Morton on target as Northampton take points at Macclesfield

Posted Sunday, February 02, 2020 by PA

Callum Morton’s goal kept Northampton’s bid for promotion on track as they won 1-0 at Macclesfield.

A scrappy goal from the West Brom loanee typified a dour game but it was enough to give the visitors three points that keep them firmly in the play-off picture.

Northampton were the dominant side but struggled to create many clear-cut chances, the closest they came to a goal in the first half being Sam Hoskins’ effort, hit straight at Macc keeper Jonathan Mitchell.

The best chance of the first period went Macclesfield’s way. Ben Stephens’ cross fell to Connor Kirby and his fierce hit beat David Cornell but Cobblers captain Charlie Goode was in the right place to hack it off the line.

The game’s only goal came just before the hour mark. Goode climbed highest to get to Nicky Adams’ corner and his header dropped kindly for Morton, on his first start for the club, to force in at point-blank range.

Although Macclesfield’s Arthur Gnahoua brought a save out of Cornell soon after, the hosts rarely looked like salvaging a point after that and fell to only their second home league defeat of the season.