A hat-trick from Adebayo Akinfenwa helped Northampton to victory at Accrington Stanley.

Akinfenwa headed the visitors ahead from Joe Widdowson's cross before George Miller curled Stanley level.

Rommy Boco lashed the hosts into the lead but substitute Jake Robinson levelled from close range.

Emyr Huws' cross was headed home by Akinfenwa to put the Cobblers back in front before he completed his treble with a neat volley.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"He (Akinfenwa) seems to be thriving at the minute. He was out of the team, he's come back into the team and he's proving his worth.

"I think Adebayo is a fantastic player; he's better than League Two but I think that about a lot of our lads.

"I guess it's like my kids; I don't give them what they want, I always give them what they need. I always listen to them."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Accrington Stanley

  • 25 Dunbavin
  • 02 Murphy Booked
  • 06 Winnard Booked
  • 24 Molyneux
  • 29 Atkinson
  • 04 Joyce
  • 10 Hatfield (Barnett - 78' )
  • 12 Miller
  • 17 Gray (Sampson - 90' )
  • 23 Amond
  • 33 Boco

Substitutes

  • 22 Dawber
  • 03 Liddle
  • 05 Nsiala
  • 08 Barnett
  • 28 Schofield
  • 07 Lindfield
  • 20 Sampson

Northampton Town

  • 21 Nicholls
  • 03 Widdowson
  • 05 Langmead
  • 12 Tozer
  • 23 East
  • 11 Hackett
  • 22 Hornby
  • 28 Huws
  • 09 Platt (Robinson - 63' Booked )
  • 10 Akinfenwa (Mukendi - 85' Booked )
  • 16 Wilson (Demontagnac - 63' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Higgs
  • 06 Charles
  • 29 Moyo
  • 07 Demontagnac
  • 08 Harding
  • 15 Mukendi
  • 17 Robinson
Ref: Madley
Att: 1,441

Match Stats

Shots

8 12

On target

5 6

Corners

4 4

Fouls

4 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:42 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +1:26 Substitution

Substitution Jack Sampson on for James Gray.

89:52

The offside flag is raised against Jake Robinson. Indirect free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

89:00

Effort from just outside the area by Henoc Mukendi goes over the bar.

87:55

A cross is delivered by Padraig Amond, clearance by Kelvin Langmead.

86:42

Joe Widdowson is caught offside. Ian Dunbavin restarts play with the free kick.

86:42 Booking

Booking Henoc Mukendi goes into the book.

84:09 Substitution

Substitution Henoc Mukendi comes on in place of Adebayo Akinfenwa.

83:47

Long range effort by Chris Hackett goes wide right of the net.

83:07

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Emyr Huws, save by Ian Dunbavin.

82:59

Chris Hackett produces a cross, clearance made by Lee Molyneux.

82:22

The referee blows for offside. Ian Dunbavin restarts play with the free kick.

81:24

The referee blows for offside. Lee Nicholls takes the indirect free kick.

81:00

Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Rob Atkinson, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

78:45

Chris Hackett takes a inswinging corner.

77:37

Free kick taken by Dean Winnard.

77:37 Substitution

Substitution Charlie Barnett replaces Will Hatfield.

77:37

Ishmel Demontagnac is adjudged to have handled the ball.

77:06

Jake Robinson takes a shot from close range that hits the post.

75:10 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Accrington 2 - 4 Northamp'n Adebayo Akinfenwa grabs a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Accrington Stanley 2-4 Northampton.

74:39

Jake Robinson takes a shot. Blocked by George Miller.

72:25

Lee Molyneux crosses the ball, clearance made by Ben Tozer.

69:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Molyneux by Chris Hackett. Free kick taken by Lee Molyneux.

68:44

The assist for the goal came from Emyr Huws.

68:44 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Accrington 2 - 3 Northamp'n Adebayo Akinfenwa finds the net with a headed goal from inside the area. Accrington Stanley 2-3 Northampton.

67:30 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Jake Robinson for unsporting behaviour.

66:38

The assist for the goal came from Adebayo Akinfenwa.

66:38 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Robinson - Accrington 2 - 2 Northamp'n Jake Robinson gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Accrington Stanley 2-2 Northampton.

64:21

Corner taken by Chris Hackett, Rob Atkinson makes a clearance.

