Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Season In Review 2007/08...February...

As the Cobblers' season really kicked off in early 2008, the momentum would run into February as we made moves into the top half of the table.

The first game of the month took us to Swindon and Adebayo Akinfenwa made his debut after joining the club in the January transfer window. Akinfenwa would be the saviour at the County Ground in an exciting second half. Blair Sturrock gave the Robins the lead but the big man came off the bench to head home his first goal for the club from a left wing corner.

The following weekend we welcomed Leeds United to Sixfields and it looked like Jonathon Howson's goal had given the visitors the win but Akinfenwa popped up again to barge through the Leeds defence and blast home the leveller with fifteen minutes to go.

A Tuesday night trip to Yeovil ended in a disasterous evening as we walked for an hour to get to the ground from our hotel and ended up twenty minutes late. To cap it all off, Yeovil scored a winner in stoppage time through Terry Skiverton to round off a dismal night.

But a few days later and we were right back on track in style with a comprehensive 4-0 home win over Gillingham. Jason Crowe and Adebayo Akinfenwa scored twice in two minutes just before the break to give us the half time advantage before Akinfenwa and Giles Coke hit two more in the second 45.

The final game of the month saw a Friday night trip to Hartlepool United end in success. With just eight minutes to go, Giles Coke hit a long range effort that slipped under home keeper Jan Budtz and we had a second straight victory for the first time since October.

A busy month of March would follow and we would eventually end up in nose bleed territory anf flirting with the playoffs...

Friday, May 23, 2008

Season in Review 2007/08...January...

The early days of 2008 would see the start of a real turn around in the Cobblers’ fortunes as we began to ease away from the relegation pack and closer to safety.

The first game of the year came at home to Millwall and Dean Bowditch looked to have given us all three points at Sixfields until Gary Alexander equalised in stoppage time. Alexander had been a summer transfer target of Stuart Gray until the Lions came in for the striker.

Next up was the long awaited trip to Elland Road but without the likes of Poul Hubertz and Daniel Jones we were always going to be up against it. As was the case at Swansea a month before, we froze against one of the better sides away from home and goals from Frazer Richardson, Rui Marques and Curtis Weston sealed a comfortable win for the home side that had previously been in the middle of a slump following an excellent first half of the season.

The following weekend saw another frustrating home draw keep us rooted in the bottom half of the table. Hartlepool United came to town and grabbed a point through Ben Clark on the stroke of half time after Liam Dolman had scored his first ever goal in a Cobblers shirt.

An important away win followed though as we travelled to Gillingham. An early free kick from Daniel Jones was enough to win the game and kick start a good run of form for the side.

As our climb up the table began, Leyton Orient were swept aside 2-0 at Sixfields in the first of two home wins to round off January. Giles Coke and Poul Hubertz were on target against the O’s before the month ended with a success over Brighton and Hover Albion.

This time it took a solitary goal from Mark Hughes to decide it just a minute before half time and we were beginning to gain momentum as February kicked in…

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Midweek Review...21/05/08...

With just the small matter of the playoffs and the Champions League final to decide, the season is coming to an abrupt end and the wait will begin on Monday for possibly our most anticipated season in recent memory.

The stage is already set for a grand summer at Sixfields. Already we have Gilligan and Holt both signed up and Bayo given a very good offer to stay if rumours are true and he would be one of the top earners at the club should he decide that his future is at Sixfields. The early decisions of both Gilligan and Holt to sign again shows that Stuart Gray has them believing in what could be a very bright future.

Holt’s experience could be invaluable next season as the majority of the squad are of a young age. He’s been fairly inconsistent at times but his strength down the left goes a little unnoticed at times. A couple of goals late in the season also helped his cause and we certainly don’t have many like him in the rest of the squad.

Mark Bunn is attracted a lot of interest as usual but it turns out that Stuart Gray and David Cardoza are not giving up the fight to keep him and are in contract talks with the keeper. Another massive sign of intent from the club and it’s hard to see anything that’s wrong with the set up at the moment. Relations with the council seem to be improving, as does the financial situation and everything just seems a little bit too right at the moment! A typical Cobblers fans’ view is that something will surely go wrong somewhere!

