Northamptonshire batsman Stephen Peters has been rewarded for his service to the club with a benefit season in 2013.

The former Essex and Worcestershire player, who was also an Under-19 World Cup winner in a side also containing Graeme Swann and Richard Logan, arrived at Wantage Road in 2006 since when he has played in 108 first-class matches for the County scoring over 7000 runs at an average of 40.9.

Peters said: “I’m absolutely delighted and it’s a very proud moment for me.

“All my thanks go to Northants Cricket for awarding me this great honour for 2013.

“Hopefully, everyone can see the hard work I’ve put in and hopefully I have many more years with the County ahead of me.

“I’d love to be part of a team that wins some silverware too.

“Overall, I’m chuffed to bits. Next year is going to a good one.

“It will be a lot of hard work but I hope to put on some great events everyone can enjoy.”

Northants Cricket chief executive David Smith added: “I am personally delighted that Stephen has been awarded a much-deserved benefit year in 2013.

“This reflects his outstanding contribution to the game since he made his first-class debut in 1996.”

“He is a very popular member of the dressing-room and has a big contribution to make towards Northants cricket over the coming years.”

Charlie Olive scored twice as Daventry Town Danes won an eight-goal thriller against Blisworth in the Under Nine Premier Division.

Also on target for Dav as they edged home 5-3 were Harvey Walker, Ciaran Allibone and Oliver Edginton

One goal was enough for Daventry Town Saxons in the Under B Division, with Cameron Waldock on target in their 1-0 win over Towcester Foxes.

Lewis Allford scored for Daventry Saxons in the Under 11 B section, but they lost 3-1 to Blisworth Greens, while in the Under 11 Cup, Luke Goodwin was Kislingbury Reds’ two-goal star in their 2-0 win over Kingsthorpe Jets.

In the Under 11 B Division, Jordan Fitzhugh led the way with two goals as Harpole saw off Crick Athletic Colts 5-0.

Also on the the mark for the villagers were Owen Heasman, Thomas Kirk and Oliver Murphy.

Goal machine Fionn Doherty was at it again for Drayton Grange, scoring two more as FFA were beaten 4-1 in the Under 12 C Division, with Riley Smith and Jack Vaughan completing the scoring.

Fernando Karichi also scored twice and was named man of the match for Billing United Under-13s, but he ended up on the losing side as Parklands Tigers completed a 5-2 win in the NFA County Cup.

To get your team’s scorers in the Chron’s results special every week, simply email the details to matchfacts@northantsnews.co.uk

