Northampton pick up point on visit to struggling Cambridge United

Northampton Town picked up an extra point towards safety as they drew 1-1 with Cambridge United.

Sam Hoskins had put the Cobblers in front during the first half, only for James Brophy’s corner to fly directly in and equalise for a host side that remain second bottom of the League 2 table.

With no winner forthcoming after that, Northampton’s point inches them closer to a third straight season in League One. Kevin Nolan’s Cobblers are seven points above the relegation zone with seven games of the season to go.

The trip to the Abbey Stadium represented a major milestone in the history of Northampton Town, who were playing in their 5,000th league game.

On a windy day in East Anglia, it was the visitors that began as the likelier side to open the scoring, albeit on a contest where both attacks were restricted in what little they could do going forward.

Eventually, Northampton opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Mitch Pinnock’s long throw wasn’t cleared by Cambridge and the ball eventually fell the way of Sam Hoskins, who dispatched a shot home.

Tyler Roberts could’ve made it 2-0 to the visitors, with the loan striker seeing one header at a long throw go over and another hit the side-netting after good set-up work by Cameron McGeehan.

Cambridge equalised within seven minutes of the restart, as Brophy’s corner ended up dipping in a way that deceived Lee Burge and snuck in at the near post, giving Brophy goals in back-to-back games.

Max Dyche and McGeehan missed Northampton’s best chances to re-take the lead in a largely slow contest, as the points wound up being shared.

The Cobblers face a quick turnaround as they chase a return to winning ways, with Rotherham United making the trip to Sixfields on Tuesday night.