Sixfields: Northampton Town 1-2 Barnsley

Northampton Town 1-2 Barnsley

Relatively easy venue for me (Adrian) and I took in this game on the way home from work. Lots of lower division endeavour but two classy finishes from Davis Keillor Dunn settled the game. His first in 36 minutes was a result of his good movement. Running off the right flank he seized on a diagonal ball and a well struck left foot shot gave Cobblers keeper Nik Tzanev no chance. His second was the opposite coming in from the left in 59 minutes he received the pass from Stephen Humphries and this time it was a low right foot shot that beat Northampton’s Aussie keeper. Ironically it was the home side who fashioned the first real chance. Liam Shaw’s shot turned away by Barnsley keeper Jackson Smith who was making his debut. However, clear cut chances were at a premium and the two goals scored by DKD, looked to be giving Barnsley a comfortable win as the game drifted in the second half. Therefore we were grateful to Barnsley’s French defender Mael de Gevigney who had a personal nightmare. His error led to the Cobblers getting a goal, his misjudgement allowed Dara Costelloe the Burnley loanee to get the better of him, the striker had his shot blocked by a defender but the ball fell conveniently to the reliable Sam Hoskins who fired into the roof of the net. It was game on, even more so when De Gevigney was then sent off. He clattered into a Northampton player on the bye line, it did look to me a second yellow but the referee decided on a straight red. Barnsley were now down to 10 men and were put under a lot of late pressure as Northampton Town looked for the equaliser. They survived the late onslaught to record a valuable away win, so are Darryl Clarke’s men back in the Play Of mix? The Cobbler’s recent history suggests League One is as good as it gets and even at this level they have found it a challenge for survival. You feel they will have enough to secure their third tier status for another season but there won’t be much in it.

Northampton Town 1-2 Leicester City

With City top of League One, away fixtures were becoming sell outs and in the case of smaller venues like Sixfields, demand exceeding supply.
The Leicester City’s ticket allocation was swallowed up immediately for this almost local derby!

We got tickets in the home area and kept our heads down instead!
Ross and I (Adrian) travelled to the 30 miles south on the M1 by a supporters coach from Coalville, no stops, straight into the town and parked up on the road adjacent the away end.
We then collected our tickets and by chance saw two relations who had also come down for the game. After a quick catch up we had a walk around the stadium before discreetly going in, sensibly wearing no replica shirts!
Sixfields has a 7,653-capacity and has been the home ground of Northampton Town following their move from the County Ground in October 1994. The stadium had been scheduled to be opened at the start of the 1994–95, but was not ready on time and as a result Northampton began the season still at the County Ground. The first game to be played at their new £6million home was against Barnet in Division Three on 15 October 1994. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with striker Martin Aldridge scoring the first goal at the new stadium.
As expected the full Sixfields, generated a good atmosphere and sadly, many arrests and ejections as City fans made nuisances of themselves in home areas. During the second half many of these transgressors could be seen watching the game from the road behind the goal which forms a steep curve, making it possible to view part of the pitch.
The game was finally won by City 2-1, but Northampton put on a decent display, taking the lead in the first half courtesy of an own goal by Kerra Gilbert. City importantly equalised just before half time when former Cobbler, Steve Howard scoring from the penalty spot. Both sides went close in the second period but it was Lloyd Dyer who finished superbly giving City an important away win.
At the final whistle we vacated the stadium quickly walking around to the awaiting coaches for the journey home. A police motorbike escort got us back onto the M1 in no time and we were back in Coalville for approx 6:15.
Another good away day following the mighty Leicester City.

Sixfields

Thursday, 29 May 2025

Northampton Town 1-2 Barnsley

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