to give us the lead but couldn’t quite reach it. Seconds later, on his weaker right foot, Davis shot over the bar from a decent position and the game was still on a knife edge as the teams went in for the break.

With ten minutes of the second half played though we finally broke the deadlock in impressive style and of course Akinfenwa had to supply the assist. Bayo found Billy McKay who cleverly turned his man and shot low into the corner of the net for a simply massive goal.

You began to get the feeling that it would be 35 minutes of hell to come and for around twenty of those minutes we were starting to be pegged back with Shrewsbury threatening to end our season along with theirs. Andy Holt miscued and hit his own cross bar as panic set in whilst Jason Steele had a couple of dodgy kicks to edge our hearts closer to mouths.

But it was substitute Kevin Thornton who provided the icing on the cake, and in some style. Thornton, a replacement for Paul Rodgers, picked up the ball twenty five yards out and hit an absolute belter of a shot into the top corner of the net to give Sixfields a mass sigh of relief and a moment to savour.

That knocked the stuffing out of Shrewsbury and there was still time for McKay to hit the post and for Bayo, by then warming down on the sidelines after being replaced by Steve Guinan, to give us a wave and a dance.

There were chants of “Bayo, Bayo, sign the deal” from the West Stand and Akinfenwa gave a nod to his adoring public. Should the adoration be enough to keep him at Sixfields for another two seasons, it will be like a new signing next season, whatever the division we find ourselves in. For now, though, having him back in itself could yet prove to be the deciding factor in whether or not we’ll be walking up Wembley Way come the end of May.

There’s a hell of a lot to do still but if we win next week at Bradford then we know that whatever happens elsewhere this dramatic season will go to the final day.

Not sure if my nerves can hold another fornight!

Playoffs come early in do or die clash

It's almost as if we're waking up this morning preparing for a playoff game, such is the importance of today's game with Shrewsbury Town. The game has the same edge as a playoff encounter with whoever loses this game facing virtually the end of their season.

The Shrews sit a place and a point behind the Cobblers and after a disappointing run that saw them dislodged from their lofty heights in the top seven are recovering well and come into the game on good form. Seven points from their last three games including an impressive 3-0 win at Crewe have reignited the push for promotion and today's visitors will be just as up for this one as we are.

The news we're all waiting for of course is that of Adebayo Akinfenwa. The big man holds the key to our final three games and we all know if he does play today he won't be at 100%. But any sort of fit or half fit Bayo can do a job and he's as vital to the Cobblers as a Fernando Torres is to Liverpool or Wayne Rooney to Manchester United. That may seem a massive comparison but that's just how important our top scorer is to our game. So let's hope we see the name of Akinfenwa on today's team sheet...something that could lift the crowd even before kick off.

As for Shrewsbury, they will be without the injured Graham Coughlan, Craig Disley and Jake Robinson with Nathan Elder also out for a couple of weeks after picking up an injury on his return from a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon. Top scorer Dave Hibbert will provide the fire power though with teenager Tom Bradshaw also one to watch. The seventeen year old came off the bench at Crewe to score twice in dramatic style and the former Aberystwyth Town man will be looking to make even more headlines at Sixfields.

So winner take all it is today and with a draw no good to either side we could well be sitting on the edge of our claret seats for ninety minutes this afternoon!

Dale's party kicks off as Town are beaten

Rochdale 1-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, April 17th 2010

Three 1-0 defeats in a row for the Cobblers was just the backing story to today's game as Rochdale secured their first promotion in over forty years. So firstly, congratulations to the Dale for this achievement and unfortunately the Cobblers' own promotion bid has been severely hit this afternoon.

The absence of Bayo Akinfenwa for the last four games, all four in which we have failed to find the net, is no coincidence and we badly need the big man back for the final three games - all of which we now must win to stand a chance of the playoffs.

Today saw Rochdale come out all guns blazing as they looked for that illusive promotion and the illusive goal took just twenty three minutes to come. Chris O'Grady's prolific season went on as he scored following a corner, a nice turn and shot that found the roof of Jason Steele's net.

That set Dale up for an assault on the Cobblers goal for the rest of the half and we were lucky to go in at half time just a goal down. Chris Dagnall shot wide before a goal mouth scramble was just about cleared by the Town defence, including Andy Holt who deputised for the suspended Craig Hinton. Kevin Thornton, replacing the other suspended Cobblers player Luke Guttridge, tested our former loan keeper Frank Fielding.

The Cobblers were marginally better in the second half as the home fans nervously watched the clock tick down towards their promotion.

Steve Guinan headed over the bar before Billy McKay tried to round Fielding but the keeper got his hands to the ball. Courtney Herbert and Seb Harris were thrown on to try and grab us an equaliser but the game ticked away and we couldn't create anything of note, signalling a wild pitch invasion at Spotland as the home fans finally celebrated their promotion.

As for the Cobblers, we're down to eleventh and sit three points behind the top seven. Two things need to happen if we're to make it into the playoffs now. Firstly, we need Bayo back. If we get him back, we may just find it in ourselves to make the second thing work and that's to win all three of our remaining games.

It's unlikely, but still, just about possible.

Cobblers set to shuffle the pack at Spotland

It's all in the balance now and we can probably afford no more set backs if we're to reach the promised land of the playoffs. The Cobblers sit two points away from the top seven and desperately need a win at second placed Rochdale to get back in the mix before the final three games of the season.

