Northampton Town 0 United 0
Many 0-0 draws away from home are rearguard actions with the team holding on for dear life come the end but this was not the case at Northampton. United took on their hosts head on, outplayed them for the first half hour and were their match, if not their superiors, for the remainder of the game. Hard work was the least the Gulls had to produce and the travelling 359 United supporters witnessed not just hard work but application, desire and commitment which if repeated again this season would surely see a collection of victories stacking up.
It was unchanged line-up for United with the eleven who started against Shrewsbury being give the opportunity to carry on where they left off at Plainmoor on Saturday. The substitute's bench also contained the same seven players who took their places at the weekend.
With the wind behind them it was the Gulls who started the match the better and a run down the left from Mustapha Carayol finished off with a decent left footed low cross nearly got Elliot Benyon an opportunity. United were looking dangerous going forward and had Mustapha Carayol a little more confidence in his left foot when put through down the left by Nicky Wroe he would have tested Steele in the Northampton goal rather than trying to lay the ball back toward his skipper on the edge of the area.
More good play by United involving some neat passing on the deck nearly provided Lee Mansell with a chance but he was forced wide after exchanging passes with Scott Rendell and he couldn't keep the ball in play but the opening quarter of an hour had been one of the Gulls better starts for a while.
United were looking sharp all over the pitch with Mark Ellis putting on a superb block on the edge of his own area and Mustapha Carayol sprinting away on the break at the other. With twenty minutes gone the home crowd were already starting to get on the backs of their team. All that was missing for United was a lead.
Mustapha Carayol tested Steele with 20 yard right foot shot as United benefited from the strong wind and their own purposeful performance so far. Once again in recent weeks Mark Ellis & Guy Branston were looking sharp, aggressive and committed and in fairness the same comments could e applied across United's line-up with 'keeper Scott Bevan largely not needed.
As the first half drew to a close the home side began to exert some pressure and a succession of corners gave the United defence with something to think about so far they had dealt with the Northampton attack very well and seen off ex-Gull Adebayo Akinfenwa who limped off just after the half hour mark to be replaced by Guinan.
Although United had soaked up some pressure toward the end of the first period they could be more than satisfied with their efforts but knew they would have to put in another big shift against the wind second half.
Half-Time: Northampton 0 United 0
United began the second half in a similar fashion to the first and after a long throw from Kevin Nicholson was partly cleared Lee Mansell struck a powerful right foot shot but it was always curling away from goal. Mark Ellis was in the wars shortly after and had to leave the pitch briefly for some attention.
Scott Bevan was finally called into action in the 50th minute when he did well to thwart McKay who had turned inside Mark Ellis and was bearing down on goal.
With the swirling wind causing problems for both teams the match was being played at a frenetic pace and Osman hit the top of crossbar for the home side with a sharp 25 yard dipping effort after United had cleared a free-kick.
United were certainly not as dominant as the hour mark approached and the conditions weren't helping them clear their lines at times because as soon as the ball went high it was immediately held up in the very strong breeze.
United were soon on top again and were harrying their hosts all over the pitch and on a slightly uneven surface they were forcing Northampton into errors that were affecting the home team confidence and that of their support.
With twenty minutes remaining Scott Rendell was booked for a tackle on McKay on the right edge of United's penalty box and from the set-piece Scott Bevan palmed away an Osman drive for a corner but still the Gulls were more than a match for their loftier placed hosts.
Gilbert tested Scott Bevan with a 25 yard shot as the match reached its final ten minutes and Beckwith was booked for a poor challenge inside the Gulls' half on Scott Rendell. The game was in the balance and United were in with a great opportunity to collect a valuable away win.
Mustapha Carayol was on the end of a number of non-decisions when he looked to have been fouled and he was still looking dangerous. Northampton substitute Herbert was booked after dumping Guy Branston into touch as United just started to crank things up again.
Guttridge curled a free-kick over and past Scott Bevan's right hand post as the minutes ticked down but both teams were looking for the win and the pace never relented. United were just a completed pass away from unlocking the home defence on many occasions and had they broke the deadlock no-one inside the ground could have argued.
Despite the conditions this was a fine display by United and a well earned and well deserved point.
Full-Time: Northampton 0 United 0