RESULTS, TABLES

UNDER NINE PREM

Brixworth Pumas 4 Falcons Blue 2

Bugbrooke Yellow 2 Grange Park Yellow 3

Daventry Town Danes 5 Blisworth 3

Charlie Olive 2, Harvey Walker, Ciaran Allibone, 
Oliver Edginton/

Welland Valley White 1 Welland Valley Blue 7

Wootton St George 1 Moulton Fields 0

P W D L Pt

Grange Park Yellow 5 4 0 1 12

Welland Valley Blue 5 4 0 1 12

Bugbrooke Yellow 5 4 0 1 12

Brixworth Pumas 5 3 0 2 9

Moulton Fields 5 2 0 3 6

Blisworth 5 2 0 3 6

Falcons Blue 5 2 0 3 6

Wootton St George 5 2 0 3 6

Daventry Town Danes 5 1 0 4 3

Welland Valley White 5 1 0 4 3

UNDER NINE A

Billing United Red 6 Soccer Stars 1

Falcons Stripes 3 Bugbrooke Blue 2

Flore Park Rovers 2 Towcester Tigers 1

Parklands Tigers Black 3 Long Buckby 2

Welland Valley Yellow 4 West Haddon Dynamos 1

P W D L Pt

Falcons Stripes 5 5 0 0 15

Billing United Red 5 4 1 0 13

Welland Valley Yellow 5 4 0 1 12

Flore Park Rovers 5 3 0 2 9

West Haddon Dynamos 5 2 0 3 6

Soccer Stars 5 2 0 3 6

Towcester Town Tigers 5 1 1 3 4

Bugbrooke Blue 5 1 1 3 4

Parklands Tigers Black 5 1 0 4 3

Long Buckby Jnrs 5 0 1 4 1

UNDER NINE B

Daventry Town Vikings 1 Kingsthorpe Raptors 2

Delapre Dragons 6 Billing United Blue 0

Grange Park Blue 3 Hackleton Harriers 0

Parklands Tigers Amber 0 Weedon Juniors 7

P W D L Pt

Delapre Dragons Lightning 5 5 0 0 15

Kingsthorpe Jets Raptors 5 5 0 0 15

Weedon Juniors 5 4 0 1 12

Grange Park Blue 5 3 1 1 10

Hackleton Harriers White 5 3 0 2 9

Kislingbury Youth 4 1 0 3 3

Brixworth Panthers 4 0 3 1 3

Parklands Tigers Amber 5 0 1 4 1

Billing United Blue 5 0 1 4 1

Daventry Town 5 0 0 5 0

UNDER NINE C

Delapre Thunder 4 Grendon Sapphires 3

Obelisk Utd 2 Ffa 3

Thorplands - Club 81 2 Drayton Grange Blades 2

P W D L Pt

Ffa 5 4 1 0 13

Thorplands - Club 81 5 3 2 0 11

Obelisk Utd 4 3 0 1 9

Delapre Dragons Thunder 5 3 0 2 9

Drayton Grange Blades 4 1 2 1 5

Moulton Magpies 4 1 1 2 4

Kingsthorpe Jets Tomcats 3 0 2 1 2

Grange Park Green 4 0 0 4 0

Grendon Sapphires 4 0 0 4 0

UNDER 10 PREM

Bugbrooke Blue 2 Moulton Magpies 1

Hackleton Harriers Red 1 Gregory Celtic 3

Ise Lodge 7 Grange Park Yellow 1

Parklands Amber 2 Hackleton Blue 0

Ffa 0 Roade Juniors 1

P W D L Pt

Ise Lodge 5 5 0 0 15

Parklands Tigers Amber 5 4 0 1 12

Soccer Stars 5 3 0 2 9

Hackleton Harriers Blue 5 3 0 2 9

Gregory Celtic 5 2 1 2 7

Bugbrooke Blue 5 2 1 2 7

Moulton Magpies Black 5 2 0 3 6

Hackleton Harriers Red 5 2 0 3 6

Grange Park Yellow 5 1 0 4 3

Woodford Utd Blue 5 0 0 5 0

UNDER 10A

Grange Park Blue 5 Kingsthorpe Typhoons 0

Thorplands Utd 5 Wooldale Blue 1

Welland Valley Blue 0 Rugby Ajax 0

Soccer Stars 1 Woodford Utd Blue 0

P W D L Pt

Roade Juniors 4 4 0 0 12

Rugby Ajax 5 3 2 0 11

Grange Park Blue 5 3 0 2 9

Thorplands Utd 5 3 0 2 9

Welland Valley Blue 4 2 1 1 7

Falcons Blue 4 1 0 3 3

Kingsthorpe Jets Typhoons 4 1 0 3 3

Ffa 5 1 0 4 3

Wooldale Blue 10 4 0 1 3 1