Dale are on a bad run of form having lost their top spot on Tuesday night with a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Darlington. But Dale could still secure a historic first promotion since 1969 with a win over the Cobblers tomorrow afternoon and will be desperate to get over that finish line and refocus their attention on the league title.

A big task at hand then for Sammo who must shuffle the pack with suspensions for Luke Guttridge and Craig Hinton after their red cards in the Tuesday night defeat to Rotherham United. Hinton's place could be filled by John Johnson with Paul Rodgers moving back to right back. This would likely mean Kevin Thornton getting a start despite not being 100% - a gamble that Sammo is willing to take with so much at stake.

Andy Holt could come back into the equation after playing 45 minutes in the reserves in midweek. Then there's the big question of Bayo. To play or not to play is going to be in the player's own hands and if he's even at 50% you wouldn't bet against the big man opting to get out there and put this playoff charge back on track.

So a huge, huge weekend in prospect and everyone who makes that starting eleven needs to match the last two performances with a result that would be the best of the season so far if we did manage to delay Rochdale's party for that little bit longer.

The Millers' Tale...

Rotherham United 1-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, April 13th 2010


On April 13th 2010, twenty two players entered a football pitch in Yorkshire. Only nineteen of them would walk off the pitch at the end of a tempestuous game. Ryan Gilligan, of Northampton Town Football Club, missed a penalty in the first half. Craig Hinton, also of Northampton Town Football Club, gave away a penalty and saw sent off in the second. Adam Le Fondre, of Rotherham United Football Club, scored the winning goal from the resulting spot kick before both Luke Guttridge of Northampton Town and Danny Harrison of Rotherham United were also sent off.

On April 13th 2010 the record books show that Northampton Town were beaten by Rotherham United in a massive dent to the club’s playoff hopes.

But all that didn’t seem to matter as much as usual. Because on April 13th 2010 I saw my baby’s heartbeat for the first time.

That’s right readers, I can finally tell you all...myself and my wonderful girlfriend are having a baby, due on November 17th 2010. I don’t apologise at all for a rare mushy blog but I’ve been holding this in for weeks! We had a first scan yesterday and everything’s fine with the little one so I’m over the moon. I’m moving back to Southampton to be with my little ones with life taking a momentus turn.

I’m sure I will keep you updated as the months go on. But yes, we did lose yesterday and there’s still hope. I’ll be back to full reporting duties for the Rochdale game!

Lots to take up north after gutsy showing

The Cobblers can be happy with the outing on Saturday and thankfully others results only bumped us down one more place in the table. Had we been further adrift then the terrific effort against Notts County would have been but a footnote as the season hung in the balance but as we are we know that should we win the crunch game at the Don Valley Stadium we'll leap frog the Millers and could possibly jumpe back into the playoffs.

It needed a full gung ho attitude and we certainly got that. County were so so fortunate to be leading just after the break after Guinan's horrible miss and a goal line clearance. You would also be hard pressed to find anyone who would have bet against us going on to win the game had a second last ditch clearance in the second half found the net. The record books show nothing but zero points though and we must live with that as well as taking this performance to Rotherham...or should I say, Sheffield.

There's a bit of unrest at their end with incredible calls for Ronnie Moore to resign after the 2-0 defeat at Morecambe on Saturday. Four straight defeats have blown United away from the top three and all is not well up there. That gives us a glimmer of hope and if we manage to nick the first goal tomorrow night we will light the fire of the home fans and hopefully go on to claim what would be the most important three points for many a month.

Rochdale looms large on Saturday and we need to somehow be in the mix by the time we go up there against the title chasers. Hopefully we won't be talking once again about missed opportunities on Tuesday night. If we give even half of what we did on Saturday then we're in with a very good chance.

Unlucky Cobblers beaten by County

Northampton Town 0-1 Notts County
League Two
Saturday, April 10th 2010

If there was ever an indicator of how far this Cobblers team have come since Ian Sampson took charge than this was it. Beaten 5-2 at Meadow Lane in a no contest in Sammo's first game in charge back in September, we have regrouped and become a team that are hard to beat. In any case, County still managed to scrape a win out of Saturday's game despite a whole hearted performance from Sammo's men.

The atmosphere was nervy at Sixfields with the Cobblers coming off the back of a tame goalless draw with Torquay on Monday but the players gave us a start to really get behind. On fifteen minutes we thought we were in front. Steve Guinan, replacing the injured Adebayo Akinfenwa in the starting line up, was put through one on one with Kasper Schmeichal but could only shoot into his legs in a massive chance for the Town.

The Cobblers were having the best of the early possession and belittling the fact that County were gunning for the league title. John Johnson had a header saved before the same player had a shot cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble in which Billy McKay also had a shot blocked.

Right at the end of the half, Dean Beckwith's header flashed wide but it was the Cobblers who were on top as the half time whistle went.

You had the feeling that County still had something in their locker that they weren't unleashing just yet and unfortunately this would prove correct just minutes into the second half. Craig Hinton, otherwise superb in the Cobblers defence, failed to clear his lines and Ben Davies swooped to slot home what turned out the be the only goal of the game.

There was plenty more drama to come though as Luke Guttridge capitalised on a flap by Schemeichal to shoot towards goal but once again the ball was cleared off the goal line.

Jason Steele earned a man of the match award from a double save just after the hour from Lee Hughes who must have thought he had doubled the lead.

