Shrimps suffer first defeat of 2015
MORECAMBE suffered their first defeat of 2015 as Northampton won their fifth successive game.
The Shrimps could not have had a worse start as they went a goal down after just 27 seconds.
Brendon Moloney was afforded too much space down the right wing. He sprinted into the area, where his cross was parried into the path of former PNE midfielder Joel Byrom, who hammered home.
Morecambe hit back and after some neat interplay on the edge of the area Laurence Wilson curled an effort just wide of the target.
Northampton then went on to dominate with. Byrom twice firing wide, John Joe O’Toole and Ricky Holmes wasting good chances.
After a long period on the back foot the Shrimps produced a timely equaliser five minutes before half-time with their first serious attack. The nippy Jack Redshaw sprung the offside trap and forced a save from Matt Duke but the rebound found its way to Devitt, whose header clipped the post and nestled in the net.
Morecambe started the second half looking much the livelier with Kevin Ellison on for Andy Parrish.
But much like Morecambe did to them, the hosts scored against the run of play on 54 minutes. Evan Horwood drove into the box and his shot fell right at the feet of the lurking Richards at the back post, who calmly slotted it underneath Arestidou for his 16th goal of the season.
After that the game was end-to-end, with both sides showing tremendous pace on the break.
Matt Duke made a terrific double save to keep the Cobblers ahead when he saved a stunning hooked volley from Ellison, and he then leapt to his feet to claw Redshaw’s follow up header off the line.
But the Cobblers squandered an excellent opportunity to go 3-1 up in the 69th minute when Richards missed a penalty.
The Shrimps almost took advantage with Alan Goodall hitting the post from 25 yards.
Northampton Town: Duke, Moloney, Diamond (rep Tozer, 45), Collins, Horwood, O’Toole (rep Hackett, 80), Taylor, Byrom, D’Ath, Holmes (rep Newey, 88), Richards.
Subs not used: Snedker, Bodin, Carter, Toney.
Morecambe: Arestidou, Edwards, Hughes, Parrish (rep Ellison, 45), Beeley, Wilson, Goodall, Fleming (rep Sampson, 88), Devitt, Redshaw, Amond (rep Mullin, 66).
Subs not used: Jones, Kenyon, Williams, McGowan.
Referee: Rob Lewis
Attendance: 4,307