Cobblers, currently ninth, are eying a fifth win in six and a place in the play-offs. The fourth-placed visitors have been in excellent form themselves, especially away from home, so it’s all set up for an intriguing clash at the PTS.
Head to Head
For the second Saturday on the bounce the Cobblers were away from home and following the 2-1 win at Stevenage the previous week boss Keith Curle made two changes for the trip to Crewe Alexandra, Sam Foley and Daniel Powell coming in for Jack Bridge and Joe Powell.
The Cobblers started brightly but it was Crewe who spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead inside the opening ten minutes, Jordan Bowery failing to find the target from inside the six-yard box while Sam Hoskins, on the end of a long ball from David Cornell, went close with a 30-yard volley that landed on the roof of the Crewe net. John-Joe O’Toole had a chance to put the Cobblers in front from a tight angle but a goal line clearance from George Ray maintained parity.
It wouldn’t remain that way for long though and it was the Cobblers who made the breakthrough, Daniel Powell heading home from close range after the home side failed to clear their lines from a David Buchanan corner.
Scorer then turned provider as the Cobblers quickly doubled their lead, Powell crossing in for John-Joe O’Toole to score with a neat near-post volley.
Crewe started the second half on the offensive and it needed an important block from Ash Taylor to prevent Chris Porter halving the home side’s arrears. Charlie Goode meanwhile went close with a dipping effort from the edge of the area following a free-kick from Hoskins and O’Toole headed narrowly wide from a Taylor cross as the Cobblers went agonisingly close to a third goal.
Alex substitute Shaun Miller fired over the bar as Andy Williams and Dean Bowditch replaced Marvin Sordell and John-Joe O’Toole in a double change. Charlie Goode then had to be replaced after taking a blow to the head, Jay Williams coming on for the closing stages.
David Cornell made a fine reaction save to deny Callum Ainley late on before an astonishing nine minutes of stoppage time were signalled by the fourth official. The Cobblers keeper was called upon again in injury time, tipping over a shot from Porter and two goals in the space of three first-half minutes proved decisive as Keith Curle’s side extended their unbeaten run to five matches.
Last 6 Meetings
Andy Williams and Hakeem Odoffin replaced Jack Bridge and the suspended Sam Foley as Keith Curle made two changes for the visit of Crewe Alexandra, managed by former Cobblers defender David Artell. Alex Nicholls was another familiar face on the Alex bench.
Before the game there was an impeccably observed minute’s silence to mark Remembrance Sunday as well as to remember the victims and all affected by the Leicester City helicopter tragedy.
Ben Garratt comfortably saved an early Kevin van Veen header while Perry Ng went close with a half-volley for Crewe. Sam Hoskins couldn’t quite direct his header on target after a teasing cross from van Veen as both sides continued to try and adjust to the strong wind.
The Cobblers made the breakthrough on 18 minutes, van Veen rounding the keeper and setting up the chance for Andy Williams and his shot was adjudged to have crossed the goal-line despite the best efforts of a defender to clear the ball away.
David Cornell saved a long-range effort from Ng as Crewe looked to mount a response to falling behind. Shaun McWilliams rattled the bar with a terrific strike from an acute angle as the Cobblers went agonisingly close to a second. With half-time approaching Matt Crooks, making his 50th appearance for the club, made way for Billy Waters after failing to shake off an earlier knock.
Crewe made a double change at half-time, bringing on Chris Porter and Eddie Nolan for Corey Whelan and Jordan Bowery. Cornell made a strong save to deny Nolan as the visitors tried to sustain a period of pressure.
Odoffin saw a shot from 25-yards saved by Garratt before getting a vital touch at the other end to clear the danger following a Crewe free-kick. The woodwork then again denied the Cobblers when John-Joe O’Toole headed against the post.
Alex Nicholls came on to warm applause from the Cobblers fans as Crewe made their third and final change and having not been on the pitch long headed narrowly wide in a moment of danger for the home side.
It was a Cobblers substitute who got himself on the scoresheet however, Daniel Powell keeping his cool to fire the ball home when played through by O’Toole to be one-on-one with Garratt.
The woodwork was struck for a third time in the afternoon with Crewe this time denied as Artell’s side almost pulled a goal back to set up a tense last few minutes. There were to be no late scares for the Cobblers in Halloween week though as they closed the game out to make it three wins on the bounce, also moving above their opponents in the table.
Match officials
Ex-Cobbler Focus
Powell started his career with Milton Keynes Dons, and made his first-team debut aged 17 in 2008. He had loan spells with Crawley Town and Forest Green Rovers in 2009–10. After being loaned out to Darlington early in 2010–11, Powell helped Milton Keynes Dons to reach the play-offs and finished the season with 10 goals. He finished 2011–12 with 11 goals, helping Milton Keynes Dons reach the play-offs for the second time in as many seasons. Powell was a member of the team that won promotion to the Championship in 2015.