Northampton Town 3 Bury 2: JON Cartledge would have preferred his first senior goal to have come in a winning team performance.
But Cartledge will surely get more opportunities to score further goals in a Shakers shirt.
The Birmingham-born youngster is still uncertain of his future but it seems likely he will be given a new deal in the next few weeks.
Cartledge, so close against Bristol Rovers the previous Saturday, made his mark after 10 minutes of a barnstorming match at the Sixfields Stadium.
But he and his colleagues eventually finished up on the losing side as the Cobblers boosted their chances of a play-off place.
"It would have been better had I scored and it meant something," agreed Cartledge.
"But I'm just glad to get an opportunity in the first team as are the other youngsters in the team."
However's it's taking a while for the lessons to sink in. For a third
successive away game Bury took the lead but were unable to claim maximum points.
David Nugent's third of the campaign made it 2-1 for the visitors at
half-time. But Northampton, despite being reduced to 10 men early in the second half, hit back to register a 3-2 win.
"The gaffer said to us at half-time not to switch off after what happened at Yeovil," added Cartledge.
"We knew they were going to come out all guns blazing. And to be honest when they had the man sent-off, the crowd got behind them and they made a bit more effort."
Eric Sabin's dismissal for two bookable offences after 54 minutes certainly ignited the Town players and supporters.
Within six minutes Marc Richards brought Northampton level for a second time and 16 minutes from the end, substitute Derek Asamoah smashed home the winner.
Despite the defeat Cartledge's goal was some consolation. "It was a great delivery from Tom Kennedy and I knew the ball was coming my way.
"I used to play up front when I was 11 or 12 and I usually get a goal or two in training. But to finally score in the first team is brilliant."
Nugent too is currently deadly in front of goal. But he gave an eye catching display as well as his 45th minute strike.
Indeed, Bury might have snatched a draw but for a late miss by Lee Unsworth following Simon Whaley's cross.
It wasn't Unsworth's day as he had an unwanted touch that led to Asamoah lifting Northampton into the top seven.
"We showed just how much we miss the experience of Dave Challinor," said manager Graham Barrow.
"There was a bit of bad luck with the final goal but it was everything that led upto it, that disappointed me."
Cartledge's goal was cancelled out by Martin Smith and Sabin had another goal chalked off for handball before Nugent shot Bury back in front.
It should have been the platform for three points but an inability to kill off the opposition again, resulted in more away day disappointment.
Northampton:
Harper, Westwood, Low, Trollope, Sampson, Willmotts, Carruthers, Richards,
Smith, Hargreaves, Sabin; subs not used: Chambers, Reeves.
Bury:
Garner 7, Unsworth 5, Cartledge 6, Woodthorpe 6, Barrass 6, Whaley 6, Flitcroft 6 (Singh 80), O'Shaughnessy 6 (Dunfield 64), Kennedy 6, Nugent 8, Porter 5 (O'Neill 75); subs not used: Duxbury, Solly.
Referee: Trevor Parkes
Attendance: 6179
Substitutes:
Northampton: Asamoah for Carruthers (46),Taylor for Richards (80), Chambers
for Low (88)
Bury: Porter for O'Neill (75), Dunfield for O'Shaughnessy (64), Singh for
Flitcroft (80)
Goals:
Northampton: Smith (41), Richards (60), Asamoah (74)
Bury: Cartledge (10), Nugent (45)
Bookings:
Northampton: Sabin (45), Willmott (64)
Bury: Unsworth (23), Flitcroft (29), O'Shaughnessy (57), Barrass (59)
Sent-off:
Northampton: Sabin (54)
8 Shots on 3
4 Shots off 2
3 Corners 2
8 Free kicks 13
Referee: Trevor Parkes (West Midlands)
Attendance: 6179
Shakers man of the match: David Nugent.
ends.. To: Sports Desk
From: Trevor Baxter (Lancaster and Crowther)-07768 846839
Northampton Town 3 Bury 2
Jon Cartledge would have preferred his first senior goal to have come in a
winning team performance.
