Shrewsbury Town 1 - 2 Northampton Town - Cobblers end Shrewsbury's home run

Posted Sunday, March 01, 2015 by PA

Northampton became the first visiting team to pick up three points at the Greenhous Meadow in the league this season by beating Shrewsbury 2-1.

Goals from Chris Hackett and Joel Byrom gave the Cobblers, who were without injured top scorer Marc Richards, a notable victory over Micky Mellon's promotion chasers.

Northampton started brightly with Lawson D'Ath twice off target with shots from the edge of the box before the Cobblers were rewarded with a 20th-minute breakthrough.

D'Ath ran at the Shrewsbury defence and slipped a pass to Hackett who arrowed a fine shot from 20 yards to the far corner of the net, a finish which left goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler with no chance.

Shrewsbury picked up as the first half developed and Scott Vernon volleyed a cross from Ryan Woods narrowly over before Vernon's close range effort was straight at keeper Matt Duke.

Shrewsbury were close to an equaliser right on half time but Vernon's cross-shot just eluded James Collins with the goal gaping.

Northampton doubled their lead two minutes into the second half with Byron powering home an angled 15-yard shot from a well worked free kick.

It was the signal for Shrewsbury to push forward in numbers and they finally clawed a goal back in the 83rd minute when Mickey Demetriou headed in a Bobby Grant free kick.

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro then had a fine chance to salvage a stoppage-time point but nodded a Demetriou cross just wide as Shrewsbury suffered a second successive defeat.