Looking ahead to the playoff finals this weekend and three intriguing games to get through to round off the season. Two northern towns go head to head as Stockport County take on Rochdale in the League Two final on Monday and Rochdale in particular will be desperate to get out of the basement league after over thirty years in the bottom flight of English football without a promotion or relegation!

In League One, Leeds will be favourites to overcome Doncaster but Rovers hit an impressive five past Southend last week in the semi-finals so could well push them hard. It would be nice to go to Elland Road again next season but the head says that we should be hoping that it’s Donny who remain in this division.

The Championship showpiece takes place on Saturday and both Bristol City and Hull City will be looking to make history. Both sides have rocketed up the league ladder in recent years and will both see themselves as having a very good chance of beating their opponents.

Watching the playoffs and it’s hard not to feel a little sad that we didn’t make it ourselves. Just watching other sides in a similar position to us make it up to the next level is heart wrenching and even seeing Bristol City one game away from the Premier League gives hope to anyone with a claret heart.

But for now we watch in jealousy as the playoff final takes place and hope that come this time next year we’ll be creating a little bit of history ourselves.

Up The Cobblers!

Danny

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Season in Review 2007/08...December...

Following a desperately poor month of league form in November, the Christmas period began with the F.A. Cup distracting us from four defeats without a goal in League One. As the month went on though, Stuart Gray managed to turn things around as we narrowly missed out on a massive win at the City Ground.

The month began as the previous one had ended, with a home game with Walsall. In the final league game of November, the Saddlers claimed a 2-0 win at Sixfields but this time, in the F.A. Cup Second Round, had to settle for a replay. Tommy Mooney gave the visitors a fourth minute lead but Andy Kirk struck just a few minutes later to take the tie back to The Bescot Stadium.

Back in the league and it was five defeats in a row as we travelled to Swansea on a Tuesday night. Totally outplayed and outclassed, we folded in the first half as Jason Scotland and Darren Pratley had the Swans 2-0 up in twenty minutes. Scotland added a second half penalty to seal it and we had now lost five games in a row in League one without registering a goal.

With Stuart Gray desperate for a turn around, Carlisle United came to town on good form. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson gave them an expected lead but Jason Crowe hit back with our first goal in six games just a couple of minutes later. Joe Garner looked to have won it for the Cumbrians in the second half but Bradley Johnson scored in stoppage time to earn a much needed point.

With the league slide halted, it was time for the cup replay and after an even game at Walsall, we were edged out by a penalty from Michael Ricketts and our interest in cup competitions were over for another season.

The following weekend and we were off to the City Ground to take on Colin Calderwood’s Nottingham Forest. Lewis McGugan put Calderwood’s side in front but from then on we slowly pushed them back. On 59 minutes, Poul Hubertz gave us a well deserved equaliser and five minutes later Daniel Jones sent the thousands of travelling fans wild with a bullet of a goal from distance. It looked like we could hold on for a famous win but deep into injury time Forest won a corner and Junior Agogo pounced to head home a late, late equaliser.

The Forest draw would turn out to be somewhat of a positive step for the club though and the following weekend Bournemouth were on the end of the backlash. Loan man Dean Bowditch gave us the lead and after Brett Pitman had hit a quick fire leveller, we stormed to our first win in eight league games. Jason Crowe, Daniel Jones and Bradley Johnson were on target as the Cobblers recorded a 4-1 win.

Boxing Day saw a trip to Doncaster end in disappointment as the home side eased past us 2-0 thanks to strikes from Mark McCammon and Adam Lockwood in the first half.

But the final game of 2007 would see us bounce back again as we won at Huddersfield Town’s Galpharm Stadium for the first time. Andy Booth scored on the stroke of half time to give Huddersfield the lead but goals from Poul Hubertz and Jason Crowe turned things around in the final fifteen minutes and the year ended on a high.

There was still work to be done in 2008 to stave off the fear of relegation though and Stuart Gray would need to use all his usual know how in the transfer window to take us up to the next level.

Season in Review 2007/08...December...

