Bayo – hat-trick hero
Accrington Stanley 2-4 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, November 10th 2012
It was almost the ideal away day. So many subplots, positive talking points and a result to be delighted with at the end of a game that looked to be going the same way as some of the previous disappointments away from home this season. All that plus a hat-trick from a man who is steam rolling towards the Northampton Town record books and into a status that is becoming ever more legendary.
When Accrington turned around a lead given to us by Bayo Akinfenwa in the first half with a well taken strike from George Miller and Rommy Boco’s long ranger it all looked like yet another reverse on the road for a Cobblers side that were flagging badly on their travels up until yesterday with just one win away all season.
But the man who won it on that occasion, a 1-0 victory at Dagenham, was the man in the middle of it all once again as Town produced a superb fight back. First, though, another story for the headline writers to get their teeth into. Jake Robinson only returned from a loan spell at Luton this week and was put straight back into the squad in what was a wise move considering our injury situation at the moment.
Robinson was brought on mid-way through the second half and had an immediate impact, repaying the terrific support from the away terrace by firing in to equalise and jumping into the crowd in a moment of sheer joy for him and the fans that have stuck by him through a tough few months. A rejuvenated Robinson could be just what the doctor ordered at the moment and it’s fantastic timing for him to come back and hit form just as we lose Alex Nicholls to his broken leg.
Robinson would continue to threaten and you got a sense that if anyone was going on to win this game then it would be the Cobblers. The manner of the win made it so much more special, though. Bayo produced a majestic moment to put us into the lead with a diving header at the back post from an Emyr Huws cross and the stage was set.
The big man had never before scored a hat-trick, a surprising stat considering his prowess over the years, but popped up with fifteen minutes to play to volley in from close range. Bayo immediately grabbed the ball, celebrated in front of the travelling fans and wrapped up a memorable afternoon.
The win takes us into the top half but more importantly it breathes fresh life into a campaign that was becoming annoyingly inconsistent. If Bayo can continue to build his growing legacy and help out his supporting stars then all may not be lost after all!
This mini run will be tested by Bradford (again) on Tuesday night with the FA Cup First Round replay taking up another midweek slot in the schedule but with Town in high spirits we have a chance of coming away with something more to cheer. Jake Robinson’s brief appearance in the cup with Luton means he’ll have to sit out whilst Louis Moult serves the second game of a suspension (the first was served at Accrington) but with Bayo in this mood we will always be in with a shout.
Two home games follow in the league and this is where we’ll need to be really kicking on. At times this season has been waiting to kick into gear only for a couple of dodgy results to halt progress but now is the time for the battling troops to make even bigger names for themselves.
Led by our hat-trick hero, anything seems plausible!
A Load Of Cobblers 