Neal Kitson saved a last-minute penalty on his Northampton debut to earn a point at Crewe in League Two.

Luke Murphy collected Nick Powell's pass on his chest and volleyed home to give the Railwaymen the lead.

Adebayo Akinfenwa levelled the scores when he latched on to Toni Brito Silva's pass and slotted home.

Danny Shelley stepped up in added time after Michael Jacobs felled Powell in the area, but Kitson was at hand to make a fine save.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"The penalty would have been a terrible way to lose a game. I didn't think we started very well and they were the better team in the first half.

"But in the second half, we were very strong and on the front foot. Then, at the death, Neal Kitson makes a fantastic save.

"People were worried when Matt Duke left but they don't need to worry any more. I knew all along Neal would be terrific. We're happy to put him in there because I knew he wouldn't let us down.

"I think we got what we deserved, it was a fair result."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Crewe Alexandra

  • 01 Phillips
  • 05 Artell Booked
  • 06 Dugdale
  • 33 Brown
  • 34 Bodin (Shelley - 85' )
  • 04 Westwood
  • 08 Murphy
  • 11 Moore
  • 17 Mellor
  • 10 Leitch-Smith (Miller - 78' )
  • 25 Powell

Substitutes

  • 13 Martin
  • 12 Shelley
  • 15 Martin
  • 07 Bell
  • 09 Miller

Northampton Town

  • 13 Kitson
  • 05 Tozer
  • 14 Johnson
  • 25 Carlisle
  • 28 Langmead
  • 29 Adams
  • 17 Jacobs
  • 22 Guttridge (Robinson - 90' )
  • 24 Silva (Williams - 63' Booked )
  • 27 Harding
  • 10 Akinfenwa (Charles - 89' )

Substitutes

  • 26 Hall
  • 03 Charles
  • 02 Young
  • 08 Robinson
  • 09 Williams
Ref: Miller
Att: 4,893

Match Stats

Shots

16 8

On target

5 3

Corners

9 0

Fouls

5 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:27 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +5:38

Floated corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Johnson by Adam Dugdale. Free kick taken by Neal Kitson.

90:00 +5:17

The ball is swung over by Nick Powell, clearance by Kelvin Langmead.

90:00 +4:17

Corner from right by-line taken by Ashley Westwood.

90:00 +4:04 Penalty

A save by Neal Kitson from penalty by Danny Shelley. Crewe 1-1 Northampton.

90:00 +2:57

Penalty awarded for a foul by Michael Jacobs on Nick Powell.

90:00 +2:00 Substitution

Substitution Jake Robinson replaces Luke Guttridge.

90:00 +1:47

Nick Powell takes a shot. Save by Neal Kitson.

89:43

The ball is crossed by Jordan Brown, Neal Kitson makes a save.

88:33 Substitution

Substitution Adebayo Akinfenwa leaves the field to be replaced by Anthony Charles.

87:37

Shot by Luke Murphy from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

84:39

David Artell fouled by Brett Williams, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

84:01 Substitution

Substitution (Crewe) makes a substitution, with Danny Shelley coming on for Billy Bodin.

83:42

Shaun Miller is caught offside. Free kick taken by Neal Kitson.

83:04

Brett Williams has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

82:28

Shaun Miller is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Blair Adams.

82:07

Michael Jacobs delivers the ball, clearance by Adam Dugdale.

81:51

Centre by Ben Harding, Kelvin Mellor manages to make a clearance.

80:43

Floated corner taken from the right by-line by Ashley Westwood, clearance made by Ben Tozer.

78:14

Byron Moore sends in a cross.

77:09 Substitution

Substitution (Crewe) makes a substitution, with Shaun Miller coming on for Ajay Leitch-Smith.

75:41

Unfair challenge on Jordan Brown by Brett Williams results in a free kick. Adam Dugdale restarts play with the free kick.

73:35

Floated corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood, Adam Dugdale takes a shot. Save made by Neal Kitson.

73:19

Billy Bodin takes a shot. Save made by Neal Kitson.

72:21

Billy Bodin produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

72:12

A cross is delivered by Ashley Westwood, clearance made by Kelvin Langmead.

71:34

Corner taken by Ashley Westwood, Brett Williams makes a clearance.

70:18

Michael Jacobs delivers the ball.

69:39

Ajay Leitch-Smith is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Neal Kitson.

67:28

The ball is swung over by Luke Murphy, Blair Adams makes a clearance.