UNDER 10B

Brixworth Panthers 2 Drayton Blades 1

Daventry Town Saxons 1 Towcester Foxes 0

Cameron Waldock/

Delapre Diamonds 4 Blisworth 1

P W D L Pt

Daventry Town Saxons 5 5 0 0 15

Brixworth Panthers 4 3 0 1 9

Drayton Grange Blades 5 3 0 2 9

Delapre Dragons Diamonds 5 3 0 2 9

Moulton Magpies White 3 2 0 1 6

Bugbrooke Yellow 4 2 0 2 6

Blisworth 4 1 0 3 3

Towcester Town Foxes 4 0 0 4 0

Woodford Utd Red 4 0 0 4 0

UNDER 10C

303 Polish 5 Daventry Town Vikings 0

Heyford Raiders 8 Towcester Tigers 0

Welland Valley Yellow 5 Parklands Tigers Black 3

P W D L Pt

303 Polish 5 5 0 0 15

Heyford Athletic Raiders 4 3 0 1 9

Bilton Ajax 4 2 1 1 7

Towcester Town Tigers 5 2 1 2 7

Welland Valley Yellow 5 2 1 2 7

Crick Colts 4 1 2 1 5

Daventry Town Vikings 4 1 1 2 4

Welford Victoria 3 0 0 3 0

Parklands Tigers Black 4 0 0 4 0

UNDER 10D

Delapre Dazzlers 3 Billing United 3

Kingsthorpe Buccs 4 Brixworth Pumas 0

Parklands Stripes 4 Grendon Sapphires 1

Haddon Superstars 1 Long Buckby Stags 4

P W D L Pt

Kingsthorpe Jets Bucceneers 5 4 0 1 12

Brixworth Pumas 4 2 1 1 7

Billing United 4 2 1 1 7

Long Buckby Stags 3 2 0 1 6

Grendon Sapphires 4 2 0 2 6

Delapre Dragons Dazzlers 4 1 1 2 4

Parklands Tigers Stripes 4 1 1 2 4

Heyford Athletic Rockets 4 1 0 3 3

West Haddon Superstars 4 1 0 3 3

UNDER 11A

P W D L Pt

Moulton Fields Mighties 5 5 0 0 15

Hackleton Harriers F C 5 5 0 0 15

Kislingbury Youth Blue 5 5 0 0 15

Roade Juniors F C 4 3 0 1 9

Crick Colts Comets 4 2 0 2 6

Welland Valley Blue 5 2 0 3 6

Drayton Grange Blades 5 1 0 4 3

Moulton Fields Diamonds 5 1 0 4 3

Falcons 5 1 0 4 3

Moulton Magpies 4 1 0 3 3

Towcester Town F.C Foxes 5 0 0 5 0

UNDER 11B

Blisworth Green 3 Daventry Saxons 1

/Lewis Allford

West Haddon 0 Grange Park Rangers 7

Woodford Colts 4 Wooldale 3

P W D L Pt

Blisworth Youth Green 6 5 0 1 15

Gregory Celtic 6 4 1 1 13

Grange Park Rangers Blue 6 4 0 2 12

Daventry Town F C Saxons 6 4 0 2 12

Kingsthorpe Jets Vulcans 4 3 0 1 9

Woodford United Colts 6 2 2 2 8

Long Buckby Juniors Afc Stags 5 2 1 2 7

Bugbrooke St Michaels 5 2 0 3 6

Wooldale Fc 7 2 0 5 6

Irchester Romans Youth F C 4 0 0 4 0

West Haddon Jfc 5 0 0 5 0

UNDER 11C

Billing United 2 Thorplands - Club 81 2

Bilton Ajax 11 Grange Park Yellow 0

P W D L Pt

Brixworth Juniors 5 5 0 0 15

Bilton Ajax F. C 6 5 0 1 15

Kislingbury Youth Red 6 5 0 1 15

Billing United 7 3 2 2 11

Thorplands - Club 81 White 6 3 1 2 10

Byfield Tigers 6 3 0 3 9

Drayton Grange F.C. Colts 5 2 2 1 8

Towcester Town F.C Tigers 6 2 1 3 7

Woodford United Juniors 5 1 1 3 4

Daventry Town F C Vikings 6 1 1 4 4

Blisworth Youth Yellow 5 1 0 4 3

Grange Park Rangers Yellow 7 0 0 7 0

UNDER 11D

Eastern Eagles 0 ON Chenecks 9

P W D L Pt

O N Chenecks 5 4 1 0 13

Wootton St George F C 4 4 0 0 12

Kislingbury Youth Black 4 3 1 0 10

Welland Valley Yellow 4 2 2 0 8

Ffa 5 2 1 2 7

