CURLE’S A CUT ABOVE
Keith’s boys on the rise
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 finally won his first promotion as a boss in a stadium where the only fans were cardboard cut-outs.
Both clubs appeared desperate to boast the most famous synthetic supporters with the Cobblers’ contingent including basketball legend Shaquille O’neal while the Grecians’ cut-outs featured Exeter
born Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
But sadly for City, suffering their third play-off final defeat in four seasons, this was neither the adventure of a lifetime or paradise.
It took just 11 minutes for the Cobblers to get on the front foot.
Ryan Watson shifted Charlie 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.
And 20 minutes later Northampton were a social distance ahead as onloan West Brom forward Callum Morton, who scored twice in the play-off semi-final prodded home instinctively from six yards.
Maxted’s sprightly saves to deny
Vadaine Oliver and Goode in firsthalf stoppage time just about kept Exeter afloat.
But hopes of a Grecians fightback evaporated 14 minutes into the second period when Dean Moxey was sent off for wiping out Watson.
By the time Sam Hoskins swept home Mark Marshall’s low centre 10 minutes from time, the Cobblers’ dominant performance had been thoroughly rewarded.
And Curle’s perfect night was complete when sub Andy Williams scored with his first touch.
Morton, 20, 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 is unbelievable.”