COBBLERS PUT THE BOOT IN
Northampton up as Grecians crushed
KEITH CURLE was the king of Wembley’s cardboard city – but nobody was there to see his finest hour as a manager.
After more than 500 games and 16 years trawling the lower divisions, Curle won his first promotion as a boss in a spookily deserted cavern where the only fans were cardboard cut-outs.
As a player, Curle won three England caps and was once the most expensive defender in Britain.
But apart from being Neil Warnock’s assistant when
QPR reached the top flight in 2011, his managerial career had always lacked a crowning glory.
Now, at last, he has a reason to celebrate. Northampton Town, nicknamed the Cobblers, are tough as old boots and Curle has led them into League One.
The Grecians’ cut-outs featured Exeter-born Coldplay front man Chris Martin. But sadly for City, suffering their third play-off final defeat in four seasons, this was neither the adventure of a lifetime nor paradise.
It took just 11 minutes for the Cobblers to get on the front foot.
Ryan Watson shifted Charlie
Watson 11, Morton 31, hoskins 80, Williams 89
Goode’s half-cleared long throw on to his left foot and smuggled his 20-yard shot beyond Jonny Maxted with the help of a telling nick off Aaron Martin.
Twenty minutes later, Northampton were a social distance ahead as on-loan West Brom forward Callum Morton, a two-goal hero in the semi-final comeback against Cheltenham, prodded home instinctively from six yards – just seconds after their playmaker Nicky Adams had limped off injured.
All hopes of an Exeter fightback evaporated 14 minutes into the second period when Dean Moxey was deservedly sent off for wiping out Watson with a spiteful challenge.
By the time Sam Hoskins swept home Mark Marshall’s low centre 10 minutes from time, the Cobblers’ performance had long been garnished by happy feet.
And Curle’s perfect night was complete when sub Andy Williams scored with his first touch.
Morton said: “It couldn’t have gone any better. We have played out of our skin and now we are in League One. To get three goals in these games on a personal note is unbelievable.”
60%
40%
EXETER: Maxted 6, Sweeney 6 (Dickenson 82), Martin 5, Moxey 4, Williams 7, Taylor 5, Atangana 5 (Sparkes 61, 5), Richardson 5 (Parkes 52, 5), Law 6, Bowman 5, Fisher 5 (Collins 52, 5) NORTHAMPTON: Arnold 6, Goode 7, Turnbull 7, Wharton 7, Harriman 6, Mccormack 7 (Olayinka 74, 7), Watson 7 (Anderson 88), Adams 6 (Marshall 31, 7), Hoskins 7, Oliver 7 (Smith 75, 7), MOTM Morton 8 (Williams 88)
REFEREE: Michael Salisbury