By Nathan Jackson
November 26 2005

A 92nd minute goal from Josh Low saw Northampton grab an undeserved point against the Imps who controlled most of the game. Birch had given the Imps an early lead but a combination of bad luck and fantastic saves kept the score at 1-0 until Low popped up with 20 seconds left to deny the Imps.

The game went straight into the action when Imps’ defender Jamie McCombe fouled McGleish to give the Cobblers a free kick from 25 yards out. The free kick however wasn’t well worked as the ball was passed straight to Dean Keates, the midfielder passed to his partner in shortness, Derek Asamoah who ran at lightning pace towards the goal and as he got to the edge of the box, rather than opting to shoot, he passed the ball to Birch who shot wide from the edge of the 6 yard area.

 

City were finding their feet a lot quicker than their hosts and the earlier kick off appeared to be effecting them as virtually every ball they played was easily dealt with by the City players and the Cobbler’s were often caught napping and passed the ball straight to Imps’ players, a very curious tactic indeed.

 

Then a regular feature of the afternoon made it’s first appearance. Asamoah was trying to do something with the ball when Eric Sabin kicked him the back of the knee with no intention of aiming for the ball and the former Boston and QPR striker was booked for his effort, it wouldn’t be the last time that the Cobblers looked like a wrestling club rather than a football club. However, City were soon celebrating taking the lead for the first time since the FA Cup goal against MK Dons.

 

Logan ran with the ball before picking out Asamoah. The former Northampton striker ran at the defenders against before he passed to Birch who controlled the ball with his knee and then unleashed an impressive volley that sailed past Harper to give the Imps a 1-0 lead. The first time we’ve lead at Northampton under Keith Alexander’s 2^nd spell of management.

 

The experience of an Premiership standard referee was really showing that refs had been the problem so far this season, one of the more experienced officials wasn’t giving the opposition free kicks for petty things and he rewarded relatively few free kicks during this game and he control the game really well. This was amply illustrated by Sabin again appeared to kick Asamoah but the referee decided to give the striker his final warning. Within minutes, former Premiership player Ian Taylor also took a swipe at the former Cobbler and he was also booked for his troubles.

 

Northampton finally managed a chance when their other former Boston striker, Andy Kirk headed well wide from Josh Low’s cross despite not being marked by anyone. The half was being controlled by City who were soaking up whatever Northampton tried to throw at them (including all the balls passed straight to us) and producing a few good counter attacks.

 

The Cobblers won the first corner of the game, however Marriott punched the deliver clear and the keeper was called into again soon after when he had to save a Martin Smith effort that took a slight deflection on it’s way. City’s defence looked to be more secure than most games this season and that restricted Northampton to very long range efforts and they failed to trouble Marriott.

 

Jamie McCombe decided to add a little comedy to the game when the ball fell to him 25 yards from goal after a corner and he hit it first time and it went sailing off to the right and hit a Northampton fan, causing him to spill his drink.

 

Taylor was lucky to avoid being send off when he kicked Birch’s leg when the ball was no-where near them, he was given a very harsh talking to by the ref. The final action of the first half was when Birch cleared a McGleish corner.

 

City almost made it 2-0 with 20 seconds of the 2^nd half gone when Asamoah broke down the right before passing to Brown to sent a thunderous shot goalwards and only a fantastic save from Harper kept it from entering the net and this was arguably the turning point in the match.

 

A late challenge on Keates saw Jess booked. Mayo took the free kick and Nat Brown headed just over the goal and it was at this point that you got the feeling that someone was going to happen. Another major turning point came when Morgan and McGleish collided when going up for a header and Morgan landed awkwardly, after several minutes treatment, he continued but he had a very visual limp.

 

Asamoah won a free kick halfway between the corner flag and the box although the foul did looked suspiciously like a dive. Keates took the free kick quickly and it was saved by Harper, however, the referee deemed it to be taken again as he hadn’t told Keates that he could take it earlier and the midfielder was promptly booked.

 

Brown was again close to making it 2-0 when he sent in a sledgehammer shot, however, the ball hit the back of Birch and went out for the goal kick. Mendes replaced Jess for Northampton. The former Huddersfield striker quickly tested Marriott as he belted a shot goalwards but Marriott made a good save and forced a corner. Another rather unsubtle challenge on Asamoah was rewarded with a yellow card for Crowe. Another former Huddersfield player, Martin Smith was then booked for a late challenge on City’s Logan.

 

Around the hour mark, Gary Birch looked set to head off after landing awkwardly after trying to win a header. He appeared to arm first and he immediately screamed in agony and was seen holding his arm in pain. It appeared that he had broke his arm, however, the striker could continue.

 

Morgan was still limping pretty badly and he came off and was replaced by “Mr Consistent” Matt Bloomer. Richard Logan filled a few minutes of the game up by constantly straying offside and it brought a stop-start feel to the game. City then played a 10 men behind the ball tactic after Northampton pressed forward in an attempt to find an opening. However, the Cobblers couldn’t test Marriott as every shot went either wide or was saved easily.

 

Birch, still clutching his arm was replaced by Foster. 3 minutes of injury time were indicated, however, the 92^nd of those, the defence disappeared as Josh Low suddenly ran through and was left with a simple chip of Marriott to give the Cobblers a very very undeserved point.