Sammo then made a triple substitution with Alex Dyer, Kevin Thornton and Seb Harris replacing Billy McKay, Ryan Gilligan and Paul Rodgers. Thornton so nearly scored with his first touch when he got on the end of a left wing cross but Schmeichal pushed his effort away.

The Cobblers fought hard to get the equaliser but it was County who took home the points despite a massive battle. Sammo can be proud this evening of a sense of real fight within his ranks and we were so, so unlucky to lose this one.

There's now five games to go and we're down to ninth and a point off the playoffs ahead of Tuesday night's crunch game at Rotherham United. With time running out there is no room for slip ups and by this time next week we will have a very good idea about where our season is going.

Bayo ruled out of big three games

Bayo Akinfenwa's injury has cast a shadow over the build up of today's game wih Notts County after it was revealed that the big man could be out for three or more games, possibly even until the end of the season. The Cobblers' top scorer suffered ligament damage in the 0-0 draw with Torquay on Monday and is now a major doubt to play in at least any of the next three games against fellow promotion candidates County, Rotherham and Rochdale.

Now is the time for Steve Guinan to step up to the plate. He's never going to be Bayo but there is a player in there and Guinan has the experience to lead the line. Billy McKay needs a renaissance of form next to him if we're to even come close to County this afternoon with the Magpies' team of superstars, by League Two's standards, gunning for the title.

There's a big game atmosphere expected at Sixfields and the underdog spirit needs to be out in force this afternoon. Come on Town!

Goal difference the key in tough run in

Goal difference is becoming more and more important for the Cobblers after we slipped out of the playoff places on Monday afternoon. Town's positive +12, higher than three of the four teams currently in the playoffs and only one short of Aldershot, means that even a draw in Saturday's daunting home game with Notts County could well be worthwhile.

That would mean that a defeat for any one of the four teams above us combined with even a draw for the Cobblers would lift us into the top seven again. Of course, a win would be much nicer so we have to pray for an absolute top notch performance from us and a real off day for County!

Stranger things have happened of course...

Cobblers frustrated as odds begin to pile up

Northampton Town 0-0 Torquay United
League Two
Monday, April 5th 2010

Frustrating is putting it mildly. Not only the fact that one goal in this stale mate would have put us into fourth place but that our top scorer hobbled off and we failed to find a way past a stubborn Torquay side all added up to a very annoying afternoon at Sixfields on Bank Holiday Monday. Once again with the highest attendance of the season so far, we failed to produce a performance that merited three points and ultimately paid the price by falling back outside the playoffs.

Adebayo Akinfenwa was the main talking point in the first half of a windy encounter here...the big man looked like he could continue after a challenge by a visiting defender but ten minutes before the break and he was trudging off. It takes a lot to keep Bayo down so this one must be pretty serious and a worrying sign ahead of the final run in.

Torquay had said wind with them in the opening 45 and were more settled than the Cobblers going into the break with Jason Steele the busier of the two goalkeepers but we at least came to life a little in the second half.

Liam Davis struck the cross bar from distance before Steve Guinan, Bayo’s replacement, had an effort saved by Scott Bevan in the Torquay goal. Bevan was called into action again from Davis with twenty minutes to play as he palmed away the set piece from the Cobblers midfielder.

Luke Guttridge curled over in the last attempt of the game but it was two points dropped in the end with the Cobblers failing to find a way through. With other results going against us, we can forget about third place and focus solely on the playoffs from now on.

It’s a tough, tough run with with Notts County, Rotherham and Rochdale in the next three games and despite the hard work to get incredibly involved in this playoff hunt, it will be even more impressive should we climb into the top seven after these three games. Bayo’s injury doesn’t help things and the likes of Steve Guinan and Stephen O’Flynn need to stand up and be counted if the big man is ruled out.

There is still a carrot to bite for though and if the Cobblers do anything, we do it when the odds are stacked against us as right now they very much are.

Cobblers in sixth after Saturday games

The Cobblers only went down one place into sixth after a busy day in League Two today. Third place is looking a bridge too far now after Bournemouth went back to eight points clear of Town with a 1-0 home win over Bradford City at Dean Court. Meanwhile, Chesterfield impressively saw off league leaders Rochdale 2-0 at Saltergate and leap back into fifth place. Rotherham, though, are just three points clear of us now though following their 2-1 home defeat to Port Vale.

Below us there was better news with Bury dropping out of the playoffs after a 5-0 defeat at Notts County and Aldershot could only manage a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield Town, a result that was enough to put them back into the playoffs above Bury but not enough to overtake the Cobblers.

There's a quick turn around now with a full set of League Two fixtures on Monday afternoon. The Cobblers take on Torquay at Sixfields and will be hoping that Aldershot and Rotherham cancel each other out when they play each other. Chesterfield go to Barnet while Bury will be hoping to end their poor form at home to Burton Albion.

All very much still to play for but hopefully we can extend our lead on the chasing pack in a big Easter Monday offering at Sixfields.

Heart attack time as Cobblers survive late onslaught

Grimsby Town 1-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Friday, April 2nd 2010

It's never straight forward following the Cobblers, particularly at this time of year and last night was no different as I sat perched on the edge of my seat suffering the torture that is radio commentary of a Northampton Town football game. The Cobblers somehow survived a flurry of late corners and free kicks to record what could be the most telling of all victories in the run in.