Following a desperately poor month of league form in November, the Christmas period began with the F.A. Cup distracting us from four defeats without a goal in League One. As the month went on though, Stuart Gray managed to turn things around as we narrowly missed out on a massive win at the City Ground.

The month began as the previous one had ended, with a home game with Walsall. In the final league game of November, the Saddlers claimed a 2-0 win at Sixfields but this time, in the F.A. Cup Second Round, had to settle for a replay. Tommy Mooney gave the visitors a fourth minute lead but Andy Kirk struck just a few minutes later to take the tie back to The Bescot Stadium.

Back in the league and it was five defeats in a row as we travelled to Swansea on a Tuesday night. Totally outplayed and outclassed, we folded in the first half as Jason Scotland and Darren Pratley had the Swans 2-0 up in twenty minutes. Scotland added a second half penalty to seal it and we had now lost five games in a row in League one without registering a goal.

With Stuart Gray desperate for a turn around, Carlisle United came to town on good form. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson gave them an expected lead but Jason Crowe hit back with our first goal in six games just a couple of minutes later. Joe Garner looked to have won it for the Cumbrians in the second half but Bradley Johnson scored in stoppage time to earn a much needed point.

With the league slide halted, it was time for the cup replay and after an even game at Walsall, we were edged out by a penalty from Michael Ricketts and our interest in cup competitions were over for another season.

The following weekend and we were off to the City Ground to take on Colin Calderwood’s Nottingham Forest. Lewis McGugan put Calderwood’s side in front but from then on we slowly pushed them back. On 59 minutes, Poul Hubertz gave us a well deserved equaliser and five minutes later Daniel Jones sent the thousands of travelling fans wild with a bullet of a goal from distance. It looked like we could hold on for a famous win but deep into injury time Forest won a corner and Junior Agogo pounced to head home a late, late equaliser.

The Forest draw would turn out to be somewhat of a positive step for the club though and the following weekend Bournemouth were on the end of the backlash. Loan man Dean Bowditch gave us the lead and after Brett Pitman had hit a quick fire leveller, we stormed to our first win in eight league games. Jason Crowe, Daniel Jones and Bradley Johnson were on target as the Cobblers recorded a 4-1 win.

Boxing Day saw a trip to Doncaster end in disappointment as the home side eased past us 2-0 thanks to strikes from Mark McCammon and Adam Lockwood in the first half.

But the final game of 2007 would see us bounce back again as we won at Huddersfield Town’s Galpharm Stadium for the first time. Andy Booth scored on the stroke of half time to give Huddersfield the lead but goals from Poul Hubertz and Jason Crowe turned things around in the final fifteen minutes and the year ended on a high.

There was still work to be done in 2008 to stave off the fear of relegation though and Stuart Gray would need to use all his usual know how in the transfer window to take us up to the next level.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Season in Review 2007/08...November...

November was to see a real decline in the season for The Cobblers as some of the good early work was undone by a poor run of form despite progress in the F.A. Cup.

The month began with The Cobblers on the verge of making a push for the top six and, off the back of our first away win of the season at Oldham, sprits were high as Southend came to town. An Adam Barrett header in the second half was enough to end our good run though and we needed to bounce back immediately as we hosted Bristol Rovers the following Tuesday.

But Rovers would also leave Sixfields with a win by the single goal as Rickie Lambert scored the only goal of the game with twenty minutes to go.

Back to back defeats were followed by a trip to League Two high flyers Darlington in the first round of the F.A. Cup. An early goal from Gregg Blundell for the home side was coupled with an injury to skipper Chris Doig and Doig would be out until April with a long term problem. Colin Larkin scored the equaliser to take the tie to a replay.

Another single goal defeat in the league, this time at Crewe, would condemn us to our third straight loss in League One before Andy Kirk and Bradley Johnson secured progress in the cup replay against Darlington. We were drawn against Walsall at home in Round Two.

But before the cup meeting with Walsall, we would play them in the final league game of November. Mark Bradley and Ishmel Demontagnac scored in the second half to make it four defeats without scoring a goal for Stuart Gray’s men as the month ended with us languishing in the lower reaches of the table.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Season in Review 2007/08...October...

In a mixed month of October, the Cobblers would be brought right back down to earth after a good run but would also pick up their first away win of the season.

