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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Sixfields Stadium
  • Attendance: 5507
  • Referee: Haywood, M

Live Commentary

90 mins

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

79 mins

Andy Holt is replaced by Jonathan Hayes.

77 mins

Steven Schumacher is replaced by Michael O'Connor.

69 mins

Ryan Gilligan is being taken off, Giles Coke has come on in his place.

63 mins

The referee has booked Kenny Lunt.

46 mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 0.

46 mins

Crewe are replacing Gary Roberts with Ryan Lowe.

45 mins

Half time whistle is blown by M Haywood

22 mins

Nicky Maynard is being taken off, Tom Pope has come on in his place.

0 mins

It's 3pm on Saturday, March 1st, the match has kicked off.

Match Report

Northampton Town's outside hopes of a play-off place were dealt a blow by battling Crewe Alexandra, who earned a valuable point in their scrap to avoid relegation.

The Cobblers have now suffered only one defeat in ten games, but manager Stuart Gray was left to reflect on two points dropped and a tough schedule ahead with matches against Walsall, Bristol Rovers, Swansea, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle in the next four weeks.

Crewe have now won only once in their last 11 matches and suffered a worrying hamstring injury to Nicky Maynard, which will limit their attacking options in the next month. But manager Steve Holland took heart from an improved defensive display which kept the home club at bay.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams was the visitors' hero with a string of decent saves, beginning in just the second minute when he somehow pushed a 20-yard drive from Ryan Gilligan around the post.

Before he limped off, Maynard saw his goalbound lob cleared by Mark Little and he almost turned in a cross from Kenny Lunt, but his absence handed the Cobblers the initiative.

Williams' best stops saw him keep out a fierce Danny Jackman drive in the final minute of the first half, as well as denying Poul Hubertz in the second half.

Ryan Lowe, whose goal separated the sides at Gresty Road in November, replaced Gary Roberts at half-time and should have scored in the 49th minute only to miss the target from the edge of the box with a clear sight of the posts.

Northampton had all the possession as they tried to cash in, but some resolute defending by Crewe kept them at bay, with Williams having the last word by pushing away a dangerous cross from substitute Jonathan Hayes.

Northampton Town Team

Crewe Alexandra Team

Northampton Town

Crewe Alexandra

Corners

9 0

Fouls

11 7

Goal attempts

26 10

Shots off target

14 4

Offsides

0 3

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