Powerhouse striker Adebayo Akinfenwa produced a man-of-the-match display as Northampton recorded an impressive 2-0 win at Macclesfield.
Akinfenwa inspires Northampton to 2-0 success
Powerhouse striker Adebayo Akinfenwa produced a man-of-the-match display as Northampton recorded an impressive 2-0 win at Macclesfield.
Akinfenwa set up the first goal for Luke Guttridge in the 23rd minute before notching his 10th of the season with a firm header late on.
The Cobblers might have scored in the third minute when Andy Holt tested Jon Brain with a 20-yard volley.
Lee Bell then went close for Macclesfield with a curling 20-yard free-kick, but it was Northampton who took the lead when Akinfenwa laid the ball off for Guttridge, whose fierce drive deflected off Carl Tremarco to leave Jon Brain stranded.
Brain made a superb save 14 minutes later when he deflected a rising 30-yard drive from Ryan Gilligan on to the crossbar, while the home side struck the woodwork themselves 10 minutes after the interval as Sean Hessey's free-kick skimmed the bar.
However, the game was sealed in the 76th minute when Akinfenwa planted a downward header into the corner following an inch-perfect cross from Gilligan.
