Cobblers survive frantic finale to secure crucial win over high...

Kevin Nolan scored his first victory at home as Cobblers defeated promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town 3-2 at

Sixfields on Saturday, giving them a significant boost to their chances of surviving.

Town was essentially flawless for the first 70 minutes after Sam Hoskins gave them a delicious lead just after the

interval. Tom Eaves then added a second, and a fantastic team goal from Liam Shaw early in the second half gave

them a third.

From there, it should have been a canter to all three points, but Huddersfield scored twice in 11 minutes to create an

a tense end. The Cobblers needed multiple last-ditch blocks and a crucial stop from Nik Tzanev to hold onto the win.

The home side deserved it though having been brilliant for an hour, and they have now done the league double over

Huddersfield this season, and more importantly the three points – their first win at Sixfields in more than a month –

provides Nolan’s side a little bit of breathing space over the bottom four.

There’s still plenty of work to be done but more performances like this one, full of defensive organisation and hard

work and attacking flair, will go a long way to securing their League One status for another season.

Hoskins and Mitch Pinnock played at wing-back as a result of Nolan’s three substitutions and his attacking lineup

selection, which on paper paired Tom Eaves and Tariqe Fosu up front. Max Dyche was swapped out for Jordan Willis

in the back three.

Cobblers applied the first pressure, and one of their early corners almost led to an opening goal in the fifth minute

when Terry Taylor’s low cross found Eaves in the middle, but he missed the mark and Cameron McGeehan couldn’t

make a forceful shot.

With Town unable to capitalise on a promising start, it felt inevitable that the visitors, relegated from the

Championship last season, would improve and take a stranglehold on proceedings but they struggled to get going

and were limited to almost nothing in attack throughout the first 45 minutes.

The Cobblers were fighting hard and competed effectively against the high-flying opposition when they had a truly

impressive moment to grab the lead in the 32nd minute.

The ball fell to Hoskins 20 yards away after Huddersfield’s defence could only half clear it, and he made a lovely half

volley, sending a shot into the bottom corner.

Shortly after Aaron McGowan was injured, Max Dyche took his position, but the home team continued to play well

and quickly added a second goal.

With Huddersfield still leading, that created a tense finale. With eight minutes remaining, Jonathan Hogg’s

incredible volley struck the back of the net, kicking off the comeback.

Cobblers maintained their lead thanks to a fine stop from Tzanev, and the home team managed to escape a furious

flurry in the penalty area as players flung themselves at the ball.

The atmosphere surrounding Sixfields was extremely tight, and Town needed more defensive heroics in stoppage

time. Dyche made one particularly crucial block, but the final whistle brought cheers of relief and indicated that

Nolan’s team had won a crucial match.

Cobblers survive frantic finale to secure crucial win over high-flying Huddersfield in Sixfields thriller