The fact that we've gone to a tough place in Blundell Park with the hosts battling and scrapping for every point on a windy Friday night with a passionate home support shows some serious mettle despite the home side being reduced to ten men for over half an hour. Grimsby will feel very hard done by and you have to feel a bit for the team who we pipped to promotion in 2006 and who are now desperately four points from safety with Cheltenham, their nearest rivals, holding two games in hand.

The Mariners had come into the game off the back of a 4-1 drubbing at leaders Rochdale but boasted home wins over promotion hopefuls Bournemouth and Shrewsbury in recent weeks. This was never going to be as straight forward as league positions would suggest.

It was, however, the Cobblers who took the lead on eighteen minutes when Liam Davis staked his claim for a new contract once again by finishing well from the left hand side. Davis is one of those looking to prove himself to Sammo and after a poor performance at Lincoln this puts him right back on track to still be with us next season.

Davis would come close again before Grimsby levelled the game and built up momentum for the second half when Michael Coulson beat Jason Steele from just inside the area to give the hosts parity for half time.

The Cobblers went close to restoring a lead when Davis once again came to within whiskers of making it 2-1 when he picked up Billy McKay's pass to slam a shot off the post.

Our cause was greatly helped a few minutes later though when Grimsby's Oliver Lancashire was given his marching orders for an elbow on Billy McKay. The game was still in the balance though with both sides looking like they could snatch the winner.

It was Sammo's men who, crucially, got the final goal of the game though when Luke Guttridge, recalled to the starting eleven, put in a good cross that Bayo Akinfenwa rose to meet and head us back in front with a quarter of the game to go.

The final ten or fifteen minutes saw Grimsby piling on the pressure and you just wanted to turn off the radio but couldn't. Corner after corner seemed to reign down on us before an injury time free kick just outside the area was dealt with. You started to think of Ryan Gilligan's late, late goal in 2006 and whether the Mariners would gain revenge but mercifully it was over following four minutes of time added on and we had a precious three points before everyone else plays this afternoon.

That's an impressive seven wins from nine away games in 2010 and promotion form indeed. It's also a welcome relief that our season wasn't seriously damaged at Easter after the last couple of years that included a damaging double defeat last season to put us closer to relegation and a defining 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest at Sixfields the season before.

The Easter period has started in dramatic style and we must not keep all fingers crossed that the likes of Bury (at Notts County), Chesterfield (home to Rochdale), Aldershot (away at Macclesfield), Rotherham (home to Port Vale) and Bournemouth (home to Bradford) drop points this afternoon.

If even two of them don't win, the winnable home game with Torquay United on Monday gives us a huge chance to take another step towards the most unlikely of playoff finishes.

Mariners facing keeper crisis ahead of Cobblers visit

Grimsby Town is the next stop on the squeaky bum time tour with massive implications on both ends of the table on Friday night. The Cobblers can go temporarily fifth, for 24 hours at least, with a win at Blundell Park whilst a point would be enough to take us back into the top seven until the others catch up on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts are facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the game with first choice Nick Colgan down with a groin injury that he picked up in training on Thursday. Second choice Leigh Overton is also on the sidelines already and so Grimsby are battling hard to get in an emergency loan keeper in before the game. Hull City stopper Mark Oxley is believed to be the target for any such deal that should go through this evening.

The Cobblers have no fresh concerns but are still without our own first choice keeper with Chris Dunn still out . Kevin Thornton and Andy Holt are both missing through knee injuries but there’s plenty of food for thought for Sammo with three substitutes that impressed in the closing stages at Lincoln last weekend pushing for a starting place. Sammo has admitted that it would be harsh to despatch Billy McKay after one quiet game at Sincil Bank but Steve Guinan is chomping on the bit to get back into first team action.

There’s a fiery recent history with Grimsby of course with our last meeting in Cleethorpes ending with Ryan Gilligan’s dramatic injury time equaliser snatching promotion away from the Mariners right at the death. It’s bound to be just as nervy this time around with precious points to play for and after these two Easter games we’ll know a lot more about where we’re going to be come the end of the season.

Sammo nominated once more...

Sammo has made it three Manager of the Month nominations in a row after three wins and a draw in March for the Cobblers. The Town boss won the award in January and was one of the four nominations for February as well. He now comes into the running once again and we will find out if he's been successful on Saturday.

League Two Manager of the Month, March Nominations:

Chris Sutton - Lincoln City
Steve Cotterill - Notts County
Ian Sampson - Northampton Town
Keith Hill - Rochdale

Crucial Easter as playoff race goes on

The Cobblers can leap back into the playoffs with a Friday night draw or win at Grimsby but there's plenty of action in League Two that will go a long way to deciding who is there at the end of the season. On Saturday, Aldershot travel to Macclesfield Town and hopefully by then they will need a win to catch us up again. Out of form Bury travel to promotion chasing Notts County and could well be the ones to chase. Above them, Chesterfield host leaders Rochdale and Rotherham and Bournemouth have winnable home games.

It's the time of year when phones are being checked during the Cobblers games and hopefully there's not a lot of panic going on. Come Easter Monday's home game with Torquay United we could do with being back in the top seven with rivals Aldershot and Rotherham playing each other and Bury hosting Burton Albion.

It all adds up to some nervous times over the next seven days, with games that could change the course of the season.

Cobblers still waiting for Sincil Bank win

Lincoln City 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, March 27th 2010

The wait for a win at Sincil Bank goes on as Lincoln City ended our five game winning run at the weekend meaning that we’re still without a win since March 1992. At least Ian Sampson’s men managed to grab a late point from this one to keep in touch with the playoffs after Aldershot climbed into the top seven with a big win at Bury.

