Northampton Town 3 - 0 Coventry: Keshi Anderson nets second-half hat-trick as Northampton ease past Coventry

Posted Sunday, January 29, 2017 by PA

A second-half hat-trick from Keshi Anderson earned Northampton Town a much-needed 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Coventry City, who finished with 10 men.

The game was held up several times through flares being thrown on to the pitch and some Coventry supporters coming on to the playing area in protest at the club's owners. But it was the Cobblers who bagged the three vital points against the basement boys.

City received an early setback when they were reduced to 10 men as Jordan Willis was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge in the 19th minute.

Cobblers had the better chances of a poor first half, Hiram Boateng was denied by City keeper Lee Burge while Marc Richards shot wide from the edge of the box.

Callum Reilly fired wide for the visitors but Burge thwarted Luke Williams just before the break and Richards was off target with a header.

The hosts began brightly after the restart, Anderson was denied by Burge who also thwarted Neal Eardley from the edge of the box.

But Cobblers broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when a quick break ended with Richards finding Anderson in the box and he fired into the top corner.

John-Joe O'Toole was also denied by the excellent Burge as Cobblers got on top.

And, after another delay, Cobblers doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Burge tipped over a shot from Anderson. From Matt Taylor's ensuing corner, Zander Diamond set up Anderson who fired home from six yards.

Burge produce more heroics to thwart Richards while O'Toole should have done better when he fired over from a good position, but Anderson completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute when he swept home a cross from Boateng into the bottom corner.

That led to more fans and flares coming onto the pitch but the delays failed to prevent Cobblers from picking up three crucial points and left City in deep trouble.