Millwall away was next up on the list for Stuart Gray’s men and after an unbeaten September, spirits were high. Going to the New Den at any time can be intimidating but on a cold Tuesday night it’s certainly not the nicest of places for a night out. After we rushed up from Southampton and darted across to The Den, we were told that there was no need at all to rush. The Cobblers team bus had been held up and the game would kick off fifteen minutes late!

The delay meant that we only got about a ten minute warm-up and injuries early on to Chris Doig and Jason Crowe combined with a poor performance led to an inevitable defeat. Alan Dunne and Paul Robinson scored the goals in a 2-0 Millwall win.

The following Saturday saw struggling Port Vale come to town and it was three wins in a row at Sixfields as an Andy Kirk double helped to see off the Valiants. David McGoldrick was on target for the visitors.

Sky Sports showed the next Cobblers game, an away trip to Luton. In an entertaining first half, Darren Currie put Luton in front before Bradley Johnson equalised with a belter of a shot from all of thirty yards. Matthew Spring put the home side back in front with a penalty just after the break and further goals from Paul Furlong and Spring again, another penalty, gave Luton a flattering 4-1 win.

Another home win followed, this time against Cheltenham Town, as Ryan Gilligan grabbed a winner ten minutes from time. Andy Kirk has earlier given the Cobblers the lead to which Damien Spencer levelled.

The month ended with our long awaited first away win of the season at Oldham. In a poor game it was Bristol City loan man Alex Russell that scored the winner from long range on 66 minutes and after three draws and three defeats we were off the mark in the wins column away from Sixfields.

With a mixed month of October, we were sitting pretty in the top half of the table and the final action of the month saw us drawn away at League Two side Darlington in the first round of the F.A. Cup.

The Midweek Review...15/05/08...

It’s all go in the playoffs as the first legs are now done and dusted while Orient are sniffing around our ex-front two pairing. All eyes on the transfer window now as the summer begins…

As The Cobblers settle into the summer holidays we have already booked up three friendly games. Brackley will be the first point of call and that could turn out to be a clever PR move by the club, looking to attract a few more fans from that side of Northamptonshire.

A trip to Luton has also been arranged, as has a home game with West Bromwich Albion, who will, by then, be a Premier League outfit. The Baggies beat us 5-1 last summer so we will be looking for a better fight this time around.

Leyton Orient have already made moves to try and sign Poul Hubertz and Adebayo Akinfenwa. Of course they are free to do so but it would be a major disappointment if Bay were to choose Orient over our contract offer. After a great start to the season, Orient fell badly and ended up below us in the table. Next season could be tricky for them and surely we would hold a better option for the big man.

As for Hubertz, he has indicated that he could be on the move back to Denmark though another season in the capital could persuade him. Of course he will score against us if he were to sign for Martin Ling’s side!

The playoffs are in full swing and Carlisle pulled off somewhat of a shock by beating Leeds. The late goal from Dougie Freedman could well be the one that keeps Leeds in the tie, though they must go to Brunton Park knowing Carlisle have an outstanding home record.

As far as who we should want to win the playoffs, surely Leeds will be the ones we want rid of. With Elland Road chalked off the “grounds visited” list, it would seem the sensible choice to cheer them on in the playoffs. Firstly because next season they would be an awesome force in this league and secondly because League One should be happy to be rid of their constant moaning about their points.

Without Forest and Leeds, League One could be an immensely close season next time around and all the better our chances would be. The other three contenders, Carlisle, Doncaster and Southend do not hold as much a threat while of the relegated Championship sides, Leicester are the only ones that stand out.

David Cardoza has said today that he expects five new summer signings and that the main concern is the midfield and attacking options. One of these signings, a midfielder, could be in place as early as next week according to the chairman.

As we get used to Saturdays without football for a few months, we remain focused on the transfer market in what could be an exciting summer at Sixfields.

Up The Cobblers!

Danny

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Season in Review 2007/08…September…

The look back on last season continues as we head into September, a month where the Cobblers started and ended the month by throwing away two goal leads away from home!

