NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1

(Akinfenwa pen 51)

PORT VALE 1

(Richards pen 45+2)

GOAL ATTEMPTS

Northampton 8 (4 on target)

Vale 4 (2 on target)

THE REFEREE

Mick Russell (Hertfordshire) 5

CARD WATCH

YELLOW – Northampton: Swailes (foul, 5), Johnson (foul, 42), Dunn (foul, 45+1). Vale: Fraser (foul, 43). RED – Northampton: None; Vale: McCombe (professional foul, 50).

THE CROWD

Attendance 4,132

MATCH RATING

Entertainment 5

MARTIN: Produced excellent first-half penalty save and stood his ground well to keep out a couple of decent efforts 9

YATES: Made his presence felt from wing-back with a physical display full of bite 7

McCOMBE: Gave a good account of himself in the first half, but was sent off for a professional foul on Cobblers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa 6

COLLINS: He was bypassed on a couple of occasions, but came to the fore when his side needed him most following McCombe's dismissal 7

OWEN: Made a number of timely and brave interventions as 10-man Vale clung on to a point in the second period 8

K TAYLOR: Did a quiet, but effective, job in defence, although rarely offered a threat in the attacking third 6

GRIFFITH: Never at the races after receiving a blow to the head in the opening minutes and had to be substituted midway through the first half 6

FRASER: Seems to be finding his feet again with some decent passing play and better delivery, but blotted his copy book when his reckless tackle conceded a penalty 6

DODDS: His undoubted industry rarely translated into productivity, but his perseverance won Vale a first-half penalty 6

RICHARDS: Worked tirelessly for the cause especially when his side went a man down and displayed an assured touch during some decent link-up play. Displayed a calm head to convert from the spot 7

R TAYLOR: Vale benefited from having the speed merchant back in their forward ranks, although he was unable to break loose 6

SUBSTITUTES

LOFT (Griffith, 25): Ran his heart out for the cause, but was unable to make much of an impact on the ball 5

Not used: Anyon, Prosser, Howland, Lawrie, Richman, Jarrett.

NORTHAMPTON: Dunn, Johnson, Beckwith, Swailes, Gilbert, (Mulligan, 55) Rodgers, Curtis, Gilligan, Benjamin, Akinfenwa, Herbert, (McKay, 77). Not used: Dyer, Jacobs, Harris, Brown, Kanyuka