It took a deflected goal from John Johnson with four minutes to go to earn a point from a game that looked dead for the Cobblers to at least keep an unbeaten run going into the crucial Easter period. In a game where we struggled to get into our normal passing game and where the likes of Liam Davis and Paul Rodgers were strangely out of the game we can be grateful that we escaped with a share of the spoils.

Lincoln were making all of the early running and Jason Steele was busy in the opening exchanges as he had to save a Joe Anderson free kick before danger man Davide Somma went close twice in the first ten minutes.

The Cobblers calmed the game down a bit though and started to get more of a foot hold in it with Adebayo Akinfenwa having a shot blocked curling a good effort just over the bar. Bayo would once again go close with a header late in the half and Ryan Gilligan had a shot saved as the half came to an end with no score.

That would all change though just ten minutes into the second 45 as Matthew Saunders’ free kick curled into the top corner of Steele’s net, giving the Cobblers keeper no chance.

Craig Hinton and Abdul Osman headed over the bar as the Cobblers looked like they would go home pointless but salvation came just in time with Johnson’s volley deflecting in to the delight and relief of the large away following. We could even have won it late on with Bayo chipping just over but Lincoln would also come close to having the final say.

The last scare for Town came when Chris Herd forced Steele into a fine save right at the end of the game but it ended in a draw and the Cobblers dropped out of the playoffs ahead of Friday’s trip to Grimsby.

Somma the danger man at Sincil Bank

The latest threat to the Cobblers' fine winning run will come in the form of the new attacking sensation of League Two this weekend. Lincoln's on loan forward Davide Somma, borrowed from Leeds United, has been on fire since joining the Imps scoring five goals in as many game including a brace in their 3-2 win at Torquay.

Somma has this week signed an extension to his loan that takes him up until the end of the season and could be one to worry about as we begin the first of two back to back away games.

Gilly latest to verbally agree deal

Ryan Gilligan has become the latest to verbally agree a contract extension as Sammo begins to build his side for next season regardless of which league we're in. It's safe to say that Gilly would be capable in League One or Two and eleven goals from midfield says it all for a player who is fast becoming a loyal servant to the club having joined in 2005.

It's good to see plans being made already in terms of next season with so many out of contract players and hopefully Gilly can persuade his mate Bayo to do the same!

Shots close gap after win at Darlo

Aldershot have tonight closed the gap on the Cobblers to just one point after a 2-1 victory at bottom club Darlington. The Shots have used up all their games in hand but look a real threat to the playoffs now. Meanwhile, Accrington Stanley wasted the chance to close in after a 2-0 home defeat to Burton Albion.

Notts County have consolidated their place in second with a goalless draw at Bradford but Rotherham are the big winners after a 3-1 home win against Macclesfield Town. That win means that the Millers are up to third and seven clear of the Cobblers as we now enter the final furlong.

The pressure is on but at least the games in hand are now near enough all sorted out. Let battle commence!

Defenders in place for next season

Sammo has been boosted by the news that key central defensive partners Dean Beckwith and Craig Hinton have had triggers activated in their contracts that means they will both be at Sixfields next season. The Cobblers have been building a strong defensive line, a key part of the incredible run of form of late, and this can only be good news before the summer is even upon us.

Meanwhile, Peter Gilbert is in talks about a new deal whilst it is believed that Adebayo Akinfenwa has been offered a two year contract.

Important night in League Two

Games in hand are getting cleared up now and tonight is a big night as the Cobblers wait to see if Accrington Stanley can move closer to them and if Rotherham can go into third place. Should the Millers claim all three points as expected at home to Macclesfield Town, they will go into the final automatic promotion place and will be seven points clear of the Cobblers.

Accrington must win their two games in hand if they are to catch us now and they host Burton Albion who need a win to keep alive their own playoff hopes. Meanwhile, Notts County are at Breadford as they look to close the gap on top club Rochdale and Aldershot can go to within a point of us if they win at bottom club and managerless Darlington.

So all four of tonight's games affect us in some way, meaning a very interesting night is in store with the business end of the season well and truly starting.

2010...the year of the Cobbler?

Northampton Town 2-0 Morecambe
League Two
Saturday, March 20th 2010

In a year that is going from strength to strength, 2010 is proving to be a quite remarkable one so far for the Cobblers. This latest important three points, a relatively straight forward win over a tired Morecambe side, means that Sammo’s team have now won ten of fourteen games since the turn of the year. That form in itself is promotion form without a doubt and that scenario is looking more and more likely by the week despite there still being nine games to play.

The playoff chasing visitors were opened up and after a trip to Hereford in midweek ran out of legs and couldn’t get back into the game after goals from Liam Davis and Ryan Gilligan had given the Cobblers the advantage.

Billy McKay had already had a good chance after just fifteen seconds, forcing Morecambe keeper Barry Roche into a good stop but Davis wouldn’t be denied a minute and a half later as he picked his spot in the corner of the net after being played in by Peter Gilbert. That set us up for the half and gave Sixfields another advantage to cheer. With a solid defensive unit we now look confident whenever in front and the early relief of a goal was certainly a blessing.

Bayo Akinfenwa could have had a couple before the break, twice denied by Roche as the Cobblers kept the pressure on whilst Paul Mullin had the best chance for Morecambe. The small band of travelling support had little to get excited about apart from that though and we were in front at half-time.

