Cobblers withstand late Rovers rally
Three goals in the opening 20 minutes put Northampton on the way to a vital 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers.
But Cobblers did their best to throw it away as Rovers staged a late rally that almost earned a point.
Top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa gave the hosts a perfect start with a goal inside the opening minute, starting and rounding off the move in which Michael Jacobs and Ben Harding set him up for a cool finish.
Eight minutes later Akinfenwa grabbed his 14th of the campaign when he netted from close range after Jacobs had turned two defenders inside out.
Northampton increased their lead when defender Kelvin Langmead headed home a cross from Ben Tozer to leave Rovers with it all to do.
Mustapha Carayol and Joe Anyinsah tested Matt Duke following a brief spell of Rovers' pressure before the break and the visitors reduced the arrears in the 66th minute when substitute Chris Zebroski crossed for Craig Stanley to head home at the far post.
It took a superb save from Scott Bevan to deny Brett Williams moments later, and when Lee Brown converted an 85th minute penalty after Carayol had been upended by Duke it left Northampton hanging on to claim a result which moves them off the foot of the npower League Two table.
Northampton 3-2 Bristol Rovers: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