Eastern Eagles F C 4 1 1 2 4

Kingsthorpe Jets Hunters 5 1 1 3 4

Thorplands - Club 81 Red 4 1 0 3 3

Parklands Tigers 5 1 0 4 3

Crick Athletic Colts Crusaders 3 1 0 2 3

Long Buckby Juniors Afc Bucks 5 0 1 4 1

UNDER 11 CUP

Kisilngbury Reds 2 Kingsthorpe Jets 0

Luke Goodwin 2/

UNDER 12A

Daventry Vikings 2 Blisworth Yellow 1

Grange Park Yellow 4 Towcester Town 1

Gregory Celtic White 4 Soccer Stars 4

Hackleton Harriers 7 Guilsborough 3

Moulton Magpies 2 Gregory Celtic Green 3

P W D L Pt

Grange Park Rangers Yellow 6 6 0 0 18

Gregory Celtic White 7 5 2 0 17

Bugbrooke St Michaels 5 5 0 0 15

Hackleton Harriers F C 6 4 0 2 12

Soccer Stars 5 3 1 1 10

Guilsborough Fc 7 2 0 5 6

Moulton Magpies 5 2 0 3 6

Gregory Celtic Green 6 1 1 4 4

Towcester Town F.C 6 1 0 5 3

Daventry Town F C Vikings 5 1 0 4 3

Blisworth Youth Yellow 6 0 0 6 0

UNDER 12B

Crick Athletic Colts 0 Harpole 5

/Jordan Fitzhugh 2,Owen Heasman,Thomas Kirk,
Oliver Murphy

Obelisk Utd 2 Parklands Tigers Black 1

Parklands Ambers 1 Brixworth Juniors 2

Thorplands - Club 81 4 Gregory Celtic Emeralds 4

Welland Valley 1 Irchester Romans 1

Wootton St George 2 Kingsthorpe Jets 2

P W D L Pt

Harpole F C 6 5 1 0 16

Crick Athletic Colts 6 4 1 1 13

Brixworth Juniors 6 4 0 2 12

Parklands Tigers Ambers 6 4 0 2 12

Wootton St George F C 6 3 2 1 11

Parklands Tigers Black 6 3 1 2 10

Welland Valley 6 3 1 2 10

Irchester Romans Youth F C 6 1 2 3 5

Gregory Celtic Emeralds 6 1 1 4 4

Thorplands - Club 81 6 1 1 4 4

Obelisk Utd 6 1 1 4 4

Kingsthorpe Jets Tornados 6 0 1 5 1

UNDER 12C

Billing United 5 Daventry Saxons 1

Blisworth Green 1 Falcons 1

Sam Hughes Appleton/

Eastern Eagles 3 Bilton Ajax 4

Ffa 1 Drayton Grange 4

/Fionn Doherty 2, Riley Smith, Jack Vaughan

Long Buckby Juniors 4 Grange Park Blue 2

P W D L Pt

Daventry Town F C Saxons 6 5 0 1 15

Billing United 5 4 1 0 13

Falcons 6 4 1 1 13

Blisworth Youth Green 5 3 2 0 11

West Haddon Jfc 6 3 0 3 9

Long Buckby Juniors Afc 5 2 2 1 8

Drayton Grange F.C. 6 2 1 3 7

Bilton Ajax F. C 6 2 1 3 7

Grange Park Rangers Blue 6 2 0 4 6

Eastern Eagles F C 5 0 0 5 0

Ffa 6 0 0 6 0

UNDER 13A

P W D L Pt

Moulton Magpies 4 3 1 0 10

Roade Juniors F C 4 3 1 0 10

Gregory Celtic 4 3 1 0 10

Flore Park Rovers 4 3 0 1 9

Bugbrooke St Michaels 4 2 1 1 7

Grange Park Rangers 4 2 0 2 6

Soccer Stars 4 1 1 2 4

Moulton Fields 5 1 1 3 4

Welland Valley 5 1 0 4 3

Wootton St George F C 5 1 0 4 3

Drayton Grange F.C.U13 5 1 0 4 3

UNDER 13B

Brixworth Juniors 4 Towcester Town 1

Hackleton Harriers 1 ON Chenecks 4

P W D L Pt

O N Chenecks 8 7 1 0 22

Falcons White 7 6 0 1 18

Bilton Ajax FC 6 5 1 0 16

Falcons Stripes 6 4 1 1 13

Towcester Town F.C 7 4 0 3 12

Wootton Field Colts 6 3 1 2 10

Parklands Tigers Amber 6 3 0 3 9

Brixworth Juniors 7 3 0 4 9

Billing United 6 2 0 4 6

Woodford United 6 2 0 4 6

Parklands Tigers Stripes 6 2 0 4 6

Hackleton Harriers F C 7 1 0 6 3

