Northampton Town won 3-2 at Sixfields to hand Macclesfield Town their eighth successive League Two defeat.

George Donnelly took advantage of some sloppy defending to give the visitors the lead, but Michael Jacobs's high cross looped in for 1-1.

Luke Guttridge headed the Cobblers in front and Adebayo Akinfenwa shot on the turn to make it 3-1 after the break.

Ben Tomlinson capitalised on another piece of poor defending from the hosts late on, but it was not enough.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"It's nice that we've won but I've had a bit of a go at them. We started a bit slowly and I don't think that we played very well.

"When they score a goal right at the end, you think 'we've been here before'. It's just a bit sloppy.

"I know we're a little bit fragile but I never thought we were in any danger. We could have had a couple more goals if our finishing had been better.

"Special mention to Adebayo Akinfenwa because he did really well."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (3)

Northampton Town

  • 33 Duke
  • 14 Johnson
  • 25 Carlisle
  • 28 Langmead
  • 29 Adams
  • 17 Jacobs
  • 22 Guttridge
  • 24 Silva (Robinson - 78' )
  • 27 Harding
  • 09 Williams
  • 10 Akinfenwa (Tozer - 76' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Kitson
  • 05 Tozer
  • 06 Webster
  • 02 Young
  • 08 Robinson

Macclesfield Town

  • 01 Veiga
  • 02 Bateson
  • 14 Diagne
  • 35 Futcher
  • 04 Kay (Mukendi - 55' )
  • 11 Daniel
  • 12 Mendy
  • 15 Marshall
  • 17 Wedgebury
  • 09 Donnelly
  • 23 Tomlinson

Substitutes

  • 20 Hamshaw
  • 25 Thomas
  • 10 Mukendi
  • 18 Fairhurst
  • 34 Bakare
Ref: Scott
Att: 4,529

Match Stats

Shots

13 5

On target

9 4

Corners

8 6

Fouls

9 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:34 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:51

The ball is swung over by Colin Daniel, save by Matt Duke.

90:00 +1:33

Vinny Mukendi takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Tozer.

89:48

Colin Daniel takes a short corner, clearance made by Luke Guttridge.

89:02

Luke Guttridge gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ben Tomlinson. Free kick crossed right-footed by Sam Wedgbury from right channel, Clarke Carlisle makes a clearance. Short corner taken by Colin Daniel from the left by-line.

88:24

Sam Wedgbury takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Blair Adams makes a clearance.

86:49

Corner taken by Michael Jacobs played to the near post, clearance made by Vinny Mukendi.

85:20

Unfair challenge on Jake Robinson by Colin Daniel results in a free kick. John Johnson takes the free kick. Corner from the right by-line taken by Ben Harding, clearance by Ben Futcher. Corner taken by Michael Jacobs.

84:32

George Donnelly provided the assist for the goal.

84:32 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Tomlinson - Northamp'n 3 - 2 Macclesfld Ben Tomlinson finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Northampton 3-2 Macclesfield.

84:30

George Donnelly crosses the ball,

83:44

Shot from just outside the penalty area by Clarke Carlisle misses to the left of the target.

82:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kelvin Langmead on Vinny Mukendi. Free kick crossed right-footed by Sam Wedgbury from left channel.

79:09

Blair Adams takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

77:05 Substitution

Substitution Toni Brito Silva leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Robinson.

73:03 Substitution

Substitution Adebayo Akinfenwa leaves the field to be replaced by Ben Tozer.

73:03

Corner taken right-footed by Sam Wedgbury from the left by-line, clearance by John Johnson. Colin Daniel challenges Brett Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is delivered by Ben Harding, Clarke Carlisle produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

72:35

Shot from just outside the box by Adebayo Akinfenwa goes over the crossbar.

71:51

George Donnelly takes a shot. Save made by Matt Duke.

70:20

Corner taken left-footed by Ben Harding from the right by-line, Arnaud Mendy manages to make a clearance.

67:16

Foul by Sam Wedgbury on Michael Jacobs, free kick awarded. Matt Duke restarts play with the free kick.

