Northampton 0-2 Cheltenham: Visitors take control in League Two play-off semi-final first leg
- Published
Charlie Raglan (left) had not scored since August before his goal
Cheltenham took control of their League Two play-off semi-final against Northampton after Charlie Raglan's header and a late strike from Conor Thomas gave them a priceless 2-0 away win in Thursday's first leg.
The Robins were boosted by an impressive goalkeeping display from Owen Evans, who kept out Cobblers midfielder Ryan Watson's low first-half penalty shortly before an unmarked Raglan glanced the visitors in front from a corner.
On-loan Wigan goalkeeper Evans then produced several more good saves as Keith Curle's side pushed for an equaliser, before Thomas slotted in a close-range rebound to double Cheltenham's advantage four minutes from time.
A small number of fans were seen trying to watch the match from a vantage point on a grass bank just outside the stadium, with no supporters allowed inside the ground on what was the first night of English Football League action since March's suspension of fixtures.
In the other semi-final first leg earlier on Thursday, hosts Colchester beat Exeter 1-0 thanks to a late free-kick from left-back Cohen Bramall, in a cagey match that was low of chances. But the game at Cobblers' PTS Academy Stadium was far more eventful.
Cheltenham, who finished fourth after the League Two table was calculated using an average points-per-game system, are now strong favourites to reach 29 June's final at Wembley, with a two-goal lead to defend in Monday's second leg in Gloucestershire.
Impressive Evans thwarts hosts
On loan Cheltenham keeper Evans has kept three clean sheets in a row
Michael Duff's men began with intensity and energy, before there was a lengthy stoppage early in the first half when assistant referee Alan Clayton appeared to pull his hamstring.
Clayton's flag was sprayed with disinfectant before fourth official Darren Drysdale replaced him as linesman, and that cleaning of the flag was one of a number of differences that highlighted how football has had to change and adapt because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the stadium eerily quiet except for the teams shouting instructions to each other.
As with Wednesday's two Premier League games and the match at Colchester, all the players and referee Marc Edwards 'took a knee' at kick-off, indicating their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
That followed a minute's applause to pay tribute to the country's key workers in the NHS, who were the centrepiece of a thank you emblem displayed on all players' shirts.
It was the Robins who were then particularly thankful to keeper Evans for his smart low stop to his right from Watson's penalty, which was awarded after Ryan Broom's swipe at Michael Harriman, and Evans would later save well from the lively James Olayinka, as well as Callum Morton and Vadaine Oliver, with the Cobblers left frustrated.
Match reaction
Northampton boss Keith Curle told BBC Radio Northampton: "Two-nil is a difficult lead to defend. That's the message to the players: score the first goal on Monday night and change the course of the game.
"Today we had a great opportunity to score the first goal. I think we had three other penalty claims and on another night, they're penalties. That can change the mentality of the game.
"Tonight, things didn't quite drop for us. Monday night, I believe they will. There are goals to be had and I think there will be more goals on Monday night."
Cheltenham manager Michael Duff: "You'd always take a 2-0 away from home in any game, but to come to a tough team like Northampton, I thought the shape of the team and resilience that they showed was magnificent.
"The ball went in to our box a lot and we stood up to be counted. Owen [Evans] stood up at a big moment in the game and did his job.
"I thought they were just excellent in the way they went about it."