64:04

Emyr Huws takes a shot. James Gray makes a clearance.

62:53 Substitution

Substitution Ishmel Demontagnac joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lewis Wilson.

62:27 Substitution

Substitution Jake Robinson on for Clive Platt.

61:00

Romuald Boco takes a shot. Blocked by Kelvin Langmead.

57:56

Unfair challenge on Romuald Boco by Joe Widdowson results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Lee Molyneux from right by-line, clearance made by Joe Widdowson.

56:40

Assist on the goal came from Luke Joyce.

56:40 Goal scored

Goal - Romuald Boco - Accrington 2 - 1 Northamp'n Romuald Boco scores a goal from just outside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 2-1 Northampton.

55:59

Unfair challenge on Will Hatfield by Lewis Hornby results in a free kick. Luke Joyce takes the free kick.

54:33

The ball is sent over by Dean Winnard, clearance made by Danny East.

52:19

Peter Murphy challenges Adebayo Akinfenwa unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Emyr Huws, Peter Murphy makes a clearance.

51:52

Centre by Will Hatfield, save by Lee Nicholls.

51:19

Shot by Chris Hackett from outside the box goes over the net.

50:21

Chris Hackett takes the direct free kick.

50:21 Booking

Booking Booking for Peter Murphy for unsporting behaviour.

50:11

Peter Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Hackett.

49:15

A cross is delivered by Lee Molyneux, clearance by Kelvin Langmead.

47:01

Effort from the edge of the area by James Gray goes wide of the right-hand upright.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:08 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

44:50

Emyr Huws sends in a cross, clearance made by George Miller.

43:51

Inswinging corner taken by Romuald Boco, Peter Murphy concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Nicholls. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

43:32

James Gray takes a shot. Danny East gets a block in.

39:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Padraig Amond by Ben Tozer. Lee Molyneux has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, Lewis Wilson gets a block in.

38:17

Effort from deep inside the area by Adebayo Akinfenwa clears the bar.

36:18

The assist for the goal came from Lee Molyneux.

36:18 Goal scored

Goal - George Miller - Accrington 1 - 1 Northamp'n George Miller gets on the score sheet with a goal from long range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 1-1 Northampton.

35:49

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Lee Molyneux.

34:23

Lee Nicholls takes the indirect free kick.

34:23 Booking

Booking The referee shows Dean Winnard a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

34:13

Dean Winnard challenges Lewis Hornby unfairly and gives away a free kick.

32:28

Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges Lee Molyneux unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Dunbavin takes the free kick.

31:29

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Molyneux from the right by-line.

30:12

Joe Widdowson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Romuald Boco. Lee Molyneux delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Adebayo Akinfenwa makes a clearance.

30:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Romuald Boco by Joe Widdowson.

27:18

The ball is sent over by Danny East, save made by Ian Dunbavin.

26:14

The ball is swung over by Luke Joyce, Danny East manages to make a clearance.

24:20

Padraig Amond takes a shot. Lee Nicholls makes a save.

23:40

Unfair challenge on Peter Murphy by Adebayo Akinfenwa results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

22:24

Lewis Wilson takes a shot.

16:50

Joe Widdowson provided the assist for the goal.

16:50 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Accrington 0 - 1 Northamp'n Adebayo Akinfenwa scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Accrington Stanley 0-1 Northampton.

16:13

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Chris Hackett.

15:59

Danny East produces a cross, clearance by Lee Molyneux.

14:06

Emyr Huws concedes a free kick for a foul on George Miller. Rob Atkinson takes the direct free kick.

12:59

Lee Molyneux produces a cross.

10:37

Lewis Hornby gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on George Miller. Free kick taken by Lee Molyneux.

8:57

Romuald Boco takes a short corner.

8:21

Joe Widdowson challenges Romuald Boco unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

7:13

Romuald Boco sends in a cross.

6:17

The ball is swung over by Chris Hackett, Dean Winnard makes a clearance.

4:26

Shot from long distance by George Miller goes wide of the left-hand post.

3:24

Clive Platt is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

3:03

The ball is crossed by Dean Winnard, clearance made by Lewis Wilson.

2:07

Chris Hackett produces a cross, Dean Winnard manages to make a clearance.

1:11

Padraig Amond crosses the ball, Danny East makes a clearance.

0:00

The game begins.

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