Match ends, Northampton Town 2, AFC Wimbledon 0.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town2WimbledonAFC Wimbledon0
Alex Nicholls scored his first Northampton goal in two years as the Cobblers ended a four-match losing streak by beating AFC Wimbledon.
The forward badly fractured his leg while scoring against Port Vale in October 2012 but wrapped up the win after Lawson D'Ath's shot was saved.
Kaid Mohamed had put the home side ahead in the first half at Sixfields when he lashed in D'Ath's cross.
Wimbledon's best chance came when Matt Tubbs fired over from close range.
Nicholls had a six-game loan spell at Exeter earlier this season, scoring once.
Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder tells BBC Radio Northampton:
"I thought the two centre-halves were outstanding and the goalkeeper was good, he deserved the clean sheet.
"It's great for Alex Nicholls and his confidence but we've also kept Akinfenwa and Tubbs very quiet.
"I was like a caged tiger up there (Wilder was banned from the touchlines) but I took my punishment. I've made 37 phone calls this afternoon - I don't like being away from the action.
"Darren Carter and Lee Collins have sat on the bench today, and Marc Richards we're hopefully getting back next week."
AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley told BBC London 94.9:
"It's important for me to apologise to the travelling fans because that wasn't acceptable.
"We were second to everything, out-fought, out-run, we had no quality and we didn't face adversity very well.
"The disappointing thing today was we lost because the opposition's mentality was better than ours.
"We weren't good enough all over the pitch."
Line-ups
Northampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Archer
- 12Tozer
- 36Cresswell
- 17Robertson
- 33Newey
- 19D'Ath
- 32Murdoch
- 25Byrom
- 23MohamedSubstituted forLangmeadat 90+3'minutes
- 24ToneySubstituted forSinclairat 66'minutes
- 10O'TooleSubstituted forNichollsat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Duke
- 4Carter
- 5Langmead
- 6Collins
- 7Sinclair
- 14Nicholls
- 18Ravenhill
Wimbledon
Formation 4-4-2
- 20Shea
- 2FullerSubstituted forOakleyat 90+1'minutes
- 27Barrett
- 5Frampton
- 3Smith
- 7FrancombSubstituted forSutherlandat 67'minutes
- 8MooreSubstituted forAzeezat 67'minutes
- 4Bulman
- 11Rigg
- 9Tubbs
- 10Akinfenwa
Substitutes
- 6Bennett
- 14Azeez
- 17Kennedy
- 18Nicholson
- 23Oakley
- 26McDonnell
- 31Sutherland
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 4,548
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamWimbledon
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away0
- Corners
- Home3
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 2, AFC Wimbledon 0.
Goal!
Goal! Northampton Town 2, AFC Wimbledon 0. Alex Nicholls (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Kelvin Langmead replaces Kaid Mohamed.
Substitution
Substitution, AFC Wimbledon. George Oakley replaces Barry Fuller because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Adam Barrett (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
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Foul by Alex Nicholls (Northampton Town).
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Frankie Sutherland (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Dannie Bulman (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt missed. Emile Sinclair (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Lawson D'Ath (Northampton Town) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Foul by Emile Sinclair (Northampton Town).
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Barry Fuller (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Sean Rigg.
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Alex Nicholls (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Barry Fuller (AFC Wimbledon).
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Matt Tubbs (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Joel Byrom (Northampton Town).
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Attempt missed. Adebayo Akinfenwa (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
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Foul by Joel Byrom (Northampton Town).