EX-COBBLER Russ Wilcox saw his York City side receive a proper shoeing during an unhappy return to Northampton Town.

A home victory looked nailed on as soon as Brendon Moloney added an early second-half strike to Chris Hackett’s fourth-minute opening goal and, while City keeper Bobby Olejnik went on to save a Marc Richards penalty, Ivan Toney showed the visiting defence a clean pair of heels to burst into the box and complete a deserved 3-0 triumph late on.

Toney’s effort concluded a painful afternoon for Wilcox at a club he served with distinction as a member of the much-feted 1986/87 team that amassed 99 points.

It also served as a reminder of the perplexing profession that is football management as the exact same side Wilcox selected to brush aside Tranmere so impressively seven days earlier meekly surrendered at Sixfields.

The hosts merit some recognition for the nature of their win with City struggling to get to grips with the fluid movement of Ricky Holmes and Hackett in Chris Wilder’s 4-5-1 formation but the visitors contributed to their own downfall too.

Sloppy starts to both halves resulted in Northampton goals – the first courtesy of a careless mistake by Malvind Benning.

The on-loan left back was also guilty of barging into Holmes in the incident that led to Richards’ spot kick during a loan-ending display as calamitous as that endured by fellow defender Stephane Zubar, who was sent off after 20 minutes against Plymouth during the final fixture of his scheduled stay from Bournemouth last month.

Whether Benning’s City career survives his indiscretions, as Zubar’s did, remains to be seen, with Femi Ilesanmi still waiting in the wings for a recall.

Prior to Benning’s first lapse, City failed to heed a second-minute warning when centre-back Ryan Cresswell missed the target with his head after being left unmarked at the far post from Hackett’s right-wing free-kick.

Shortly afterwards, Benning attempted to find Olejnik following Evan Horwood’s hooked ball forward but his header was never going to carry sufficient power to reach the former Austrian under-21 international, who escaped a red card when the officials failed to spot, or decided not to mete out punishment, after he handled outside the box.

If referee Jeremy Simpson’s intention was to enforce the advantage rule, though, Hackett capitalised fully by guiding the ball into a vacated net from 15 yards.

After Richards raided down the right and crossed into the box, Olejnik then did well to claw away a looping Lawson D’Ath shot.

York Press:

But the City keeper was on tenterhooks moments later when he slid towards Richards and Sky Bet League Two’s leading marksman tumbled over him close to the byline, only for Simpson to ignore strong home appeals for a penalty.

The Minstermen’s only first-half goal attempt saw Cobblers keeper Matt Duke parry away Keith Lowe’s downward header from Michael Coulson’s corner to the far post.

Less than three minutes into the restart, the visitors fell further behind when D’Ath’s burst into the penalty box through the left channel saw him leave former team-mate Emile Sinclair trailing in his wake.

D’Ath went on to pull the ball back from the byline and it travelled to the edge of the box, where Moloney fired a low shot inside Olejnik’s left-hand upright.

After Wes Fletcher scooped a 12-yard effort over from Marvin McCoy’s cross and Benning’s highly-ambitious long-distance lob sailed safely into the hands of Duke, Olejnik was at full stretch to push behind a stinging drive by Holmes.

An unfortunate ricochet off Russell Penn then fell to Holmes in the visitors’ penalty box.

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Benning, caught the wrong side of the former Portsmouth midfielder, subsequently lunged into the back of him and Simpson pointed to the spot.

Ex-Chesterfield striker Richards failed to convert, however, as Olejnik dived low to his left to keep out his firmly-struck attempt.

A curling 20-yard effort from substitute Diego De Girolamo was saved by Duke on 78 minutes, while Holmes bent a similar opportunity wide at the other end after exchanging passes with Toney.

Holmes and Darren Carter subsequently combined through the left channel to tee up Toney for an eight-yard chance that he prodded into Olejnik’s bottom left-hand corner.

In stoppage time, De Girolamo threatened again twice, heading over from a Fletcher cross and testing Duke from a free-kick as he put forward a pressing case for his inclusion in the starting XI for next weekend’s home clash with Exeter.

MATCH STATS

Bobby Olejnik - 7 might have been sent off and may have done better with second goal but saved his side from a heavier loss. STAR MAN

Marvin McCoy 6 – did little wrong and provided a chance for Fletcher before substituted in tactical switch.

Keith Lowe 6 – went close to a sixth goal of the season and stuck to his task defensively.

Stephane Zubar 6 – rarely troubled by Richards and looked free of blame for goals.

Malvind Benning 4 – made mistakes for opening goal and penalty and too many crosses came in from his flank.

Russell Penn 6 – crunched into a couple of tackles but part of a unit that came out second best.

Brad Halliday 5 – looked a little lost prior to switching to right-back role early in second half.

Emile Sinclair 5 – given a hard time by Northampton fans and could not silence them with his performance.

Michael Coulson 5 – not as effective in roving role as he has been in 4-2-3-1 system.

Josh Carson 7 – always a willing outlet and provided a steady stream of crosses for the team.

Wes Fletcher 5 – struggled to make inroads against an uncompromising home defence.

Subs: Diego De Girolamo 6 – positive (for McCoy, 56), Lindon Meikle (for Carson, 83). Not used: Tom Platt, Michael Ingham, Femi Ilesanmi, John McCombe, Lewis Montrose.

Northampton Matt Duke, Brendon Moloney, Ryan Cresswell, Lee Collins, Evan Horwood, Joel Byrom (Darren Carter, 76), Jason Taylor, Ricky Holmes, Chris Hackett (Ivan Toney, 67), Lawson D’Ath, Marc Richards. Subs not used: Billy Bodin, Dean Snedker, Shaun McWilliams, Tom Newey, Danny Clifton.

Star man: Holmes – intelligent work on and off the ball.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

Rating: 5/10 – error-prone, like City.

Booked: Hackett 37, Taylor 41, Halliday 44, Holmes 56.

Attendance: 4,694 (449 from City).

Shots on target: Town 7, City 4.

Shots off target: Town 2, City 4.

Corners: Town 4, City 8.

Fouls conceded: Town 18, City 8.

Offsides: Town 3, City 1.