But Cartledge will surely get more opportunities to score further goals in a
Shakers shirt.
The Birmingham born youngster is still uncertain of his future but it seems
likely he will be given a new deal in the next few weeks.
Cartledge, so close against Bristol Rovers the previous Saturday, made his
mark after 10 minutes of a barnstorming match at the Sixfields Stadium.
But he and his colleagues eventually finished up on the losing side as the
Cobblers boosted their chances of a play-off place.
"It would have been better had I scored and it meant something," agreed
Cartledge.
"But I'm just glad to get an opportunity in the first team as are the other
youngsters in the team.
"We all want to learn and what better place to learn."
However's it's taking a while for the lessons to sink in. For a third
successive away game Bury took the lead but were unable to claim maximum
points.
David Nugent's third of the campaign made it 2-1 for the visitors at
half-time. But Northampton, despite being reduced to 10 men early in the
second half, hit back to register a 3-2 win.
"The gaffer said to us at half-time not to switch off after what happened at
Yeovil," added Cartledge.
"We knew they were going to come out all guns blazing. And to be honest when
they had the man sent-off, the crowd got behind them and they made a bit
more effort."
Eric Sabin's dismissal for two bookable offences after 54 minutes certainly
ignited the Town players and supporters.
Within six minutes Marc Richards brought Northampton level for a second time
and 16 minutes from the end, substitute Derek Asamoah smashed home the
winner.
Despite the defeat Cartledge's goal was some consolation. "It was a great
delivery from Tom Kennedy and I knew the ball was coming my way.
"I used to play up front when I was 11 or 12 and I usually get a goal or two
in training. But to finally score in the first team is brilliant."
Nugent too is currently deadly in front of goal. But he gave an eye catching
display as well as his 45th minute strike.
Indeed, Bury might have snatched a draw but for a late miss by Lee Unsworth
following Simon Whaley's cross.
It wasn't Unsworth's day as he had an unwanted touch that led to Asamoah
lifting Northampton into the top seven.
"We showed just how much we miss the experience of Dave Challinor," said
manager Graham Barrow.
"There was a bit of bad luck with the final goal but it was everything that
led upto it, that disappointed me.
"We had chances to make it 3-3 but I wouldn't have been happy with 3-3 after
our performance.
"My main concern is our display when we took the lead. It was an exciting
game for the spectators but not for managers and coaches," added Barrow.
"Northampton had a lot to play for and it showed. We needed to let the game
peter out but instead we kept putting coal on the fire by giving away free
kicks and corners."
Northampton:
Harper, Westwood, Low, Trollope, Sampson, Willmotts, Carruthers, Richards,
Smith, Hargreaves, Sabin; subs not used: Chambers, Reeves.
Bury:
Garner 7, Unsworth 5, Cartledge 6, Woodthorpe 6, Barrass 6, Whaley 6,
Flitcroft 6, O'Shaughnessy 6, Kennedy 6, Nugent 8, Porter 5; subs not used:
Duxbury, Solly.
Substitutes:
Northampton: Asamoah for Carruthers (46),Taylor for Richards (80), Chambers
for Low (88)
Bury: Porter for O'Neill (75), Dunfield for O'Shaughnessy (64), Singh for
Flitcroft (80)
Goals:
Northampton: Smith (41), Richards (60), Asamoah (74)
Bury: Cartledge (10), Nugent (45)
Bookings:
Northampton: Sabin (45)
Bury: Unsworth (23), Flitcroft (29), O'Shaughnessy (57), Barrass (59)
Sent-off:
Northampton: Sabin (54)
8 Shots on 3
4 Shots off 2
3 Corners 2
8 Free kicks 13
Referee: Trevor Parkes (West Midlands)
Attendance: 6179
Shakers man of the match: David Nugent.
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