Crick Athletic Colts 6 1 0 5 3

Long Buckby Juniors Afc 6 0 0 6 0

UNDER 13 COUNTY CUP

Parklands Tigers 5 Biling United 2

/Fernando Karichi 2

UNDER 14A

Billing United 1 Drayton Grange 1

Brixworth Juniors 2 ON Chenecks 2

Eastern Eagles 1 Towcester Town 2

Ise Lodge Youth 4 Grange Park Rangers 2

Welland Valley 3 Moulton Magpies 1

P W D L Pt

ON Chenecks 6 4 2 0 14

Ise Lodge Youth F C 5 4 1 0 13

Parklands Tigers 5 4 0 1 12

Grange Park Rangers 6 4 0 2 12

Billing United 5 2 2 1 8

Drayton Grange FC. 6 2 1 3 7

Moulton Magpies 6 2 0 4 6

Brixworth Juniors 5 1 2 2 5

Towcester Town F.C 6 1 0 5 3

Welland Valley 5 1 0 4 3

Eastern Eagles F C 5 1 0 4 3

UNDER 14B

Blisworth Youth 2 Wootton St George 4

Earls Barton United 2 Obelisk Utd 0

Gregory Celtic White 5 Kingsthorpe Lightning 1

Kingsthorpe Hornets 3 Daventry Town 1

Naseby Wanderers 11 Bilton Ajax 0

P W D L Pt

Gregory Celtic White 7 6 1 0 19

Earls Barton United 7 5 1 1 16

Naseby Wanderers 6 5 0 1 15

Obelisk Utd 7 4 1 2 13

Kingsthorpe Jets Hornets 7 4 1 2 13

Falcons 5 4 0 1 12

Kingsthorpe Jets Lightning 5 3 0 2 9

Wootton St George F C 5 3 0 2 9

Bugbrooke St Michaels 6 1 0 5 3

Daventry Town F C 7 1 0 6 3

Blisworth Youth 6 0 0 6 0

Bilton Ajax F. C 8 0 0 8 0

UNDER 15A

P W D L Pt

Parklands Tigers Amber 6 5 0 1 15

Gregory Celtic 6 4 1 1 13

Falcons Blue 6 4 1 1 13

Drayton Grange F.C. 6 3 3 0 12

Woodford United 6 3 2 1 11

Heyford Athletic F C 6 2 0 4 6

Brixworth Juniors 6 2 0 4 6

O N Chenecks 6 2 0 4 6

Wootton St George F C 6 1 1 4 4

Crick Athletic Colts 6 0 0 6 0

UNDER 15B

Billing United 3 Towcester Town 4

Hackleton Harriers 6 Spratton Youth 1

P W D L Pt

Falcons Stripes 6 6 0 0 18

Hackleton Harriers F C 7 5 1 1 16

Wooldale F.C 6 4 2 0 14

Billing United 7 4 1 2 13

Bilton Ajax F. C 6 4 1 1 13

Towcester Town 7 4 0 3 12

Phoenix Rangers 6 2 1 3 7

Spratton Youth 7 2 0 5 6

Irchester Romans Youth 6 2 0 4 6

Parklands Tigers Black 6 1 0 5 3

Moulton Fields 6 0 1 5 1

Thorplands - Club 81 6 0 1 5 1

UNDER 16A

Billing United 1 Bugbrooke 5

Brixworth Juniors 3 Weedon Juniors 2

Harpole 8 Kingsthorpe Jets 0

Soccer Stars 10 Towcester Town 0

P W D L Pt

Bugbrooke St Michaels 6 5 0 1 15

Soccer Stars 5 4 0 1 12

Harpole F C 5 3 1 1 10

Falcons 5 3 1 1 10

Towcester Town F.C 6 3 1 2 10

Weedon Juniors 6 1 1 4 4

Brixworth Juniors 5 1 0 4 3

Billing United 5 0 2 3 2

Kingsthorpe Jets 5 0 2 3 2

UNDER 16B

Black Panthers 1 Wooldale 10

Flore Park Rovers 2 Bilton Ajax 1

Priors Marston 0 Gregory Celtic 3

Wootton St George 1 Drayton Grange 3

P W D L Pt

Drayton Grange FC 6 5 1 0 16

Wooldale F.C 6 5 0 1 15

Gregory Celtic 6 4 1 1 13

Wootton St George F C 5 3 0 2 9

Flore Park Rovers 6 2 1 3 7

Priors Marston 5 1 1 3 4

Bilton Ajax F. C 6 1 0 5 3

Black Panthers 6 0 0 6 0

UNDER 18 BLUE

P W D L Pt

Moulton Magpies 6 5 0 1 15

Billing United 5 4 1 0 13

Bilton Ajax FC White 6 4 0 2 12