September began with a trip to in form Leyton Orient, the surprise early pace setters in League One. With just one point from our opening three games we took a surprise 2-0 lead at Brisbane Road as Poul Hubertz and Chris Doig scored in the opening twenty minutes. The lead last until the hour mark, by which time Adam Chambers and Tamika Mkandawire had levelled things up. We held on for a point but were still in desperate need for the first win.

On a cold Tuesday night at Kenilworth Road, we were dumped out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in the first round as Luton eased to a 2-0 win.

The first league victory wasn’t long in coming though as Doncaster Rovers came to town in the first Friday night game of the season. We had to wait until after the break but goals from Ryan Gilligan and Andy Kirk finally got us off the mark and set up a good run of form at Sixfields.

Next up was a trip to Bournemouth on the hottest day of the season in mid-September. Veteran Cherries midfielder Darren Anderton gave Bournemouth the lead in the first half and it looked like we were heading for defeat until Colin Larkin volleyed home his first goal for the club with twelve minutes to play. The Cobblers could well have won it late on but had to settle for a point.

Another impressive home performance followed when Huddersfield Town came to Sixfields. Poul Hubertz scored just before half time and further strikes from Andy Holt and Andy Kirk sealed a comfortable win.

September ended with an away day at Tranmere and despite going 2-0 up through Kirk and Hubertz, the home side came back to claim a point as Chris Shuker and Gareth Taylor pulled the game level.

So after a good month of September, a month where we unbeaten in five games, we would look to continue the form into October, a month that would begin with a disaster at The Den and end with our first away win of the season.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Two important dates for the diary!

The 2007/08 season is close to its conclusion and for Cobblers fans attention turns to the next campaign. After a strong finish to the current campaign, we eagerly await the start of proceedings on 2008/09.

Two important dates have been announced by the Football League today as we wait to find out who we will be playing and when. The new football league fixtures will be released on Monday, June 16th 2008 at 10am. Meanwhile, the new season will kick off on Saturday, August 9th.

Keep watching this space for all the build up to the new campaign and some special features over the summer!

Season in Review 2007/08...August...

The Cobblers kicked off the 2007/08 season with high hopes following a good end to the previous campaign that saw Stuart Gray steer the club well out of reach of relegation trouble.

As the side lined up to face newly promoted Swindon Town, there were a few new faces in the squad. Danny Jackman, signed from Gillingham started the game as did former Norwich man Ian Henderson. Colin Larkin, a new man from Chesterfield, partnered Andy Kirk up front while new signing from Millwall, Poul Hubertz, was on the bench.

On a hot afternoon at Sixfields, The Cobblers made a stunning start to the season as Andy Kirk nodded home a cross from Larkin to get us going after just nine minutes of the season. But we eventually had to settle for a point as Christian Roberts converted a penalty in front of the vast travelling support. Roberts also hit the crossbar in the second half.

Poul Hubertz had a quick face off with his former club as Millwall visited in the Carling Cup. Hubertz made his first start for the Cobblers as goals from Bradley Johnson and Andy Kirk fired us into Round Two.

A shocking performance from Mike Thorpe enraged Cobblers players at Brighton and led to tempers flaring. The home side took advantage and won the game in the second half. After Kirk had equalised Dean Hammond’s spot kick, Alex Revell secured the win for the Seagulls.

Hubertz got his first goal for the club in the final league game of the month as he equalised Justin Cochrane’s strike for Yeovil at Sixfields. But there would be late drama as The Glovers snatched all three points late on with a break away goal from Lloyd Owusu.

August ended with a 2-0 defeat in the Carling Cup Second Round against Premiership side Middlesbrough at The Riverside. Boro’ fielded a strong line-up including the likes of Fabio Rochemback, Stuart Downing, Lee Cattermole and Luke Young and saw off the Cobblers eventually with goals from Rochemback and Dong-Gook Lee.

So there was a lot to be done at the start of the season as the Cobblers took just one point from the opening three league games and were still trying to get going as the season got into full swing in September, a month that would see us twice throw away two goal leads but finally get off the mark with a win.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

No Saints 7-1 Kashima Antlers


No Saints got off to a flying start last night as we were back in the bottom league of jdfives. Without Dave, Phil , Andy and Jamie things were looking bleak even before we kicked a ball!

