Scunthorpe United v Northampton Town

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Iriekpen, Pearce, Williams, Sparrow, Togwell, Morris, Woolford, May, Hooper
Subs not used:
Lillis, Thompson, Lea, Forte, Wright

Northampton Town :
Dunn, Todd, Hughes (Holt 62), Crowe, Kyle Walker, Jackman, Coke, Osman, Davis, McGleish (Gilligan 69), Constantine
Subs not used:
Zieler, Dolman, Larkin

SULSESC REPORT

by Dave Pratt at Glanford Park

We've been used to throwing away 2-1 and 3-1 leads, but 4-1... surely Northampton's best comeback for years.

An early strike from May opened the scoring after 13 minutes with a near-post header, he then turned provider, setting up an opportunity for Hooper to make it 2-0 just six minutes later.

Sloppy defensive play let in Scot McGleish on 25 minutes when he headed home a left-wing cross from Liam Davis.

The Cobblers' joy was short-lived, however, as Scunny restored their two-goal advantage after 32 minutes when Hooper headed home at the far post following a right-wing corner from Martyn Woolford, notching up his 15th goal of the season.

We looked home and dry shortly after half-time, when May made it 4-1 with his second goal of the game in the 51st minute, following a rebound from the Northampton keeper, who could only parry a shot from Woolford.

A complete lack of concentration, virtually straight from the kick off, saw Murphy easily beaten, in the 52nd minute, 4-2.

The Iron so-called defence went for a further walkabout five minutes later, when Jackman waltzed his way into the box to make it 4-3, beating Murphy at the second attempt.

Northampton continued to press forwards, being invited to do so by a defence seemingly intent on self-destruction, rattling the woodwork twice in quick succession.

The away team's defence were seemingly also in pre-festive season present-giving mood, with only fine saves from Dunn twice denying Hooper a hat-trick.

It was inevitable that the visitors would finally get back on level terms, which they did with an 85th-minute equaliser - bizarrely with Jackman scoring direct from a corner.

Although a 4-5 defeat seemed most likely, we nearly clinched it in stoppage time when a goal-line clearance from Jackman prevented Ian Morris snatching a last-gasp winner.

A final score-line of 8-8 would not have been an exaggeration of what took place.

Minor observation - Murphy was presumably spoken to the ref at half-time and asked to change his black shirt, as it clashed with the Cobblers black kit - so he comes out in the second half wearing a claret/red top, which made him indistinguishable from the home team!