Northampton v Scunthorpe United

Monday, April 9, 2007

Football League One

Northampton :
Bunn, Pearce, Hughes, Doig (Dyche 25), Crowe, Gilligan, Hunt, Bradley Johnson, Holt, Cox (Robertson 83), Deuchar
Subs not used:
Dunn, Aiston, Kirk

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Foster, Williams, Hinds, Goodwin, MacKenzie (Taylor 54), Beckford, Sharp, Hurst (Butler 83)
Subs not used:
Lillis, Quinn, Baraclough

SULSESC REPORT

by Ian Rees at Sixfields Stadium

THE sun beamed down at 3 o’clock, the sky criss-crossed with vapour trails to never never. But t'is the bright day that brings forth the adder, and that craves wary walking. A serpent is a serpent, and none the less a viper, because it is nestled in the bosom of an honest-hearted man. Northampton, however, was spared to die of the bite of the viper, Billy Sharp. Thus the match unfolded in a trance...

Okay, when I knew I was going to do the SULSESC match report for the Northampton game, I had imagined doing it in the style of Stuart Hall. However, for reasons which will become clear, my own report is limited to a few observations:-

1. Isn't it funny to see how much it means to other teams to beat us! Northampton fans and players rejoiced as though the victory had assured them of their place in the Champions League final.

2. How the neuroticism of some fans rises to new levels the closer Scunthorpe get to winning something. "Join the bandwagon" shouted one sufferer at The Malt Shovel to people with whom he was unacquainted, knowing nothing of how that person’s following of the club or contribution to the club compares to their own.

"We always sit where we like – if you were here every week, you would know that” shouted two sufferers to a man trying to occupy the seats that he and his family held tickets for. Ignoring the fact that you don't need to go to Northampton every week to watch Scunthorpe, at least it was comforting to know that they had (maybe) shared such lowlights as MK Dons last season and a poor draw on a cold Tuesday night at Cheltenham earlier this season.

3. How good is Joe Murphy.

4. Cleveland's form has dropped off.

5. If you ask your 11-year-old son to make the odd note during the game because you are writing a match report, he spends the whole match writing reams and reams of paper, after which you feel obliged to hand the match report over to him. So here is your match report, courtesy of 10-year-old Chyavan Rees…

AS the pubs emptied, the atmosphere in the stadium grew as the Iron could clinch promotion from this game if all results went in their favour.

The away stands were packed with supporters hoping that the Iron could gain promotion from this game. Northampton kicked off and showed no hesitation in attacking and Goodwin scrambled out an early Northampton corner.

On the 10 minute mark, Iron fans became aware that Rotherham were beating Notts Forest 1-0. Northampton had another corner which Foster headed behind for another corner. From the resulting corner, Pearce volleyed in. The Iron's hopes for promotion on this day were set back but that didn't stop the singing.

On 20 minutes there was more bad news, Notts Forest had equalised but there still was plenty of time left. Soon after, Northampton's Deuchar mishit his shot with the goal at his mercy.

I think the Iron were missing Cleveland Taylor because there was nobody attacking on our right wing.

Just before half-time, Hughes was booked for a foul on Beckford. As the players went in for half-time, I hoped that Nigel Adkins would give them a good kick up the backside in order for some improvement.

Scunny started the second-half well with two corners within two minutes of play. On 48 minutes, Sharp made a good run and put a ball in for Goodwin but he wasted it with a poor shot. Murphy then made his first fantastic save from a Simon Cox header.

On 53 minutes, Cleveland Taylor was brought on for MacKenzie and was warmly welcomed by Iron fans. He made an immediate impact with a cross cleared by a Northampton defender.

On 60 minutes, Scunthorpe equalised after a clever ball from Beckford on the right put Billy Sharp in for a simple finish. The atmosphere was amazing as the Iron fans went mad, we still thought we might be able to get promoted in this game.

Sharp was booked shortly after because of a tangle with Hughes. Johnson was booked for what looked like a late challenge on Murphy. I thought the Northampton player should have been sent off but only a yellow was shown and Crosby was also booked for arguing.

The game had now gathered momentum. On 70 minutes, Crosby (or maybe Foster) made a brilliant last ditch tackle to deny Northampton a goal.

Northampton sent a long throw right into the box and Murphy made his second great save from a header from Holt. Shortly after, Butler was brought on for Hurst who had been having a poor game.

There was four minutes of injury time for Scunthorpe to get the three points they needed, but Northampton took control of injury time and had a number of chances. Finally, in the 94th minute, Northampton scored, leaving Scunthorpe heartbroken, and the Northampton fans celebrated like they had won the cup.

Our hopes for promotion had vanished but there are still four games left.