But loan signing Greg came in to make up the numbers to six and we stormed into the nes season against old foes Kashima Antlers. Abib and Will formed a formidable strike partnership and were both on the score sheet early on, Abib with two and Will with three as we went into half time 5-0 up! Kashima hit back but Will added his fourth to make it 6-1 before Greg capped an impressive debut with a well taken seventh.

The win means we begin the new campaign at the top of the table whilst Will tops the goal scoring charts for League Three after a storming game up front. With limited resources we battled hard and the result was just what we deserved. A fine goalkeeping display from the Antlers stopper kept the scores at bay and it could have been worse for them if it wasn’t for some great saves!

We go into next week with high optimism now as we face The Eagles, who suffered an 8-4 defeat.

The Midweek Review...08/05/08...

And so the season is over and we can all pack away the claret shirts for another summer, eagerly anticipating the 2008/09 season following an excellent finish of ninth place in League One.

The second half of the season has been outstanding and despite a late surge towards the playoffs eluding us eventually we can look back with great pride in a season that was salvaged from a bleak winter.

Ninth place was achieved with a win over Tranmere at the weekend and it was a great way to sign off, particularly for Poul Hubertz who is leaving the club at the end of his contract in the summer. All the best to Hoobs, scorer of thirteen goals this term and nice to see the big man sign off with a goal.

Adebayo Akinfenwa was also on the score sheet as he did enough to make Stuart Gray decide to keep him on with a new contract offer. The annoying thing is that Bayo has asked for all contract talks to go through his agent and although he seems happy at Sixfields he could yet leave for a higher offer.

Danny Jackman surprisingly pipped Mark Bunn to the Player of the Year award, following up his previous awards at Gillingham. Since the switch to midfield, Jackman has been a pivotal part of the side and has won a lot of fans over after an up and down beginning at the club. Congratulations to Danny.

So the season is now over but the summer transfer activity looks set to keep us all interested. Bunny will surely be off this time for the right price, particularly as his current contract runs out next summer while Jason Crowe could be prized away, again if the money is good. But anything we do get in for player sales will be trustingly spent as Stuart Gray has time and again proved himself in the transfer market.

No-one knew of Daniel Jones or Mark Little before their loan spells but both were absolutely outstanding in their contributions and growth under Gray. It looks unlikely we will get either one permanently now that Wolves have stayed in the Championship but Gray’s eye for talent will go a long way to ensuring a healthy squad is put together for 2008/09.

Gray is saying “bring it on” when asked about the pressure of next season after this campaign’s success and that’s exactly what we want to hear as the summer break begins. It’s clear we need re-enforcements but the excitement for 2008/09 has begun already, despite finishing 07/08 under a week ago!

I really can’t remember being this optimistic and proud to be a Northampton Town supporter. Ninth place is well above what a lot of people were expecting but everything is now in place for one hell of a push next season. In Stuart Gray we have a manager who can take us to the next level, in David Cardoza a trusting and patient chairman that will back his manager all he can and in the players a hungry, young side that wants to go places.

Things are very much looking bright at Sixfields and to echo our managers’ words, bring on next season!

Up The Cobblers!

Danny

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Jackman named Player of the Year

Midfielder Danny Jackman has been named the Northampton Town Player of the Year for 2007/08 after he topped the poll voted for by the Cobblers fans.

Jackman, in his first season with the club, began at left back in the early days of the campaign but after Christmas was pushed up into midfield where his season really took off as he cemented his place in the side.

He starred in the 4-0 home win over former club Gillingham in mid-February and played a massive part in helping the Cobblers towards the top half of the table. Jackman saw off favourites Mark Bunn (2nd) and Jason Crowe (3rd) to claim the accolade and received the award before the game against Tranmere at the weekend.

Monday, May 05, 2008

Northampton Town 2-1 Tranmere Rovers

The Cobblers finished ninth in League One after a final day victory over Tranmere Rovers at Sixfields. Goals from Adebayo Akinfenwa and Poul Hubertz secured the win and took us to our highest league finish for ten years.

