Darryl Duffy's winner completed a memorable comeback as Cheltenham came from two down to win at Northampton.

The Cobblers were 2-0 up within 14 minutes after Adebayo Akinfenwa struck and Robins defender Billy Jones turned the ball past his own keeper.

But after Darren Carter's close-range effort reduced the arrears, the visitors were level when Chris Zebroski headed in from Jones' cross.

The turnaround was complete when Duffy fired in after being set up by Carter.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"We started very, very well. We created lots of chances and we were on the front foot. At the back end of the half, we stopped doing what gave us all that success, and conceded three really bad goals.

"We're threatening that we might do well, but to lose three, win three, lose three, win three is not going to get you in the play-offs.

"We shot ourselves three times in the foot."

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We started awfully and I thought we'd picked the wrong team, but credit to the players they stuck in there and turned it around.

"They suddenly remembered what we talked about when it came to competing with Akinfenwa, and all of a sudden we looked a different side.

"The second half was tough. They play to their strengths and are very good at what they do.

"I thought Zebroski needed to come in and give a good performance, which I think he did. We caused them problems and it was good to see us chipping in with goals."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Northampton Town

  • 21 Nicholls
  • 03 Widdowson Booked (East - 81' )
  • 05 Langmead
  • 12 Tozer
  • 30 Carlisle
  • 07 Demontagnac Booked (Robinson - 63' )
  • 08 Harding
  • 11 Hackett
  • 22 Hornby (Platt - 64' )
  • 28 Huws
  • 10 Akinfenwa

Substitutes

  • 13 Snedker
  • 06 Charles
  • 23 East
  • 09 Platt
  • 15 Mukendi
  • 17 Robinson
  • 19 Moult

Cheltenham Town

  • 01 Brown
  • 02 Lowe Booked
  • 03 Jones
  • 06 Elliott
  • 15 Bennett
  • 22 Jombati
  • 04 Carter
  • 16 Penn
  • 18 Taylor (Pack - 90' )
  • 14 Harrad (Mohamed - 72' )
  • 26 Zebroski (Duffy - 72' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Roberts
  • 07 Pack
  • 08 Deering
  • 11 McGlashan
  • 20 D'Ath
  • 09 Duffy
  • 23 Mohamed
Ref: Andy Davies
Att: 4,625

Match Stats

Shots

16 9

On target

7 5

Corners

2 4

Fouls

18 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:15 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +2:55

Adebayo Akinfenwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Steve Elliott. Direct free kick taken by Scott Brown.

89:11 Substitution

Substitution Jake Taylor goes off and Marlon Pack comes on.

90:00 +1:34

Chris Hackett produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

90:00 +1:09

Kaid Mohamed challenges Ben Tozer unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Tozer takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:48

Steve Elliott fouled by Clive Platt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

89:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny East by Kaid Mohamed. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

89:11 Substitution

Substitution Marlon Pack joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jake Taylor.

88:49

Shot by Chris Hackett from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

85:23

Kelvin Langmead concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Bennett. Scott Brown takes the free kick.

84:44

Chris Hackett crosses the ball, clearance made by Sido Jombati.

83:11

Emyr Huws fouled by Russell Penn, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

81:22

Billy Jones takes the inswinging corner, Adebayo Akinfenwa manages to make a clearance.

80:46 Substitution

Substitution Danny East on for Joe Widdowson.

79:47 Goal scored

Goal - Darryl Duffy - Northamp'n 2 - 3 Cheltenham Darryl Duffy finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Northampton 2-3 Cheltenham.

77:58

Foul by Jake Taylor on Chris Hackett, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ben Tozer.

77:15

The ball is sent over by Ben Tozer, Header on goal by Adebayo Akinfenwa from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

76:10

Clarke Carlisle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Carter. Scott Brown takes the free kick, Billy Jones takes a shot. Lee Nicholls makes a save.

75:26

Inswinging corner taken by Ben Harding, save by Scott Brown.

75:07

Volleyed right-footed shot by Adebayo Akinfenwa. Scott Brown makes a save.

73:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sido Jombati by Ben Harding. Direct free kick taken by Scott Brown.

73:22

Ben Harding takes a shot. Keith Lowe gets a block in.

72:35

Foul by Steve Elliott on Clive Platt, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

71:09 Substitution

Substitution Kaid Mohamed comes on in place of Shaun Harrad.

71:09 Substitution

Substitution Darryl Duffy is brought on as a substitute for Chris Zebroski.

71:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Harding by Russell Penn. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

70:23

Chris Zebroski is penalised for a handball. Lee Nicholls takes the free kick.

68:01 Booking

Booking Keith Lowe receives a caution.

67:55

Keith Lowe challenges Jake Robinson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Widdowson takes the direct free kick.

67:12

Chris Zebroski is caught offside. Lee Nicholls restarts play with the free kick.

66:15

Effort from the edge of the area by Ben Harding goes wide of the right-hand upright.

62:18 Substitution

Substitution Clive Platt on for Lewis Hornby.

62:18 Substitution

Substitution Ishmel Demontagnac goes off and Jake Robinson comes on.

62:18

Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges Alan Bennett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.

61:37

Chris Hackett sends in a cross, Header by Adebayo Akinfenwa from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

60:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Keith Lowe. Billy Jones restarts play with the free kick.