66:21

Ashley Westwood takes the direct free kick.

66:21 Booking

Booking The referee shows Brett Williams a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

65:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Murphy by Brett Williams.

64:51

Blair Adams challenges Byron Moore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ashley Westwood takes the direct free kick.

62:01 Substitution

Substitution Brett Williams on for Toni Brito Silva.

61:11

Luke Murphy produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

61:02

Byron Moore crosses the ball, clearance made by John Johnson.

60:36

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood from the left by-line, clearance made by Ben Harding.

58:50

Assist by Toni Brito Silva.

58:50 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Crewe 1 - 1 Northamp'n Adebayo Akinfenwa grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Crewe 1-1 Northampton.

57:22

Ben Harding challenges Nick Powell unfairly and gives away a free kick. A cross is delivered by Ashley Westwood, Adam Dugdale takes a shot.

56:36

Clarke Carlisle produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

55:00

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Neal Kitson.

53:53

Luke Guttridge gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy Bodin. Direct free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

52:15

Shot on goal by Billy Bodin from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

50:56

Nick Powell produces a cross, clearance made by Neal Kitson.

49:54

The ball is crossed by Blair Adams, Nick Powell makes a clearance.

47:21

Michael Jacobs produces a cross, Byron Moore manages to make a clearance.

45:39

Michael Jacobs takes a shot. Steve Phillips makes a save.

45:04

Ashley Westwood challenges Michael Jacobs unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Tozer takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:32 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +2:10

Nick Powell takes a shot.

45:00 +0:54

The free kick is delivered left-footed by Ben Harding from right wing.

45:00 +0:54 Booking

Booking Booking for David Artell.

45:00 +0:20

Unfair challenge on Ben Harding by David Artell results in a free kick.

44:36

Ben Tozer has an effort at goal from a long way out that goes wide of the right-hand post.

39:42

Ben Tozer produces a cross.

38:21

David Artell fouled by Michael Jacobs, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

37:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Jacobs by Kelvin Mellor. Michael Jacobs delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Ashley Westwood.

36:20

Adam Dugdale gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Blair Adams.

35:38

Effort on goal by Byron Moore from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

34:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Byron Moore by Michael Jacobs. Adam Dugdale takes the free kick.

33:40

Headed effort from inside the area by David Artell misses to the right of the goal.

33:14

Luke Guttridge concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Powell. Ashley Westwood takes the free kick.

31:35

The ball is swung over by Byron Moore, Clarke Carlisle manages to make a clearance.

30:42

Corner taken by Ashley Westwood played to the near post, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.

30:03

The referee penalises Adebayo Akinfenwa for handball. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

28:42

John Johnson delivers the ball, clearance made by Kelvin Mellor.

27:38

Ben Tozer produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

25:33

Unfair challenge on Steve Phillips by Adebayo Akinfenwa results in a free kick. Steve Phillips restarts play with the free kick.

24:29

Ben Harding takes a shot. Steve Phillips makes a save.

22:17

The ball is swung over by Michael Jacobs, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Adebayo Akinfenwa misses to the left of the goal.

20:31

Adam Dugdale fouled by Adebayo Akinfenwa, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Phillips takes the direct free kick.

19:53

Shot from just outside the area by Nick Powell goes over the bar.

19:11

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood played to the near post, clearance by Michael Jacobs.

19:05

The ball is delivered by Byron Moore, clearance made by Blair Adams.

16:39

Assist by Nick Powell.

16:39 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Murphy - Crewe 1 - 0 Northamp'n Luke Murphy grabs a goal from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Crewe 1-0 Northampton.

16:26

Centre by Nick Powell,

14:51

The referee blows for offside against David Artell. Indirect free kick taken by Neal Kitson.

14:10

Clarke Carlisle concedes a free kick for a foul on Byron Moore. Free kick crossed by Ashley Westwood.

8:32

The ball is delivered by Byron Moore, save made by Neal Kitson.

8:10

Ashley Westwood takes a shot. Save made by Neal Kitson.

7:40

Ashley Westwood takes a short corner.

7:30

The ball is swung over by Byron Moore, clearance made by Kelvin Langmead.

6:19

Byron Moore fouled by Blair Adams, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ashley Westwood.

5:36

Ajay Leitch-Smith takes a shot.

4:43

The ball is sent over by Billy Bodin, Ajay Leitch-Smith takes a shot. Save by Neal Kitson.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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