Rico…ninth of the season
Northampton Town 2-0 Yeovil Town
League Two
Saturday, November 28th 2015
Today could well have been the day that Northampton Town Football Club ceased to exist in its current form. Instead, following the passionate speech from Chris Wilder just over a week ago, the relief and joy of the subsequent takeover being complete and three league victories, the outlook has changed quicker than in any other seven day period in our history. Wilder has overseen the entire nervous, desperate and unsettling process impeccably and his reward should now be an extended deal at the very least. What he does have is a squad on the up and a short term future that is now as exciting as it’s been for many years.
Saturday’s victory over rock bottom Yeovil Town is a hugely important step in the upcoming journey. A wet and windy afternoon against a side bereft of confidence and results is a trickier obstacle than it seems on paper, especially with the Cobblers’ track record in exactly the same circumstances. The fact that we came out on top – even if the passionate home support were expecting it – shows yet another side to this group of players that are making themselves heroes as every week passes.
Town struck first on the counter attack with Alfie Potter releasing Lawson D’Ath through the middle. There was still plenty to be done but the midfielder rounded the keeper to slot home and a vital foothold was taken on a scrappy game. The second came mid-way through the second half with the latest in a long line of combinations involving Nicky Adams and Marc Richards that are becoming regular features. Rico finished for his ninth of the season and it was always going to be a long way back for the Glovers from there.
To their credit, Paul Sturrock’s men created a few chances that reminded us how fragile a lead can be no matter who you’re playing in this division but the Cobblers held firm and managed to close out the game impressively without really imposing much else on the visitors.
For a brief five minutes during that second half, results elsewhere meant that we were top of the league outright and though we weren’t eventually afforded that cherry on top of the cake we did end the day – and head into a big FA Cup weekend – joint top with Oxford United and Plymouth Argyle.
It’s a massive few weeks coming up with Northwich’s visit in the cup followed by a local derby at Luton and a top of the table clash at home to Portsmouth. Fellow promotion chasers Accrington Stanley also come to Sixfields before the calendar year is up and we’ll know a whole lot more about where we’re at by the time 2016 begins.
The tests come thick and fast but there’s no reason at all as to why these good times can’t continue to roll – the talent is there, the desire is there and, most crucially of all, the future is there. A week ago it didn’t look possible…right now the only way we’re looking is up.
A Load Of Cobblers 