WHAT A WAY FOR MARC TO CLINCH IT
NORTHAMPTON went back to the future in another late show as they beat Exeter with an 89th-minute Marc Richards goal.
The former Port Vale and Chesterfield striker scored with an overhead kick to settle a tight contest at Sixfields.
It came through a tactic popularised by the Cobblers during Aidy Boothroyd’s spell as manager, with defender Zander Diamond and then striker Ivan Toney flicking on a long Ben Tozer throw-in.
It is the third time Northampton have scored in the final minute in their past four games and means Exeter’s winless start to the season continues.
The Grecians were a decent force in this game, especially in the first half, but made the long trip home with nothing to show for it.
This could be a difficult season for City, whose manager Paul Tisdale’s close-season work was limited by a transfer embargo – and he continues to work under difficult financial conditions.
While Tisdale was pleased with the attitude of his players, the nature of the decisive goal disappointed him.
“We just fell short, but I’ve been really pleased with the commitment in the last couple of games,” he said.
“It was disappointing to concede so late on, we expected to have to deal with long throws from Ben Tozer at some stage in the game, but we didn’t deal with it.
“I’m desperate to get that first win, but there’s no reason to be too upset at the moment. It’s a long season.
“It was always going to be a difficult month for us, not being able to make signings, so the odds were stacked against us.
“We badly need some senior players back from injury – ones who are combative and who can add to our play, which I’m very happy with.”
That feeling of contentment is matched in the Northampton camp, for whom the win makes it eight points picked up in a tough first month of the campaign.
Assistant manager Alan Knill accepted the team were not at their best and felt the game should have been put to bed much earlier.
“We’ve got a habit of scoring goals right at the end,” he said.
“We would like it to be more comfortable but it’s about getting the result.
“That win gives us eight points for the month and, considering the opposition we’ve played, we think that’s quite a good return.
“Credit to the players. It was a tough game and, to be honest, we didn’t think we played anywhere near what we can play like in that first half.
“Exeter made it difficult for us but we have to overcome that.
“In the second half, we took the game to them with our play.
“Really, it should have been over with the amount of chances we had.
“Our tempo and our belief need to be better.
“We looked a bit like we were waiting for something to happen rather than going and making it happen.”