Points shared as Northampton draw with struggling Notts County
Midtable Northampton shared points with struggling Notts County at Meadow Lane after a 2-2 draw, although the Cobblers again failed to beat 10 men.
Northampton had fallen behind when Mitchell Rose put the side in the relegation zone in-front just before the half hour mark.
But the away side began to see things go in their favour, as Northampton’s Daniel Powell equalised in the final minutes of the first half.
Notts County goalkeeper Ryan Schofield was sent off for fouling Powell minutes after the re-start, with Sam Hoskins’ deflected free-kick finding the back of the net.
However, Kane Hemmings immediately equalised for Notts County, and the points were duly shared.
The result sees Northampton consolidate their midtable position, with the side sitting 14th in League 2. They are 9 points off the play-offs with 5 to play, and 16 points ahead of the relegation places.
Northampton had a couple of early chances, but it was the home side who struck first. After the visitors failed to clear their lines, Rose swept the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
Powell would equalise for the away side in the final minutes of the first half, as the winger was found by a cross-shot from Hoskins and rolled the ball in.
Straight after the restart, it was Northampton who would re-take the lead as the hosts were reduced to 10. Schofield was dismissed for hauling down Powell when he was one on one, and from the eventual free-kick, a deflected effort from Hoskins found the bottom corner.
However, Northampton could not maintain their advantage for long, as straight away, Hemmings converted Jon Stead’s pass.
Northampton had late chances but couldn’t beat Schofield’s replacement Ross Fitzsimons, and left with a point that does little to keep alive their fleeting hopes of the play-offs.