Cobblers go record 22 games unbeaten after Yeovil draw

Cobblers have set a new club record of 22 successive league games unbeaten after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Yeovil Town at Huish Park on Saturday afternoon.
ALL SQUARE: Nicky Adams heads in Northampton's equaliser against Yeovil. Picture by Sharon LuceyALL SQUARE: Nicky Adams heads in Northampton's equaliser against Yeovil. Picture by Sharon Lucey
ALL SQUARE: Nicky Adams heads in Northampton's equaliser against Yeovil. Picture by Sharon Lucey

Yeovil began on top and Harry Cornick’s header punished a slack start from the visitors who were fortunate not to be further adrift when they finally found their groove.

Having been outplayed in the opening half-hour, Northampton suddenly clicked into gear therafter and carved out several excellent chances in the remainder of the half, one of which saw Nicky Adams header in an equaliser.

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The Cobblers had further opportunities to take a lead into half-time before a scrappy second-half ensured which saw neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

With just two games remaining, the draw means Northampton can no longer reach the magical 100-point mark.

Nonethless, that won’t take the gloss of a superb season which continues to rumble on with this result breaking club history for the sixth time this season.

Having named an unchanged side from the one which beat Crawley in midweek, Chris Wilder saw his team make a sluggish start and come under early pressure from the hosts.

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Leroy Lita almost beat the offside trap when finding himself through on goal before Yeovil made their fast start count on five minutes when a long-range shot looped off a Northampton defender and with Adam Smith hesitant to come out and gather, Cornick nipped in to head home.

The League Two champions were second best in every department for the opening 15 minutes against a well-organised Yeovil outfit whose tenacious pressing and high energy game caused the visitors problems.

That said, Northampton could and should have been level with virtually their firs foray into Yeovil territory but Sam Hoskins could only steer his free header from Adams’ pinpoint free-kick straight at Artur Krysiak.

The visitors continued to labour and struggle to find their fluency as Yeovil exuded the confidence of a team who’ve just secured their Football League survival.

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But when Northampton did manage to keep the ball and string together some phases of possession, they showed glimpses of what they’re capable with John-Joe O’Toole spurning a glorious chance to level when the ball fell kindly to him after Yeovil had failed to clear David Buchanan’s cross.

Buchanan put in another teasing cross moments later which somehow evaded everyone as the Cobblers just began to wrestle the imitative away from Yeovil.

There was a feeling the momentum had switched sides and that was confirmed when Northampton drew level through a nicely-worked goal on 35 minutes.

Ricky Holmes, inevitably, was the architect as his slick reverse ball found Danny Rose whose chipped cross to the back post was nodded down by John Marquis and an unmarked Adams had the easy task of heading beyond Krysiak from yards out.

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Within minutes of levelling, the Cobblers should have been in front when Adams did well to get to the byline and cut the ball back to Marquis who, totally unmarked inside the six-yard box and with the goal at his mercy, failed to connect.

As if someone had flicked a switch, Northampton had gone from second best to the dominant side in a heartbeat as they dominated the closing stages of the first-half with Krysiak taking no chances when beating away a swerving, powerful 30-yard effort from O’Toole.

A disjointed start to the second half followed as Yeovil regained a foothold in the game but they had to be wary of Northampton’s threat on the break which almost produced a goal for Marquis on 56 minutes but his header was directed straight at Krysiak.

Francois Zoko and both Liam Walsh both blazed over in response for Yeovil while substitute Alfie Potter could only strike thin air when taking a swipe at the ball from six yards out.

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Aside from those half chances, there was little in the way of goalmouth action throughout the entire second-half despite both sides showing intent to win the game

Alex Lacey heading straight at Smith from a free-kick was perhaps the closest either side came in a scrappy closing 15 minutes as the game petered out towards a fair conclusion.

Yeovil: Krysiak, Roberts, Lacey, Smith, Dickson, Cornick (Campbell 81), Dolan (Laird 63), Walsh, Shephard, Zoko, Lita (Compton 68)

Subs not used: Weale, Tozer, Bird, Jeffers

Cobblers: Smith, Lelan, Diamond, McDonald, Buchanan, O’Toole, Rose, Holmes, Hoskins (Potter 60), Adams (D’Ath 75), Marquis (Collins 63)

Subs not used: Clarke, Cresswell, Taylor, Byrom

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 4,008

Cobblers fans: 754