Stevenage 2-1 Northampton Town

Simon Walton scored a 90th-minute winner as Stevenage came from behind to overcome Northampton Town and boost their League Two play-off hopes.

The visitors took the lead when Zander Diamond half-volleyed Joel Byrom's free-kick past Boro keeper Chris Day.

Stevenage equalised after the break when Chris Whelpdale latched onto Dean Parrett's free-kick to nod home.

But Walton sealed the winner late on before Northampton lost Ryan Cresswell to a second booking in added time.

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Westley on Stevenage v Northampton

Stevenage Manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It was a good first half from us, I was pleased with the performance on the whole. I thought we played intelligently, I thought we played decisively, I though we played with confidence.

"To go in 1-0 down was tough to take, it was a set piece we gave away softly and defended poorly.

"We went at the second half with real purpose and we kept pushing away. I thought the boys thoroughly deserved what they got after 90 minutes."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Stevenage

• 16Day
• 7Whelpdale
• 19WellsBooked at 90mins
• 3Dembele
• 23Okimo
• 11PettBooked at 41minsSubstituted forAndradeat 78'minutes
• 6Bond
• 18Parrett
• 32Conlon
• 22LeeBooked at 82minsSubstituted forWaltonat 87'minutes
• 20Beardsley

Substitutes

• 1Beasant
• 8Walton
• 12McAllister
• 36Andrade
• 42Yamfam
• 43Akinyemi

Northampton

• 1Duke
• 2MoloneyBooked at 79mins
• 6Collins
• 16DiamondSubstituted forO'Tooleat 71'minutes
• 3HorwoodSubstituted forTozerat 50'minutes
• 21TaylorBooked at 30mins
• 25Byrom
• 36CresswellBooked at 90mins
• 14GraySubstituted forD'Athat 50'minutes
• 24ToneyBooked at 82mins
• 22De Girolamo

Substitutes

• 4Carter
• 10O'Toole
• 11Hackett
• 12Tozer
• 17Perry
• 19D'Ath
• 42Jalal

Referee:

Peter Bankes

Attendance:

3,378

Match Stats

Home TeamStevenageAway TeamNorthampton

Possession

Home52%

Away48%

Shots

Home9

Away8

Shots on Target

Home4

Away5

Corners

Home6

Away1

Fouls

Home8

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Stevenage 2, Northampton Town 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Stevenage 2, Northampton Town 1.

Dismissal

Posted at 90'+4'

Second yellow card to Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town).

Posted at 90'+4'

Hand ball by Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town).

Booking

Posted at 90'+3'

Dean Wells (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.

Goal!

Posted at 90'

Goal! Stevenage 2, Northampton Town 1. Simon Walton (Stevenage) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner.

Posted at 88'

Attempt missed. Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 87'

Substitution, Stevenage. Simon Walton replaces Charlie Lee.

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Bruno Andrade (Stevenage) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Booking

Posted at 82'

Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 82'

(Stevenage) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Ivan Toney (Northampton Town).

Booking

Posted at 82'

Charlie Lee (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 81'

Diego De Girolamo (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Charlie Lee (Stevenage).

Posted at 81'

Attempt missed. Bruno Andrade (Stevenage) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Booking

Posted at 79'

Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 79'

Dean Parrett (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town).

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Stevenage. Bruno Andrade replaces Tom Pett.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Ryan Cresswell.

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Northampton Town. John-Joe O'Toole replaces Zander Diamond because of an injury.

Posted at 66'

Jason Taylor (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Charlie Lee (Stevenage).

Goal!

Posted at 65'

Goal! Stevenage 1, Northampton Town 1. Chris Whelpdale (Stevenage) header from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dean Parrett.

Posted at 65'

Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Brendon Moloney.

Posted at 61'

Foul by Bira Dembélé (Stevenage).

Posted at 61'

(Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Booking

Posted at 60'

Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 60'

Chris Beardsley (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town).

Posted at 59'

Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 53'

Foul by Bira Dembélé (Stevenage).

Posted at 53'

Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 50'

Substitution, Northampton Town. Ben Tozer replaces Evan Horwood.

Substitution

Posted at 50'

Substitution, Northampton Town. Lawson D'Ath replaces James Gray.

Posted at 49'

Chris Beardsley (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 49'

Foul by Lee Collins (Northampton Town).

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