Afc Rushden & Diamonds 5 3 2 0 11

Brixworth Juniors 6 3 0 3 9

Daventry Town FC 5 2 0 3 6

Moulton Fields 5 2 0 3 6

Cold Ashby 6 1 1 4 4

Phoenix Rangers 4 1 0 3 3

Lawford United 6 0 0 6 0

UNDER 18 BLACK

P W D L Pt

Heyford Athletic F C 6 5 1 0 16

Long Buckby Juniors Afc 6 4 2 0 14

Gregory Celtic 5 4 0 1 12

Obelisk Utd 6 4 0 2 12

Bilton Ajax F. C Red 6 3 1 2 10

Drayton Grange F.C. 6 3 0 3 9

Mavericks(Afc) 6 2 0 4 6

Black Panthers 5 1 0 4 3

Woodford United 5 0 0 5 0

Earls Barton United 5 0 0 5 0

Despite coming away with a losing bonus point from France on Friday night, Saints are really going to be up against it to make it through to the quarter-final stages of this season’s Heineken cup.

I cannot see them getting much more than five points in total from their two games against Ulster, and by the time Ulster play Castres again I think the French side will be out of the contest. I predict it will end up being a comfortable win for them.

Saints were really up against it from the off due to the short turnaround week, and with the damp conditions in Toulouse it really did favour the home team and their heavyweight pack.

Saints would have been hoping for dry conditions to really to move the juggernaught Castres forward pack around, who to me really did look like they could with spending a little more time on their fitness! Saints head of conditioning Nick Johnson would have a field day in the gym with the shape of most Castres forwards - and some of their backs saying that!

I distinctly remember a few years ago when the French players first started to come and play in the Premiership in large numbers, they were always shocked by the levels of fitness expected on this side of the channel. It was not unusual to hear stories of our English players going the other way being equally amazed by the French relaxed attitude to work in the gym!

Castres look like a team from an earlier French era which amused me watching them, but that aside their big forwards pushed Saints around for much of Friday night’s encounter and revelled in the wet conditions, so perhaps there is still a hope for an old-school style team in the modern game.

It is fair to say referee Allain Rolland does not seem to be a fan of the Saints.

Certainly to the naked eye he penalised Northampton off the park for most of the first half. There has been a lot of moaning and whingeing about Rolland’s performance, but I have to say in most respects he was right to penalise the Saints. I went through the video afterwards and looked at all his calls, and in reality Saints need look no further than the mirror when analysing what went wrong. To blame Rolland would definitely be deluding oneself.

It was an evening for some patience, pragmatism and a spot-on accurate kick-and-chase game, and in all those areas Saints were very much second best to a simple but effective Castres game plan.

