Cobblers seal safety with stalemate
Northampton fought out a goalless draw against struggling Hereford at Edgar Street to secure their npower League Two status for next season .
It took a goal-line clearance from skipper Clarke Carlisle to hold on to the point when he cleared a low shot from Nicky Featherstone in the second half to secure the crucial point.
The Cobblers also survived a let-off in stoppage time when Featherstone rifled the ball against the post from 25 yards, but the ball rebounded to safety.
Hereford swept forward from the kick off with Tom Barkhuizen having a rising shot turned over the crossbar by visiting goalkeeper Neil Kitson.
Full-back James Chambers also drilled a 25 yard shot wide of the Cobbler's goalmouth seven minutes later.
At the other end Michael Jacobs cleared the Hereford bar from 15 yards before Bull's goalkeeper Adam Bartlett punched the ball clear under pressure from Adebayo Akinfenwa
Akinfenwa also fired inches wide in the 18th minute as the Cobblers stepped up a gear with Luke Guttridge also failing to find the target from 20 yards.
Back came Hereford with Byron Anthony heading into the Cobbler's net, but his strike was ruled out for an infringement off the ball.
Northampton, however, hit back again with both Ben Tozer and Akinfenwa both having shots cleared off the line by Hereford's defenders Will Evans and Rob Purdie before the interval.
After the restart play switched from end to end before Barkhuizen missed a guilt-edged chance to put the Bulls in front when he shot wide in the 59th minute.
But only a super save by Hereford keeper Bartlett stopped Akinfenwa putting the Cobblers in front a minute later.
Hereford responded with Nicky Featherstone bursting through the Cobblers defence but his low shot was cleared off the line by Carlisle.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG