Boothroyd delighted as Cobblers close in on play-offs

The Town manager admitted there were few opportunities to play ‘sexy football’ in a muddy encounter that survived a pitch inspection just 90 minutes before its scheduled kick-off time.

Jake Robinson scored minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute and Clive Platt added a second in injury time as the Shots were downed 2-0 in a game that very nearly did not go ahead.

Boothroyd was quick to praise the role of the groundsman Paul Knowles in getting the game to go ahead, and feels the result was a good tribute to that effort and to the other members of club staff who contributed to an early Christmas present for the supporters.

“The game looked in doubt several times but the groundstaff worked very hard to get it on and when people work that hard, you have to do your bit as well.

“We certainly did that. We couldn’t play sexy football but it was a good, old-fashioned British game and we had to do the ugly things well.

“I thought we were good value for the win. We know there are things we have to be better than do sometimes but it was a good result.

“Aldershot have got a lot of injuries and suspensions but they came and made a go of it and our two centre-halves were excellent against them, for the large majority of the game.

“They were the heads on sticks for us and Lee Nicholls got out and spread himself well when Aldershot did get through and get the chance to score.”

Boothroyd also reserved special praise for Chris Hackett, who capped another excellent game with a last-ditch tackle that saw him sprint back to cover a swift Aldershot counter-attack.

“It’s an energy-sapping pitch in general but even more so in this game and his (Hackett’s) energy levels are incredible,” he said.

“We got counter-attacked from our corner and he made it from one six-yard box to the other to catch two people up and make a match-saving tackle.

“That’s what the game’s all about.”