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Steve Tilson named an unchanged side from the one which gained a point in a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury Town seven days earlier, although goalkeeper Bart Griemink made a return from injury and found himself named on the bench.
It was the home side from South Essex who made all the early running, and with just two minutes on the clock a Fredy Eastwood pass found Lewis Hunt who’s low shot found the hands of Cobblers shot-stopper Paul Rachubka.
A Wayne Gray header, following good work involving Carl Pettefer and Adam Barrett, flew over the bar via a deflection off Fred Murray before the resulting Kevin Maher corner was the ex-Milton Keynes Dons frontman nod wide of the post.
Northampton however proved tough opposition and created a good number of chances, with the first opportunities falling to Scott McGleish, a summer target of boss Tilson’s, who firstly squandered a double chance before heading a Martin Smith corner over the crossbar.
Loanee striker Eastwood shot over the crossbar after a great move involving Hunt and Duncan Jupp before at the other end David Rowson scuffed an Eric Sabin centre off target.
Then, with 27 minutes on the clock United grabbed a spectacular opening goal, Mark Gower cutting into the penalty area before beating Tommy Jaszczun and smashing an upstoppsable shot into the top left hand corner from 15 yards. (1-0).
With United now defending their slender advantage, Che Wilson bravely blocked a McGleish drive before, six minutes before the break, Town were awarded a penalty be referee Kevin Wright after Jupp had been adjudged to have felled Sabin. However Darryl Flahavan made a spectacular save, diving full-stretch to his left, to tip Smith’s spot-kick around the post.
Half-time: Southend United 1 Northampton Town 0
After the interval Southend allowed their visitor’s to attack, and Northampton undoubtedly caused United some scares.
McGleish nodded a Low centre wide of the upright before Low shot over the crossbar following a strong Sabin run.
The Shrimpers were denied a penalty of their own on 56 minutes when Pedi Bojic handled Gower’s cross inside the box, but referee Wright waved away the navy blue appeals.
With 76 minutes on the clock though, Southend grabbed the crucial second goal when Gray latched onto a neat move which saw Maher, having collected the ball from Eastwood, split the defence open with a fantastic through ball. Pacey Gray sprinted clear before slotting the ball past Rachubka. (2-0)
Southend were dealt a scare with three minutes remaing when Sabin’s low 15 yard shot managed to creep inside the right hand post to give Northampton a consolation, but Tilson’s men managed to comfortably hang on for the last few minutes. (2-1)
The Shrimpers have now leaped up into seventh spot in the League Two table, and lay just five points off the summit. Tilson’s men, after Tuesday’s LDV Vans Trophy clash at Roots Hall with Shrewsbury Town, face another home League clash next Saturday against Oxford United where Blues will search to consolidate their play-off spot.
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Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com