Town 0 - 0 Northampton

Grimsby won a very good point at Northampton, and maintained their unbeaten away record after a tough week for the Mariners.

Gritton made his 200th professional appearance when he replaced Michael Reddy for the game at the Sixfield Stadium.

In the first 100 seconds Town had one shot and Northampton had two. Mildenhall had to get down smartish in Northampton's first attack, but the other two efforts were ineffectual.

Ciaran Toner won the first corner of the game for the Mariners after 5 minutes, with the ball being played all the way back to Macca who was Town's last man. The Cobblers then broke through Mendes, and he unleashed a shot which was off target.

Jason Crowe was brought down at speed by Justin Whittle, and the Town man got off with a stern lecture from referee Miller. From the free-kick Mendes blasted the ball over from 6 yards. Bolland then shot high and wide.

Town won another corner after 16 minutes, and Whittle headed the ball down sharply, and then immediately at the other end Mildenhall went down as Northampton threatened to break the deadlock.

Martin Smith looked to have handled the ball before Town got the ball away, and immediately Andrew received the ball at the far end and played it over for Gritton who slipped at the vital moment and mis-hit his shot when he had a real opportunity.

The Cobblers then put a good looking cross over which Jess couldn't get to.

McLeish beat Jones and worked it to Lowe, though Town got the ball away, and then when Andrew got up well to a ball Gritton was off-side. In going for the ball Sean Dyche appeared to injure himself and after a couple of minutes of attention he left the field with Bradley Johnson replacing him.

Mendes whipped the ball in after getting past McDermott, and Justin Whittle dived to head the ball over his own goal.

Substitute Johnson had a chance after Low whipped the ball in to Smith and his cross was flashed over Town's bar.

Toner and McDermott interchanged before Ciaran put the ball over from the right, with Calvin Andrew flashing at the ball, but not able to redirect the ball goalwards.

Crowe strode through the Town midfield, and McGleish hammered the ball far too high as Town rode their luck.

Town won another free kick just inside their own half, with Newey lifting the ball to Rob Jones who was adjudged to have backed in to his marker.

Jones and Kalala had to defend well as Smith and Mendes bore down on Town's goal, with Jones being injured in the challenge. Northampton won two corners, before Andrew got away and was only stopped by a handball by the Cobbler's Low, who was duly booked.

Kalala was booked deep into time added on, but the Mariners kept a clean sheet in the first half for yet another game.

Half-time: Town 0 - 0 Northampton

There were no changes at half-time.

In the 49th minute Crowe went on a run and passed to Low, but Kalala did well to get back and put the ball out.

Mildenhall did well to catch the ball as Newey and McLeish had a clash and both went down, with McLeish seemingly hurt on the elbow.

Newey won Town's first corner of the second half in the 55th minute, with Rob Jones getting up to it, then Kalala and Whittle each tried a volley, with McDermott lifting the ball back in, but Northampton broke quickly and Mendes smashed the ball right across the goal.

On 57 minutes, Michael Reddy came on for Calvin Andrew.

Cohen did well to get in front of Low and win the ball as the Northampton man was preparing to pull the trigger.

The ball fell for Gritton, but with only Reddy on for a pass the ball wasn't good enough and Mendes was suddenly in on the ball and headed the ball over the bar.

Northampton won a corner on 66 minutes, curled in by Smith and McLeish backheaded the ball across the goal with Macca watching the ball drift wide.

Two minutes later the home side won another corner, and Town broke with Kalala but he couldn't retain possession and Northampton stepped up the pace, with Crowe taking a throw. Another corner followed - this time looking highly debatable, and after the ball being played in and out many times, the pressure was lifted when an offside decision was given.

On 71 minutes Gary Jones and Terry Barwick replaced Gary Cohen and Martin Gritton.

Two minutes later Northampton subbed their original sub Johnson, with Andrew Kirk, the former Boston striker, coming on.

On 74 minutes Gary Jones gathered the ball, lifted the ball to Toner, and the Town man smashed the ball wide of the post when glory beckoned from close to the penalty spot.

McGleish got above Macca to fire in a header which went wide of the mark.

Gary Jones found Bolland, and when Reddy got on the end of the ball a defender knocked it out for a Town corner, but nothing came of the set-piece.

Mildenhall punted the ball forward to Reddy but Bojic won the ball.

Northampton won a series of throw-ins, which ended when Mildenhall claimed the ball.

Andy Kirk with Gary Jones pressuring him, turned and fired in a shot which flew wide of the near post. Low was replaced by Rowson deep into time added on for Northampton.

Town won a free-kick, which McGleish won, then Town got possession of the ball through Kalala.

Full-time: Town 0 - 0 Northampton