Match ends, Northampton Town 1, Shrewsbury Town 0.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town1ShrewsburyShrewsbury Town0
Ryan Watson was the matchwinner as Northampton claimed three crucial points in their battle against relegation League One with a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury.
Victory, coupled with defeats for all of their relegation rivals, saw the Cobblers move up to 19th in the table and three points clear of the drop zone.
After a cagey opening of few chances, Northampton took the lead after 27 minutes when Watson ran on to Peter Kioso's low cross from the right and side-footed into the top corner from 16 yards out.
The smart finish was the Northampton top-scorer's eighth goal of the campaign in all competitions and seventh in his last 11 league games.
Sam Hoskins also went close for the hosts, while Shrewsbury's only chance fell to Harry Chapman but he headed over from eight yards.
The second half saw both teams struggle to keep hold of the ball in a scrappy contest, in which the Cobblers did enough to hold on for an important victory.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Northampton
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Mitchell
- 15Kioso
- 28Jones
- 6Horsfall
- 23MillsBooked at 53mins
- 18Morris
- 17McWilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 8Watson
- 7HoskinsBooked at 90mins
- 29Rose
- 26EdmondsonSubstituted forSheehanat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Harriman
- 5Bolger
- 10Jones
- 30Chukwuemeka
- 35Berry
- 44Sheehan
- 45Marshall
Shrewsbury
Formation 3-5-2
- 31Sarkic
- 5WilliamsSubstituted forGossat 88'minutes
- 24Ebanks-Landell
- 2Pierre
- 17Love
- 10Vela
- 8NorburnSubstituted forEdwardsat 89'minutes
- 28Davis
- 14Ogbeta
- 20MainSubstituted forPykeat 79'minutes
- 32ChapmanSubstituted forWhalleyat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Burgoyne
- 4Edwards
- 6Goss
- 7Whalley
- 9Pyke
- 12Sears
- 29Pennington
- Referee:
- Ross Joyce
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamShrewsbury
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away1
- Corners
- Home1
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 1, Shrewsbury Town 0.
Post update
Foul by Donald Love (Shrewsbury Town).
Post update
Danny Rose (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Pierre (Shrewsbury Town).
Post update
Fraser Horsfall (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Shaun McWilliams (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
David Davis (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Danny Rose (Northampton Town).
Booking
Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Shrewsbury Town).
Post update
Danny Rose (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Shrewsbury Town. David Edwards replaces Oliver Norburn.
Substitution
Substitution, Shrewsbury Town. Shaun Whalley replaces Harry Chapman.
Substitution
Substitution, Shrewsbury Town. Sean Goss replaces Ro-Shaun Williams.
Post update
Foul by Nathanael Ogbeta (Shrewsbury Town).
Post update
Peter Kioso (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Nathanael Ogbeta (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Danny Rose (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Nathanael Ogbeta (Shrewsbury Town) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
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