MITCH MADE IN HEAVEN
Pinnock strike simply divine for Cobblers
MITCH PINNOCK’S opening goal for the Cobblers was Heaven sent, as you might expect from a fully-fledged Angel.
The pressing midfielder once played for Tonbridge Angels and, seven years on, the halo effect is still evident.
Pinnock was hovering in just the right place on 29 minutes to take advantage of a poor pass by Bradford’s Richie Smallwood. In he zipped to hammer a left-foot effort past keeper Harry Lewis.
Within two minutes Shaun McWilliams had notched a second and just before the hour defender Sam Sherring (inset, celebrating with Kieron Bowie) scored his first goal for the Cobblers. Andy Cook grabbed a stoppage-time consolation from the spot, taking his season’s tally to 16.
But his boss Mark Hughes had to admit: “They were better than us. We were chasing the game after their two quick-fire strikes.”
Yet another away victory has the Cobblers in third spot, five points above fellow promotion hunters Bradford, and boss Jon Brady was impressed by the collective effort. He said: “Mitch was very composed to take his goal and he took it so well. But it came from the way we pressed as a team.
“We forced the error and created the chance, and that came from the whole side pushing on.
“It was a team effort to suffocate them. There was great interchange in the build-up for the second strike, a good finish by Shaun.
“The third goal by Sam came from another press and us winning the ball again. We played some good combination football.
“It was a fine ball in and a great finish and we could have had more but for their keeper making some good saves.” Hughes now turns his attention to City’s EFL Trophy tie at Salford tomorrow. He said: “Our away form is fantastic – six wins out of seven. “Home is not so good and we have to sort that out.”