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.