Match ends, Northampton Town 2, Morecambe 1.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town2MorecambeMorecambe1
Northampton beat Morecambe to secure a fifth straight League Two victory.
The hosts scored after just 26 seconds when Joel Byrom pounced from six yards, after Brendon Maloney's low cross was parried by Andreas Arestidou.
Morecambe equalised when Jack Redshaw's effort was saved by Matt Duke, allowing Jamie Devitt to head in off the post.
Northampton top scorer Marc Richards then converted Evan Horwood's 54th-minute cross before missing a penalty after Ricky Holmes had been fouled.
Morecambe keeper Arestidou dived low to his right to save Richards' 70th-minute penalty.
Having moved up to 11th, within five points of the League Two play-offs, Northampton's next two matches are at two struggling sides, 20th-placed Mansfield Town and bottom club Hartlepool.
Cobblers manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Northampton:
"I don't believe it should have been a struggle for us, but it was, so credit to the opposition for going for it. The supporters were fantastic as always.
"Zander Diamond has a problem with his hamstring. It's really disappointing. However, Ben Tozer came on and did a great job.
"We've got another big week coming up and hopefully we can keep it going. Hartlepool and Mansfield are fighting for their lives."
Line-ups
Northampton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Duke
- 2MoloneyBooked at 90mins
- 16DiamondSubstituted forTozerat 45+2'minutes
- 6Collins
- 3Horwood
- 19D'Ath
- 21Taylor
- 25Byrom
- 26HolmesSubstituted forNeweyat 89'minutes
- 10O'TooleSubstituted forHackettat 81'minutes
- 9Richards
Substitutes
- 4Carter
- 7Bodin
- 11Hackett
- 12Tozer
- 13Snedker
- 24Toney
- 33Newey
Morecambe
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 25Arestidou
- 22ParrishSubstituted forEllisonat 45'minutes
- 5HughesBooked at 69mins
- 6Edwards
- 2Beeley
- 13Goodall
- 17FlemingSubstituted forSampsonat 88'minutes
- 19Wilson
- 3Devitt
- 27AmondSubstituted forMullinat 68'minutes
- 7Redshaw
Substitutes
- 4Kenyon
- 9Sampson
- 10Williams
- 11Ellison
- 12Mullin
- 21McGowan
- 44Jones
- Referee:
- Robert Lewis
- Attendance:
- 4,307
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamMorecambe
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 2, Morecambe 1.
Post update
Jack Sampson (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Newey (Northampton Town).
Booking
Jason Taylor (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Alan Goodall (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jason Taylor (Northampton Town).
Post update
Foul by Kevin Ellison (Morecambe).
Post update
Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Tom Newey replaces Ricky Holmes.
Substitution
Substitution, Morecambe. Jack Sampson replaces Andrew Fleming.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin Ellison (Morecambe) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Morecambe) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Chris Hackett replaces John-Joe O'Toole.
Post update
Shaun Beeley (Morecambe) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Marc Richards (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Marc Richards (Northampton Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left.
Post update
Alan Goodall (Morecambe) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box.
Post update
Alan Goodall (Morecambe) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Jason Taylor (Northampton Town).
