Town 1 - 0 Northampton

Town kicked off, and Bull won the first corner after 3 minutes, and as the ball was played round Pinault was caught offside.

Parkinson had a shot from the right edge of the box, which was blocked by Northampton's Harper.

Northampton started quite lively, and got behind Town in wide positions, though each time the Town defence was equal to the threat and there was little danger to the Mariners goal. Rowson tried a shot on the quarter hour, not troubling Williams.

Terrell Forbes was the next to get in a good stop. And then Town gained a free-kick taken by Forbes, resulting in a break for the visitors.

Reddy got past his man, and as he went into the box he went to ground, though not appealing for a penalty. Town did get a penalty though, taken by Pinault and ...

Goal!: 20:55 Jason Crowe headed goalwards, and Reddy himself glanced the ball past Harper to put Town 1-0 up.

Reddy raced 40 yards after the ball bringing the Blundell Park crowd to its feet.

Town's next corner after 26 minutes resulted in the Mariners possession lasting for a while but no chance was created.

Gritton fired in a shot from 25 yards after his combative header had dropped at his own feet.

McDermott hit a fizzing shot from fully 35 yards which wartmed the fingers of Harper, and within seconds Reddy raced into the box, but his finish was only just off target.

McDermott was the next to try his luck as the veteran Town man continued his excellent season.

Northampton won a disputed free-kick, as Parkinson raced away with the ball, but Town immediately won the ball back from the set oiece.

There was another disputed free-kick for Northampton as Gritton was pulled up, and again Town won back control.

Northampton fed the ball into the box three times in one attack before an offside flag gave Town control.

Ramsden fed McDermott, and went forward for the return pass, placing his shot well over the Osmond bar.

Gritton then gave Reddy the ball in the box, and with the ball bobbing up, he smashed his shot just over.

Half-time: Town 1 - 0

Northampton made a couple of changes at half time, with Hearn and Bojic coming on for Westwood and Smith.

Northampton had the wind at their backs for the second half.

After a concerted attack from the visitors Town broke away, but McDermott lost the ball, and the game quickly switched to the Town End where Williams did well.

Goal!: 48:21 McGleish fired Northampton level turning the ball past Williams, as the ball bounced back off Williams.

Town immediately won a corner, which was played to Bull and his shot towards the far post was comfortably taken by Harper.

Northampton had started the second half on fire, and the Town defence was under near constant pressure.

Goal!: 54:05: Benjamin stooped low to nod past Williams, as the Northampton man was given a free header.

Young came on after 55 minutes replacing the injured Bull.

Town then won a corner which came to nothing, but Northampton sprinted away with men spare. On this occasion Town got away with it as Williams came out to claim.

Crowe fired in a great strike which hit the side netting giving some people in the crowd the impression that he had brought Town level.

A good move all the way through Town's team was brought to an end by a disputed offside decision.

After 78 minutes Town brought on Ashley Sestanovich for Parkinson, but before he did the referee went over to the fourth official and sent off Calderwood - the Northampton Manager, who watched the remainder of the game from the old Directors Box.

McDermott won the ball, and gave Sestanovich his first touch, and when Reddy went into the box and went down, the Referee gave a free-kick to Northampton.

Sestanovich was sent off after 82 minutes - having spent just 4 minutes on the pitch.

Crowe fed Reddy, but the Town man was given off-side.

Northampton won a free-kick 45 yards out, and the away team tried a long shot which only reached the edge of Town's D.

Reddy then worked the ball well before firing the ball goalwards, but it was intercepted six yards out.

With 30 seconds left, the Mariners won a corner, with 20 players in the box, as the linesman signalled the referee over. McDermott won the header as the corner came over, and Town won a throw.

Jason Crowe was injured and was carried off. The referee left the pitch to a concerted chorus of boos from the Town fans.

Full-time: Town 1 - 2 Northampton

Teams:
Town: Williams, Ramsden, Forbes, Jones, McDermott, Pinault, Crowe, Bull, Parkinson, Reddy, Gritton
Subs: Coldicott, Mansaram, Sestanovich, Young, Fraser

Northampton: Harper, Chambers, Westwood, Willmott, Jaszczun, Low, Rowson, Williamson, Smith, McGleish, Benjamin
Subs: Youngs, Bojic, Sabin, Hearn, Bunn