Morecambe 0 : 1 Northampton Town - Toney strike gives Cobblers victory

Ivan Toney's first-half goal gave Northampton a 1-0 win over Morecambe at the Globe Arena,

The promising young striker scored the only goal of the game when he took advantage of a gift in the 33rd minute.

Northampton dominated the early stages of the game, with Toney and Ryan Watson both forcing goalkeeper Barry Roche into neat saves from long-range efforts with the game less than two minutes old.

Toney was close to turning home an excellent right-wing cross from Lawson D'Ath before Kaid Mohamed volleyed straight at Roche from six yards out when he looked set to bundle home Chris Hackett's left-wing corner.

The pressure eventually told for the Cobblers. After a deep ball into the Morecambe box was only half cleared, Roche raced from his goal to collect but got stranded and Toney headed into the empty goal from eight yards out.

Morecambe failed to force Roche's opposite number Jordan Archer into a save in the first half but dominated the possession in the second period without looking too threatening.

Their best chance fell to substitute Paul Mullin but, after a direct run on goal, he dragged his final shot wide of the right-hand post when he should have at least tested Archer.

In the final stages Archer was forced into his only save of note with a tip over from Alan Goodall's looping header but it was too little, too late from the home side, who suffered a third successive defeat.