59:42

The referee blows for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Direct free kick taken by Scott Brown.

59:32

Kelvin Langmead fouled by Chris Zebroski, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

59:18

Darren Carter fouled by Kelvin Langmead, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.

58:55

Ishmel Demontagnac takes a shot. Steve Elliott gets a block in.

58:18

Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot.

56:55

A cross is delivered by Emyr Huws, Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save made by Scott Brown.

56:26

Foul by Steve Elliott on Adebayo Akinfenwa, free kick awarded. Ben Tozer takes the direct free kick.

55:32 Booking

Booking Joe Widdowson is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

55:15

Joe Widdowson concedes a free kick for a foul on Sido Jombati. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.

54:32

A cross is delivered by Sido Jombati.

53:02

The ball is delivered by Ben Tozer, save by Scott Brown.

49:51

Sido Jombati challenges Ben Harding unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Nicholls restarts play with the free kick.

48:30 Booking

Booking Ishmel Demontagnac booked for unsporting behaviour.

47:55

Ishmel Demontagnac challenges Russell Penn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Billy Jones takes the free kick.

47:05

Keith Lowe fouled by Adebayo Akinfenwa, the ref awards a free kick. Billy Jones takes the direct free kick.

46:34

Effort from the edge of the box by Shaun Harrad goes wide of the left-hand post.

46:20

A cross is delivered by Keith Lowe, clearance made by Ben Tozer.

45:05

Ben Tozer concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Taylor. Billy Jones takes the free kick.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:04 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:50

The ball is swung over by Joe Widdowson, Billy Jones makes a clearance.

45:00 +0:40

Chris Hackett produces a cross, Adebayo Akinfenwa has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the right of the goal.

45:00 +0:31

Joe Widdowson delivers the ball, Billy Jones makes a clearance.

44:47

Clarke Carlisle fouled by Chris Zebroski, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

44:28

Sido Jombati has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

44:12

The ball is delivered by Chris Hackett.

42:52

Centre by Ishmel Demontagnac, clearance made by Steve Elliott.

41:20

Billy Jones takes the inswinging corner, Adebayo Akinfenwa manages to make a clearance.

35:54

The assistant referee flags for offside against Shaun Harrad. Lee Nicholls restarts play with the free kick.

35:15

Foul by Ishmel Demontagnac on Russell Penn, free kick awarded. Billy Jones takes the direct free kick.

32:21

A cross is delivered by Sido Jombati, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.

31:34

Unfair challenge on Chris Zebroski by Ben Tozer results in a free kick. Billy Jones restarts play with the free kick.

30:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sido Jombati on Ishmel Demontagnac. Free kick taken by Joe Widdowson.

29:41

The official flags Russell Penn offside. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

28:19

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Billy Jones.

27:25

Assist by Billy Jones.

27:25 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Zebroski - Northamp'n 2 - 2 Cheltenham Chris Zebroski grabs a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Northampton 2-2 Cheltenham.

26:18

Clarke Carlisle challenges Chris Zebroski unfairly and gives away a free kick. Billy Jones crosses the ball,

24:10

Assist by Chris Zebroski.

24:10 Goal scored

Goal - Darren Carter - Northamp'n 2 - 1 Cheltenham Darren Carter finds the back of the net with a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Northampton 2-1 Cheltenham.

23:32

Emyr Huws produces a volleyed left-footed shot from 25 yards. Save made by Scott Brown.

22:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Bennett by Clarke Carlisle. Scott Brown takes the direct free kick.

21:10

Shot from outside the penalty box by Keith Lowe goes wide right of the goal.

18:32

Foul by Russell Penn on Ishmel Demontagnac, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Widdowson.

17:47

Chris Hackett produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.

16:50

Lewis Hornby takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

13:31

Assist on the goal came from Alan Bennett.

13:31 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Jones - Northamp'n 2 - 0 Cheltenham An own goal is scored by Billy Jones. Northampton 2-0 Cheltenham.

11:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Zebroski on Clarke Carlisle. Joe Widdowson restarts play with the free kick.

11:20

Chris Zebroski is caught offside. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

10:21

Chris Zebroski concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Widdowson. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

9:50

The ball is delivered by Chris Zebroski, clearance by Emyr Huws.

8:51

Sido Jombati produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

8:22

Billy Jones takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Emyr Huws manages to make a clearance.

6:46

Russell Penn fouled by Joe Widdowson, the ref awards a free kick. Billy Jones produces a cross, Keith Lowe takes a shot. Fantastic save by Scott Brown.

5:38

Ishmel Demontagnac decides to take a short corner.

5:27

The ball is crossed by Ben Tozer, clearance made by Steve Elliott.

3:55

Ben Tozer delivers the ball, Shot by Ishmel Demontagnac. Save made by Scott Brown.

2:24

Russell Penn fouled by Emyr Huws, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Bennett takes the direct free kick.

1:39

Emyr Huws provided the assist for the goal.

1:39 Goal scored

Goal - Adebayo Akinfenwa - Northamp'n 1 - 0 Cheltenham Adebayo Akinfenwa fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 1-0 Cheltenham.

0:36

Shaun Harrad is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Langmead takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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