Chris Marsh and Richard Hope both returned to the starting line up as Town took the game to their hosts in the opening minutes. With 11 minutes on the clock, Jamies Forrester began a move down the right hand side before squaring the ball to James Hunt. The former Magpie dragged the ball across goal to Marco Gabbiadini who drilled a low shot past Stauart Green in the home goal, to give the Cobblers the lead.
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Only a minute later, Gabbiadini almost doubled the tally with a curling 20 yard effort that went just wide. On 15 minutes Ian Sampson put in a brilliant challange to deny Richard Liburd at the near post, before Paul McGregor's cross was headed over the County goal by Gary Owers for a Cobblers corner.
Sampson was again on hand in the 25th minute, with a last ditch tackle on Tony Hackworth before the same County player had a shot palmed away by Keith Welch in the 33rd minute. At the other end, Gabbiadini's flick was almost met by Jamie Forrester at the far post, but the score remained 1-0 at the break.
Town began the second half as if there was no break, Sam Parkin almost doubling the lead with a shot flashing across the face of goal. Chris Marsh then challenged Paul Bolland in the Cobblers penalty area and despite home fans appeals, no penalty was given, for what looked to be a fair tackle. Keith Welch then did well to stop a shot from Michael Brough from close range.
In the 62nd minute, Town were given a golden opportunity to double their lead. Gabbiadini raced away from the home defence but was unfairly stopped in his tracks by Ian Richardson. Referee Mr Cowburn had no option but to award a penalty, but only punished Richardson with a yellow card. Jamie Forrester stepped up an smashed the ball past Garden for his 11th goal of the season.
Forrester didn't have to wait long for his 12th and it was an excact copy of the previous. Paul McGregor was upended by Nicky Fenton for a second Cobblers penalty. This time Fenton was given his marching orders, but Forrester smashed the ball home for his second and Town's third.
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Hackworth drove in a low cross in the 72nd minute which the charitable Chris Marsh headed against his own post, but the ball bounced away to safety. The home fans got more and more frustrated as County huffed and puffed, but it was the Cobblers fans who were enjoying themselves as Town struck the ball around cleanly. Paul Heffernan drove a 78th minute at Keith Welch before Gabbiadini curled a 20 yard free kick just wide in the dying minutes. The final whistle brought raptous applause from the Cobblers fans, who had witnessed another amazing result in 2002.
Cobblers Man of the Match - Ian Sampson, the pick of a brilliant Cobbler side.