Having said all of that, Saints still got themselves into a position where they could have got more than a losing bonus point in the second half, but again a lack of accuracy and critically patience in the final third let them down. I thought by the end of the encounter Castres were hanging on somewhat – not only down to the pressure building from the Saints, but also from a rapidly fading Castres team who clearly were well behind Northampton in the fitness area of the game.

SAINTS FACE BIG TEST AGAINST SARACENS

This weekend will see Saints go into their first big Premiership test of the season with Saracens’ visit to the Gardens.

Sarries have been really impressive over the first two weekends of European competition.

A few weeks ago I was critical of their restrictive game plan, but the freedom of Europe has truly allowed them to express themselves. I think it will be an uncomfortable return to the Gardens for Chris Ashton, I am not certain he will get the warm response from the Saints faithful that other returning players have been afforded, some people will find it hard to forget what happened.

Ashton aside, I am really concerned about this weekend.

I think Sarries are hitting some form and Saints still look like they are still struggling in some areas. Their usually rock-solid set-piece has been wobbling; defensively they have looked vulnerable on occasions and have leaked far too many soft points both in Europe and the Premiership games. Sarries are a miserly side in terms of giving away points, despite their league position they have conceded the least this season, while Saints’ defence on the other hand have a points against tally much more akin to a team at the lower end of the table.

Those bare statistics worry me, much as it pains me to say this I think Northampton could be facing their first home defeat of the season.

I have not seen enough over the last few weeks to fill me with too much confidence.

Northampton are definitely the team heading into this clash with the most questions to answer, let’s hope that they can.

An investigation of a fire at the Red Lion Inn, Brixworth has concluded that the fire started accidentally, police have said this morning.

A 33-year-old man had been arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of arson but it is understood fire investigators now believe the blaze, which started in the bar and lounge area, was most likely an electrical fault.

The man has been released on bail while police look into other “minor offences”.

A woman and her three-month-old baby escaped from the pub before the fire took hold and were taken to hospital as a precaution for the effects of smoke inhalation.

Firefighters said yesterday the ground floor was severely damaged by flames, heat and smoke.

It’s been a miserable week for the Cobblers, and the dissenting voices at Sixfields are gradually growing a little louder.

There were certainly plenty of grumbles following Tuesday’s dismal 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bradford City, a result that came hot on the heels of the 4-0 pasting at rock-bottom Barnet on Friday night.

The reaction to the two defeats has, not surprisingly, been downbeat, and there have been the first hints of genuine criticism of manager Aidy Boothroyd.

Let’s not mince words here, the performance in the loss to Bradford was abject, and simply not good enough.

There were no attacking tactics to speak of, the Cobblers played zero constructive football, and the ball was seemingly just thumped aimlessly down the pitch far too often.

Town have been accused by virtually every opposition manager this season of being direct, of being a long-ball team, and I haven’t really agreed with that, I have always thought there was more to the Cobblers’ game than that.

But there wasn’t on Tuesday.

Town were so direct I reckon even good old Charlie Hughes would have winced had he seen that game.

The midfield - which included bewildered teenagers Emyr Huws and Kemar Roofe - was bypassed completely.

Adebayo Akinfenwa and Clive Platt didn’t get a ball to their feet all night, everything was head high, and it was horrible to watch.

But, having said all of that, I feel there are genuine mitigating circumstances for this mini Town slump in form, and I don’t think that now is the time for supporters to get on the players’, or the manager’s back.

It’s less than a fortnight since Exeter City were swept aside 3-0 at Sixfields, with fans purring about the performance, and the form of the team for much of the season has been decent.

The football has on the whole been constructive, there has been a pattern to the team’s play, there has been some exciting football, and there has been plenty of attacking threat.

None of that was in evidence against Bradford on Tuesday, or in the second half at Barnet on Friday, and it is a concern that confidence seems to have drained out of the players so quickly.

But we have to remember that the team is missing five first-choice picks through injury in Chris Hackett, Luke Guttridge, Ben Harding, David Artell and John Johnson, and the squad depth has been found seriously wanting.

