Match report: York City 1, Northampton Town 1

YORK City were forced to settle for a point against a ten-man Northampton Town side last night.

The visitors lost left-winger Louis Moult on the stroke of half-time after he was sent off following an ugly challenge on City skipper Chris Smith.

Gary Mills’ side were leading 1-0 at the time, courtesy of Matty Blair’s excellent 23rd-minute goal, but an unconvincing second-half display cost the Minstermen the chance of claiming a third home win of the campaign.

Adebayo Akinfenwa went on to grab a 58th-minute equaliser for the Cobblers after Michael Ingham could not hold on to a Chris Hackett free-kick.

Fielding an unchanged starting line-up from the side that faced AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup at the weekend, City had the first chance of the night with Ashley Chambers dragging a 20-yard shot wide after an explosive burst down the right flank by Blair.

Jason Walker also drove high and wide from the edge of the penalty box and then saw a well-struck effort blocked after Chambers’ dangerous cross into the six-yard box was cleared.

At the other end, Northampton went direct on 21 minutes when veteran target-man Clive Platt headed on a long kick by goalkeeper Lee Nicholls to release Moult, who fired across the face of Ingham’s goal.

But, moments later, Blair made the breakthrough.

Collecting Chambers’ long pass out of defence from the left-back position, Blair nudged the ball past last man John Johnson without breaking his stride and sped clear on goal.

His finish was just as impressive, sidefooting confidently into Nicholls’ bottom right-hand corner from ten yards.

Hackett responded for the visitors with two fierce 30-yard attempts – the first narrowly cleared Ingham’s crossbar and the second forced the City ’keeper to make a decent save.

At the other end, Walker curled a free-kick wide after Chambers had been floored by Johnson 20 yards from goal.

Another reckless challenge then saw Moult receive his marching orders on 42 minutes after he clattered into Smith with referee Nigel Miller quick to brandish his red card.

Despite their numerical advantage, City made a sloppy start to the second half with Hackett firing wide on the counter attack after Walker had lost possession on the edge of Northampton’s penalty box.

Aidy Boothroyd’s men then levelled the scores on 58 minutes after Carlisle had hauled Akinfenwa down 20 yards out.

The resulting free-kick, driven low by Hackett, was only parried by Ingham and Akinfenwa followed up to blast gleefully into the roof of the net from four yards.

Northampton could have forged ahead twice shortly after Akinfenwa’s equaliser but Danny East drove wide of Ingham’s near post from an unfavourable angle and Hackett opted to fire off an early shot straight at Ingham having been given a clear run on the home goal by Akinfenwa.

The hosts finally woke from their second-half slumber on 63 minutes when Blair volleyed against the underside of Nicholls’ crossbar after Dan Parslow’s deep cross to the far post.

Blair also forced a near-post save from Nicholls seconds later but the Cobblers refused to sit back and, on 76 minutes, rampaging right-back East called Ingham into action with a firm drive following Hackett’s through ball. On-loan City midfielder Danny Kearns went close with one effort at the other end before blazing a second chance out of the ground.

Chambers went on to drive wide of Nicholls’ near post twice from promising positions but dangerman Hackett might have won the game for Northampton at the death when his 20-yard shot flashed wide of Ingham’s goal.

Subtitute Oli Johnson went on to head an injury-time Lanre Oyebanjo cross narrowly wide but few fans could argue with a point apiece at the final whistle.

Match facts

York City 1 (Blair 23), Northampton Town 1 (Akinfenwa 58)

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Dan Parslow 6, Chris Smith 8, Clarke Carlisle 6, Jamal Fyfield 7, Scott Kerr 6, Danny Kearns 6, Paddy McLaughlin 6, Matty Blair 8, Jason Walker 6, Ashley Chambers 7.

Substitutes: Jamie Reed 6 (for McLaughlin 67), Lanre Oyebanjo (for Kerr 83), Oli Johnson (for Walker 84) (Subs not used): Paul Musselwhite, Michael Potts, Jon Challinor, Chris Doig.

Star man: Matty Blair – great goal and came closest to winning the game for City.

Northampton: Lee Nicholls, Danny East, John Johnson (Lewis Hornby 46), Kelvin Langmead, Joe Widdowson, Chris Hackett, Ben Tozer, Emyr Huws, Louis Moult, Clive Platt, Adebyao Akinfenwa.

Subs: Shane Higgs, Anthony Charles, Ishmel Demontagnac, Henoc Mukendi, Lewis Wilson, David Moyo.

Referee: Nigel Miller (Durham).

Referee rating: 7/10.

Booked: Johnson 39, Hackett 50, Hughes 85, Carlisle 90.

Sent off: Moult 42.

Attendance: 3,039 (253 away fans).

Shots on target: City 3, Town 6.

Shots off target: City 7, Town 9.

Corners: City 5, Town 2.

Fouls conceded: City 8, Town 10.

Offsides: City 0, Town 2.