It was a good time for the break with a shift in pressure going over to Morecambe but we were straight out of the blocks once again in the second half as Ryan Gilligan got on the end of a fine move to score his eleventh of the season. Good work from Gilbert found Akinfenwa and the big man held the ball up well to play in the midfielder who made no mistake.

Billy McKay curled a shot just wide as we kept the pressure on before Gilligan had a couple of shots blocked. The highlight of the game for the home fans at least was the sight moments later as Bayo chased his man back for over half of the pitch, sprinting back to cover and make a challenge, earning him the biggest cheer of the afternoon!

Steve Guinan made his return to the side as he replaced McKay late in the game and there was only a late Phil Jevons effort to bother us as Sammo led his side to a fifth straight victory that keeps us well and truly in a playoff place.

Results elsewhere, crucially defeats for Shrewsbury and Accrington of the chasing pack and for Bournemouth in third place, means that the Cobblers are three points clear of eighth place and just six behind third in an incredible turn around. Rotherham could go third on Tuesday night should they see off Macclesfield Town but for now we once again bask in a weekend that sees us as the side to fear in League Two. Sammo is working wonders, no doubt about it. Now keep one eye behind us but the other one on that (dare we even mention?) final automatic promotion place.

Hold on to your hats! Lincoln up next...

Guinan and Gilly back in squad

Steve Guinan and Ryan Gilligan will be back in the squad for Saturday's vital home game with Morecambe at Sixfields. Guinan scored a hat-trick in his return in the reserves earlier this week while Gilligan is back after suspension so there's a couple more options for Sammo as he looks to take another step towards a playoff place.

Andy Holt, meanwhile, is back in training whilst Kevin Thornton and Chris Dunn should begin again next week.

Flowers off to Hull

Goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers has ended his short run on the Cobblers' coaching staff as he takes up a position with Hull City. The Tigers have replaced Phil Brown with Iain Dowie today and the new boss has moved quickly to appoint the former Blackburn Rovers stopper.

Plenty in reserve as Guinan returns in style

Steve Guinan was back in style on Tuesday afternoon as he bagged a hat-trick for the Cobblers' reserves in an impressive 4-0 rout of Southend United at Sixfields. Guinan, who has been out for a couple of months with a hernia problem, played sixty minutes and opened the scoring early on following good work from Stephen O'Flynn. The striker then went on to net twice more before being withdrawn on the hour.

O'Flynn got a deserved goal himself to round of the scoring and Courtney Herbert and Gary Mulligan also put in good shifts on either side of the front two.

It gives Sammo plenty to think about for the closing stages of the season when the squad will certainly need to be used in a busy program that includes two games over the Easter Bank Holiday and a quick fire double with fellow contenders Notts County and Rotherham United in April.

Stanley closing in as playoff race hots up

Accrington Stanley produced a more than significant result last night as they reignited their playoff hopes with a 2-1 home win over Rotherham United that takes them to within two points of the Cobblers with two games still in hand. Stanley had Jimmy Ryan to thank for the winner, coming ten minutes from time, after former Cobblers loan man Josh Walker had levelled Michael Symes' first half strike.

The win means the Accrington are now well in the thick of the playoff race and with home games against Burton and Barnet in the next two weeks making up their games in hand they are a real threat to our place. Meanwhile, Rotherham now only have one game in hand on the other sides in the playoffs.

Notts County and Bournemouth played out a 2-2 draw on Monday evening and both look odds on to take the other two automatic promotion places behind Rochdale. Morecambe also picked up a 1-0 win at Lincoln last night and are three behind the Cobblers ahead of their Sixfields visit this weekend.

In a huge weekend elsewhere, Shrewsbury go to Aldershot whilst Accrington host Rochdale. Sixth plays fourth as Rotherham host Bury and stuttering Chesterfield face a tough trip to Burton Albion.

It's all getting as tight as ever but we're right in the thick of a titanic battle for the final playoff berth. There may yet be time for the teams above us to start worrying though and they're not quite assured of a place in the end of season lottery just yet.

Come on the Cobblers!

Seventh Heaven for Cobblers

Northampton Town 2-0 Darlington
League Two
Saturday, March 13th 2010

When the Cobblers were floundering in 21st position earlier this season, you would have laughed at anyone that would have even mentioned the playoffs. But after this afternoon's 2-0 win over plucky but poor Darlington, Sammo's men have reach seventh place and now, incredibly, have a proper chance of a playoff spot.

There's still a lot of football to be played of course but the momentum is now well and truly with the Cobblers after four straight wins and who would bet against us sealing a place in the end of season lottery now? Goals from Billy McKay and Abdul Osman made it safe today but a second half that saw the visitors give us a real test showed that there's still work to be done.

Darlington came to Sixfields hoping to make at least some ground up at the bottom but their first half showing was far from convincing and explained why they are the Football League's bottom club.

Alex Dyer was drafted into the Cobblers midfield with the absence of Ryan Gilligan, John Curtis, Kevin Thornton and Luke Guttridge, the latter making the bench after an injury sustained this week. Dyer was involved early on as he cut the ball back to Liam Davis who should have done better from close range, bringing a good stop from visiting keeper Shane Redmond.

But the Cobblers would go on to take the lead as Adebayo Akinfenwa crashed a shot off the cross bar and John Johnson finished it off.