61:56

Effort from inside the area by Michael Jacobs misses to the right of the target.

61:46

A cross is delivered by Brett Williams.

61:05

Adebayo Akinfenwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony Diagne. Direct free kick taken by Tony Diagne.

60:38

The official flags Arnaud Mendy offside. Matt Duke takes the indirect free kick.

59:43

Corner taken right-footed by Sam Wedgbury, John Johnson manages to make a clearance.

58:44

Michael Jacobs sends in a cross, Tony Diagne manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line, Colin Daniel manages to make a clearance.

56:42

Brett Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony Diagne. Sam Wedgbury restarts play with the free kick.

55:48

Centre by Michael Jacobs, save by Jose Veiga.

54:10 Substitution

Substitution Vinny Mukendi replaces Scott Kay.

53:22

The assistant referee flags for offside against Ben Tomlinson. Matt Duke takes the indirect free kick.

52:17

Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Colin Daniel, free kick awarded. Jonathan Bateson restarts play with the free kick.

51:13

Assist on the goal came from John Johnson.

51:13 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Northamp'n 3 - 1 Macclesfld Adebayo Akinfenwa fires in a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Northampton 3-1 Macclesfield.

51:08

John Johnson crosses the ball,

49:29

The ball is sent over by Jonathan Bateson, clearance made by Clarke Carlisle.

48:00

Foul by Arnaud Mendy on Clarke Carlisle, free kick awarded. Matt Duke restarts play with the free kick.

46:45

The assistant referee signals for offside against Ben Tomlinson. Matt Duke takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:26 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:12

Unfair challenge on Blair Adams by Ben Tomlinson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Clarke Carlisle.

45:00 +0:18

Assist on the goal came from Ben Harding.

45:00 +0:18 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Guttridge - Northamp'n 2 - 1 Macclesfld Luke Guttridge scores a headed goal from close in. Northampton 2-1 Macclesfield.

44:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Colin Daniel on Toni Brito Silva. Centre by Ben Harding,

41:14

The offside flag is raised against Ben Tomlinson. Matt Duke takes the free kick.

40:19

Colin Daniel produces a cross, John Johnson gets a block in. Sam Wedgbury takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Adebayo Akinfenwa makes a clearance.

34:27

Brett Williams gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jose Veiga. Direct free kick taken by Jose Veiga.

33:20

Ben Tomlinson has an effort at goal and missed to the left of the target.

32:06

Brett Williams takes a shot. Tony Diagne gets a block in.

29:30

Jonathan Bateson concedes a free kick for a foul on Adebayo Akinfenwa. Direct free kick taken by Michael Jacobs.

27:15

Clarke Carlisle challenges Ben Tomlinson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Wedgbury crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

25:03 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Jacobs - Northamp'n 1 - 1 Macclesfld Michael Jacobs gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Northampton 1-1 Macclesfield.

23:36

Michael Jacobs takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Futcher. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael Jacobs,

22:55

A cross is delivered by Colin Daniel, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.

20:55

Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges Jonathan Bateson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Jonathan Bateson, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.

19:47

Blair Adams takes a shot. Jose Veiga makes a comfortable save.

19:19

Ben Harding takes a shot. Save made by Jose Veiga.

18:52

The ball is swung over by George Donnelly, John Johnson manages to make a clearance.

16:17 Goal scored

Goal - George Donnelly - Northamp'n 0 - 1 Macclesfld George Donnelly grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Northampton 0-1 Macclesfield.

14:18

Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save made by Jose Veiga. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line, clearance by Marcus Marshall.

11:50

Michael Jacobs takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Scott Kay. The ball is swung over by Michael Jacobs.

10:12

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marcus Marshall. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Duke.

9:02

A cross is delivered by George Donnelly, blocked by Kelvin Langmead.

6:28

Unfair challenge on Sam Wedgbury by Luke Guttridge results in a free kick. Tony Diagne takes the free kick.

3:19

Unfair challenge on Blair Adams by Arnaud Mendy results in a free kick. Michael Jacobs crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Jose Veiga makes a save.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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