Report: Blackpool 0-0 Northampton Town

Blackpool played out a goalless draw at Bloomfield Road against Northampton Town in Sky Bet League One.

Neither side really got going in a non-eventful first-half, which saw both sides pick up injuries.

The Pool had opportunities to grab all three points in the second-half through Jordan Rhodes, Rob Apter and 17-year-old Terry Bondo but couldn’t find their way past Lee Burge in the Northampton goal.

The match began in a slow fashion with neither side testing the opposition’s goalkeeper until Sam Hoskins found a pocket off space in front of the Pool defence, striking a venomous shot at goal, which Richard O’Donnell palmed away to Tyler Roberts, who headed the rebound wide.

There were two stoppages of play in the first 25 minutes of the encounter, which was a non-event early on, with Jack Sowerby coming off injured for the hosts and James Husband receiving treatment.  Apter threatened to give the Pool the lead when he broke on the Cobblers in the 26^th minute, driving inside before firing low from range but his effort was easily kept out by Burge in the Northampton goal.

The Cobblers went the closest of either side a couple of moments later when a ball was cut back to Tyler Roberts, who’s low effort was saved by O’Donnell, who got down low to his right before Jordan Gabriel was fouled to ease the pressure on the Seasiders.

It was that man Roberts who threatened again for the visitors as he got on the end of a dinked ball over the top, but his first time effort drifted wide of the near post.

Seasiders striker Rhodes, who scored in the midweek draw with Harrogate Town, could have bagged his second headed goal when he was first to a Lee Evans corner from the right, but the Scotsman’s header went wide of the near post.

Apter, who was one of the liveliest players in Tangerine in the first 45, came inside once again, receiving a ball from Evans before striking from range, but his effort flew over the bar.

HT: Blackpool 0-0 Northampton Town

Kyle Joseph was forced off with an injury a few minutes after the interval, which saw youngster Bondo come on for his first appearance in Sky Bet League One after featuring in the last two Bristol Street Motors Trophy matches. 

The Pool could have went ahead just past the hour mark when Rhodes got his head on an Evans free-kick but the forward’s header was cleared by the Cobblers.

It was Rhodes who had the next chance of the encounter as substitute Bondo headed the ball down to his strike partner, who took a touch before hitting a rising effort on goal, which was tipped over the bar by Burge.

Northampton came close to taking the lead from two set piece deliveries in 78^th minute with Ben Fox being denied at the near post by O’Donnell before James Husband cleared the second opportunity when facing his own goal.

Bondo had an opportunity to crown his first league appearance with a goal when he flicked a Hayden Coulson effort towards goal, but Burge did brilliantly to tip it away.

The Seasiders looked to be building momentum late in the game as Odel Offiah combined with Bondo to slip Apter inside, who’s effort on goal went wide of the near post, with the winger claiming his shot got a nick of a retreating Cobblers’ player.  

Despite late pressure from the Seasiders the hosts had to settle for a point at Bloomfield Road.

FT: Blackpool 0-0 Northampton Town