The lead was doubled soon afterwards as a Liam Davis corner was only cleared as far as Osman who finished from inside the area and we were well in control as half tiem approached.

The second half certainly didn't live up to the first half promise with a more subdued performance from the Cobblers and more purpose from Darlo. The visitors in fact looked more likely to score as Gary Smith tested Jason Steele and the Cobblers on loan keeper did well to also block the follow up from Josh Gray.

The Cobblers just couldn't get a hold of the game in the second half but Luke Guttridge's introduction at least gave us a bit more control back in the game and Bayo could have made it three in stoppage time but his turn and shot went wide of the post.

The second half didn't matter though and the result was the thing that meant the most. With Rochdale defeating Shrewsbury, we moved up to the playoff zone, something inconceivable earlier in the season. We now have a real chance of ending the season with a chance at League One and the excitement, tension and belief is rising at Sixfields.

Now comes ten games that will become a crucial part of the history of Northampton Town. Let battle commence...

Triple injury blow ahead of Saturday

There's been a blow to preparations for Saturday's game with three midfield players picking up injuries in a midweek game. Designed to give a few players some game time, the behind closed doors friendly with Nottingham Forest turned into a disaster when Kevin Thornton, John Curtis and Luke Guttridge all picked up injuries.

Thornton and Curtis are now certain to miss the Darlington game whilst Guttridge is touch and go, leaving us short in midfield. Alex Dyer will be the favourite to come in whilst Ryan Gilligan returned last week and did well at Port Vale so he should provide some cover at least.

Meanwhile, Steve Guinan is back in training but won't be used just yet.

Crunch time in playoff race...

It's getting to that stage now where every game is vital to our cause. A "must win" game at home to Darlington on Saturday could provide a few problems should we not be leading / behind early on. An expectant home crowd should show up hoping to put four or five past the league's bottom club. There needs to be patience on and off the pitch in a game that's by no means a foregone conclusion.

Darlo will come still fighting for their lives although fifteen points is surely too huge a gap to catch up with at this point in the season. On paper we should roll them over but also have to remember that we had a tough time up there a few weeks back in a 2-1 win after going a goal down.

With three wins in a row, Sammo's got the lads back firing on all cylinders again but we simply can't let all the hard work of the 3-1 win at Port Vale last weekend go to waste. With seventh places Shrewsbury hosting Rochdale it's a massive, massive chance to move into the playoff area or at least close the gap on the Shrews.

Kevin Thornton could return to the starting line up but Sammo will be wary of changing a winning side. It really is time to get on the edge of your seats...it's going to be one hell of an end to the season!

Club Shop: An explanation

In response to the below, Northampton Town have said the following (Thanks to Gareth Willsher for a quick response):

"The Premier League items are here on a trial basis, and we will see how it goes. They have been brought in at this time with a number of forthcoming events in mind, such as England internationals car boot sales, local cup finals and community events all taking place at Sixfields in the next few months. That means there will be a lot of non-Cobblers fans visiting our premises."

"We will also be doing plenty of promotion of the club and our matches to these people with offers and ticket vouchers to come and support us at a first team game etc, but as much as we might not like it, we have to accept a lot of these people will be armchair Premier League fans."

"If we can take their money off them and earn some valuable income for the club at the same time, then that is something we have decided to look at and to see if it works."

"If, when they come to buy these items it drags them into our club shop that can only be good news for us, and our items are much cheaper than the Premier League items. It also gives our staff a chance to convince them of the error of their ways!"

"As I say it is only a trial and will be reviewed in the summer and is really aimed at non-Cobblers fans who will be visiting us."

Welcome to the Northampton Town/Chelsea/Arsenal/ManYoo/Liverpool club shop...

It appears that the online 'club shop' has now turned into a retail outlet holding items for sale for our good friends at Chelsea, Manchester United, Ars-...hold on, what's going on?

It's been announced that our online shop is now stocking items from Premier League clubs. So while searching for that discount blue away shirt, maybe you would fancy a Chelsea back pack, an Arsenal pen or a Phil Thompson signed photograph? The move is hoped to raise more money for the club but appears more like a complete sell out move by the powers that be.

To try to counter the backlash from some fans, the club have mentioned that many Cobblers items are now half price but that doesn't make an awful lot of difference if you buy a Town hat and then notice a Chelsea scarf on the same website and think "oh well I might as well, seeing as though I've saved some cash!"

There's nothing worse than walking around on a home game at Sixfields and seeing different colours in the home end (it does still happen). It's particularly noticeable in the younger generation and this new move doesn't help matters. Yes, we can get half price Cobblers shirts but we're promoting other teams whether directly or indirectly.

Sort it out Town! We are NORTHAMPTON TOWN after all!

Three in a row as Sammo celebrates new deal

Port Vale 1-3 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, March 6th 2010

If ever there was a time for it all to come together on one majestic away day then this was it. A trip to an improving Port Vale side under Mickey Adams was a tough test and the Cobblers’ recent away form would be severely put under the microscope against a side still harbouring their own playoff ambitions. But on the day that Sammo signed a new contract, keeping his Sixfields legacy alive until 2013, his side did him proud and edged to within three points of the top seven.

The Town boss kept faith with many of his side with Ryan Gilligan the only one of three returning midfielders to go straight back into the starting eleven. The faith was rewarded as the Cobblers were two goals better off than their hosts by half time and despite a second half rally we clung on to the most vital of all the latest victories.

