Tags
Bristol Rovers, chris wilder, League 2, Northampton, northampton town, Oxford, oxford united., Sixfields, Town
Saturday 3rd May 2014 ko 15.00
League 2
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 (Marquis 29 Toney 33 Kouo-Doumbe 50)
OXFORD UNITED 1 (Williams 6) Williams sent off 19 (violent conduct)
Att 7,529 (1,358 away)
Entry £19
Programme £3
I’ve watched my team lose their league status, and its a perfectly horrible experience, and one I wouldn’t wish on any fan (well perhaps Swindon, but that’s tribal!). The Conference may well be a quasi-League 3 but the process of falling into it still hurts a lot. 6 months ago, Northampton were racing favourites to take that drop, sacked manager Aidy Boothroyd, recruited Oxford United’s Chris Wilder more here, and went into this game out of the relegation zone for the first time this year, needing a point to guarantee League football.
In contrast Oxford had been in the play-off positions virtually all season, but since Wilder’s departure form had slumped with the club destined to finish 8th whatever the result. They had nothing but pride to play for, but the Cobblers’ conundrum was as follows. If they lost and either Wycombe or Bristol Rovers won, they were down, so how the club decided to stage the game surprised me.