Mark Bunn was replaced in goal by Chris Dunn after the first choice keeper injured himself during his training spell with Manchester City this week. Cobblers’ player of the year Danny Jackman started on the bench as Alex Dyer started the game in midfield. Colin Larkin partnered Adebayo Akinfenwa up front.

The Cobblers had the lead with the first attack of the game and it as Akinfenwa that grabbed the goal. Alex Dyer and Giles Coke were involved before Daniel Jones crossed for the big man to fire the ball home at the second attempt.

Tranmere had their first real effort on goal on ten minutes as Anthony Kay volleyed the ball over the bar while on the half hour mark Colin Larkin curled just wide of the post.

Andy Taylor forced Chris Dunn into a good save just before the end of the half but they did have an equaliser before the break. Chris Shuker headed the ball back across goal and Chris Greenacre acrobatically hit an overhead kick past Dunn to send the sides in level.

Poul Hubertz came on for his final appearance for the club ten minutes into the second half as Giles Coke made way.

Gabor Gyepes met a Jones corner with a good header but Danny Coyne saved well before Jones himself shot wide.

Hubertz would have his moment of glory as he score on his final appearance at Sixfields, his thirteenth of the season. Jones swung in a free kick and Hubertz rose to meet the ball with a good header that went in off the post and give the Cobblers the lead once more.

The rest of the game saw a Jackman header the closest either side came to adding to the scores and the Cobblers sealed another home win to bring to an end a good season for the club. A top ten finish would have been taken by any Town fan before the first game of the season and ninth is a fantastic achievement for Stuart Gray’s men.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Tranmere Rovers (H) Preview

The Cobblers’ season comes to an end tomorrow as Tranmere Rovers are the final opponents of 2007/08. We know that a win will guarantee a top ten finish in Stuart Gray’s first full season in charge.

Team News

Mark Bunn picked up an injury whilst training with Manchester City this week and is a doubt as he fights to complete his 100% record of season appearances. Chris Dunn waits in the wings should Bunn not make it. Stuart Gray has hinted that one or two changes may well be made following last week’s 2-2 draw at Port Vale but he is definitely without Mark Hughes and Brett Johnson. Poul Hubertz could play his final game for the club as he prepares to leave in the summer.

Tranmere are without hamstring injury victim Calvin Zola while Jennison-Myrie Williams is also out with a knee problem. But boss Ronnie Moore is hopeful that Shane Sherriff’s hamstring injury clears up in time for the game while Paul McLaren returns from a one match ban.


Recent Meetings

29/09/07: TRANMERE 2-2 COBBLERS

The Cobblers take a 2-0 half time lead through Andy Kirk and Poul Hubertz but for the second time in a month let the lead slip as Chris Shuker and Gareth Taylor level things up.

06/01/07: TRANMERE 1-1 COBBLERS

In Stuart Gray’s first game in charge, Scott McGleish gives us an 11th minute lead but John Mullin equalises with just three minutes to go.

16/09/06: COBBLERS 1-3 TRANMERE

Goals from Calvin Zola, Gareth Taylor and John Mullin give Tranmere the points at Sixfields. Scott McGleish grabs a late consolation but it’s not enough to stop Rovers forcing another home defeat on us at the start of last season.

21/04/03: TRANMERE 4-0 COBBLERS

In the game that confirmed our relegation back to the basement division, Tranmere hammer the poor Cobblers in a game that saw them score twice in injury time.

14/12/02: COBBLERS 0-4 TRANMERE

Simon Haworth grabs a brace and Ryan Taylor and Alex Hay one each in an easy away day for Rovers back in December 2002.

12/02/02: TRANMERE 2-0 COBBLERS

Second half strikes from Jason Price and Wayne Allison give Tranmere a comfortable victory.


The Man in the Middle

Mr. Ward has predominantly refereed in Leagues One and Two this season. After producing a red card in his first game of the season, he went on to show 74 yellow cards and eight reds in just 26 games. Ward will be taking charge of the Cobblers for the first time tomorrow afternoon.


For The Record…Cobblers v Rovers…

Games Played: 35
Cobblers Wins: 13
Draws: 10
Tranmere Wins: 12