Match ends, Northampton Town 3, Macclesfield Town 1.
Sol Campbell's Macclesfield saw their survival hopes dealt a blow with a 3-1 defeat to Northampton.
Dean Bowditch and Harry Smith exchanged first half goals but Daniel Powell and Junior Morias both netted after the break to hand the Cobblers their first win in over a month.
David Cornell kept out Ben Stephens and Nathan Cameron before Smith shot over as Macclesfield began on the front foot.
But the visitors fell behind after 25 minutes when Jordan Turnbull's clipped cross was neatly volleyed into the bottom corner by Bowditch.
Smith's header was then ruled out for offside but he was not to be denied seven minutes before half-time when he lobbed Cornell after being released by Stephens' pass.
Kieran O'Hara denied George Cox early in the second half but there was nothing he could do when Powell latched onto a short back header and slotted home just shy of the hour-mark.
Macclesfield nearly hit back through Elliott Durrell's terrific free-kick but their fate was sealed in stoppage-time when Powell teed up Morias for a tap-in.
The Silkmen remain two points above the relegation zone.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Line-ups
Northampton
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Cornell
- 4Goode
- 16PierreBooked at 85mins
- 18Turnbull
- 7HoskinsSubstituted forElsnikat 80'minutes
- 15BowditchSubstituted forPowellat 67'minutes
- 33Pollock
- 8Foley
- 12CoxSubstituted forWilliamsat 65'minutes
- 14Morias
- 11Powell
Substitutes
- 2Facey
- 3Buchanan
- 9Williams
- 10Powell
- 19Bridge
- 22Elsnik
- 30Coddington
Macclesfield
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1O'Hara
- 27Cameron
- 5Kelleher
- 33Jules
- 14Welch-HayesSubstituted forMartisat 77'minutes
- 38Ntambwe
- 23Whitaker
- 3Fitzpatrick
- 15StephensSubstituted forColeat 59'minutes
- 7Durrell
- 10SmithBooked at 75minsSubstituted forWilsonat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Grimes
- 8Marsh
- 9Wilson
- 17Evans
- 28Idem
- 30Cole
- 39Martis
- Referee:
- Kevin Johnson
- Attendance:
- 4,925
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 3, Macclesfield Town 1.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Nathan Cameron (Macclesfield Town) because of an injury.
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Joe Powell (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nathan Cameron (Macclesfield Town).
Goal!
Goal! Northampton Town 3, Macclesfield Town 1. Junior Morias (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Daniel Powell.
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Foul by Joe Powell (Northampton Town).
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Elliott Durrell (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Junior Morias (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fiacre Kelleher (Macclesfield Town).
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Foul by Scott Pollock (Northampton Town).
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Elliott Durrell (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Scott Wilson replaces Harry Smith.
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Attempt missed. Elliott Durrell (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Aaron Pierre (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Aaron Pierre (Northampton Town).
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Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Junior Morias (Northampton Town) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Timi Max Elsnik replaces Sam Hoskins.