It was a frantic start to the game and it should have been no surprise that goals were flowing after the teams shared four of them at Sixfields earlier in the season. Bayo was the first off the mark as he added to his impressive recent form by holding off three defenders before shooting low into the corner from outside the area.

But Vale were back in the game almost immediately when Cobblers loan keeper Jason Steele could only parry a long range effort into the path of Doug Loft who finished well to level the scores with just five minutes played.

The first half was finely balanced but it was a goalkeeping error that handed us the initiative right on the stroke of half time as Joe Anyon in the Vale goal dropped a Paul Rodgers cross into the path of Abdul Osman who was only too happy to notch his first goal of the season. There was still time for more though as we extended the lead in first half stoppage time. Billy McKay latched on to a clever pass from Liam Davis to slot the ball past Anyon for 3-1.

Jason Steele would prove his worth in the second half as the home side pressed to get back into the game. Craig Davies forced a good save from the loan man before former Cobbler Marc Richards’ glancing header produced another fine stop.

But the Town defence held firm and it was another huge win, the third in a row now, for Sammo’s men and more good news was to follow with results going our way, particularly at Grimsby where Shrewsbury were beaten 3-0 to fall to within three points of the Cobblers’ reach.

With the Shrews hosting top club Rochdale next weekend and the Cobblers at home to bottom club Darlington, this is the time where we need to keep it going, get the town behind us once more for a final push. It’s official – we’re playoff contenders...let’s give it one last push and keep Sammo’s Wembley dream alive!

Sammo set for new deal?

It's being reported that Sammo is set to extend his reign at the helm at Sixfields as Cobblers boss. David Cardoza has already began talks with the former defender to extend his current deal, that runs out at the end of the season, by a further few years. Sammo is seen as the man to take the club forward in tough times and his impressive record since taking over has helped him to persuade the chairman to talk about a longer deal.

Cardoza has revealed that the playing budget will be cut next season with the financial pressure on football clubs at this time and that it will be more about quality than quantity next term. That, alongside Sammo's impressive knowledge of this level of football, appears to be the perfect match to cope with the lack of funds available this summer.

The new deal could even be finalised by the end of this week and there seems nothing much more in the way of Sammo continuing his Sixfields legacy into 2010-11 and beyond!

Keith Alexander

The absolutely shocking news coming from the footballing world this afternoon is that the Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander has passed away at the age of 53. Alexander suffered a brain aneurysm in November 2003 and recently took some time off work through illness. He passed away after arriving home from the Silkmen's game at Notts County on Tuesday evening.

A pioneer for young black managers in this country, Alexander came into prominence as boss of Lincoln City in 2002 and led the Imps to numerous playoff campaigns on a small budget. This led him to become boss at Peterborough United from 2006 to 2007 before taking over at Moss Rose in February 2008.

The footballing world has lost a true gentleman, a hard worker and a major figure in lower league football. My thoughts, as I'm sure all Northampton Town fans will echo, are with Mr Alexander's family and friends and the supporters of Macclesfield Town Football Club.

More nominations for Cobblers

There's more nominations this month for the Cobblers as the Football League monthly awards. Ian Sampson has been nominated once again for the Manager of the Month award having won the honour in January. Meanwhile, Adebayo Akinfenwa's reward for three goals in three games and a storming February with four in seven games is a nomination for League Two Player of the Month.

The nominations in full:

League Two Manager of the Month

Alan Knill (Bury)
John Sheridan (Chesterfield)
Ian Sampson (Northampton Town)
Paul Simpson (Shrewsbury Town)

League Two Player of the Month

Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton Town)
Wayne Brown (Bury)
Tommy Lee (Chesterfield)
Adam Le Fondre (Rotherham United)

Billy completes 90 minutes for country

Billy McKay last night played the entire game in Northern Ireland Under 21s' 3-0 win over San Marino. The striker has slowly worked his way into being the first choice partner to Adebayo Akinfenwa at Sixfields and continued his impressive season with the appearance for his country.

McKay will be back at Sixfields in time to travel to Port Vale on Saturday afternoon.

Mixed fortunes in midweek catch up

Well it was a mixed bag tonight but only Dagenham and Redbridge of the teams around us dropped points as they drew 0-0 at Torquay. Aldershot had to stave off a late Bradford spell of pressure to secure a single goal win whilst Notts County saw off Macclesfield by the single goal.

All those results mean the Cobblers drop to tenth in League Two, dropping below both Aldershot and Dagenham. Both of those sides now have just one game in hand on Ian Sampson's men so it's still likely to be a tight finish to the season.

All eyes now on Saturday's trip to Port Vale, who came from behind this evening to record a 3-1 away win at Darlington.

More catch ups tonight...

Tonight sees more of the Cobblers' playoff rivals catch up with another game with four games involving sides in and around the Town in League Two.

We'll more than likely be forgetting about catching Notts County with the Magpies holding five games in hand over us and looking more likely to gun for automatic promotion. They should also see off Macclesfield Town at Meadow Lane this evening. Aldershot sit a point behind us and take on Bradford in their first of two games in hand. The Bantams have won their last two under new boss Peter Taylor and could well give Aldershot a close run tonight.

Meanwhile, fifth placed Rotherham travel to top club Rochdale and we must hope for a home win there to keep the Millers in our sights. Finally, Dagenham go to Plainmoor to Torquay and will overtake us should they get a point or more in darkest Devon.

It's all starting to even itself out so all set for a night of hoping for more slip ups as the big catch up continues.