But you rip five or six of any team’s best players out of their line-up – Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United, anybody – and it would have an effect, and it is having a massive effect on the Cobblers.

Boothroyd knew having a small squad was a gamble, and at the minute that gamble’s not paying off, especially as the loan players he brought in to boost the numbers - goalkeeper Lee Nicholls apart - haven’t really clicked.

So although the manager and players deserve the criticism coming their way for the way they are currently playing, at the minute they need support even more to get them through this sticky patch.

Port Vale come to Sixfields this weekend, and they are flying high in the npower League Two table.

It is going to be a massive test for Boothroyd and his team, and they will be helped with some real backing from the stands.

I understand fans want to vent their frustration when their team is playing badly, and I know they have a right to do just that, but I have a feeling this young and inexperienced Cobblers team won’t respond to being booed, but they might just react to being backed.

SKIPPER LANGMEAD SHINES AGAIN

In among the footballing misery of Tuesday night’s defeat, one player enhanced his ever-growing reputation - central defender Kelvin Langmead.

The former Peterborough United man was, yet again, simply superb at the heart of the Cobblers defence.

He more than any other player did his bit to keep the score down to 1-0 against Bradford and keep his team in the game, and he was the only nominee for the man of the match award.

In my days of watching the team, the Cobblers fans have always liked their central defenders from Wakeley Gage, to Keith McPherson and Russell Wilcox, to Steve Terry, to Ian Sampson and Ray Warburton, and Langmead is the latest to be taken to the heart of the fan on the terraces.

He has responded superbly to being named as captain of the club, and if he carries playing as he is will be a shoo-in for the supporters’ player of the year award.

SAINTS CAN RISE TO SARRIES CHALLENGE

Saints face their first major test of the Aviva Premiership title credentials at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday when Saracens come to town.

Despite their impressive start to the season – Saints are top of the table having won five out of six league games – I get the impression that a lot of the Franklin’s Gardens faithful are fearful of what may happen to their team this weekend.

The general feeling seems to be that Saints are where they are by default, as they haven’t yet played any of their title rivals, and they have won games without really playing well.

The beating at the hands of a struggling London Irish three weeks ago has also led to negativity, and I would say confidence isn’t high among the supporters ahead of Sarries’ visit to the Gardens tomorrow and then next weekend’s trip across the county border to take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

But I see no reason why Saints can’t surprise their own supporters and rise to the challenges that lie ahead of them over the next nine days or so.

Saracens do possess a powerful squad, and they of course have a certain Chris Ashton flying down the flank, but they have failed to win two of their six league games so far this season, including a defeat to Exeter Chiefs, so they aren’t exactly invincible.

And it’s the same with Leicester, who have already lost to Harlequins.

And as for the Saints, they have a few decent players of their own - including the five that were named in the England squad for the autumn internationals.

So come on Saints fans, have a little faith and belief and be positive about your table-topping team.

Saints have made three changes ahead of Saturday’s Aviva Premiership showdown with title rivals Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens - all in the pack.

Dropped are Brian Mujati, Samu Manoa and Rhys Oakley, and coming in are Paul Doran Jones, Mark Sorenson and GJ van Velze.

It will be van Velze’s first start since he served his four-week suspension for a tip tackle in the Aviva Premiership win over Exeter on September 9.

The backline stays the same as it was for last weekend’s Heineken Cup defeat to Castres in Toulouse, with Stephen Myler continuing at full-back as James Wilson has failed to recover from his injury.

It is a huge game for Saints, and director of rugby Jim Mallinder says his team will have to step up their level of performance against Saracens.

Just two points separate the teams in the Aviva Premiership table, and with every league point becoming increasingly vital as the domestic campaign enters its middle third the Saints boss says that nothing short of a focused, determined and accurate performance will do.

“Saracens are on a bit of a roll and have shown in recent weeks that they have the ability to win in different ways,” he said.

“The Aviva Premiership is very tight this season and every point will matter in the chase for the semi-finals.

“So we know that we will have to be on top form in every area of our game if we are to get the win that we want.

“Last week in Toulouse we were guilty of not making the most of our opportunities when they came along. We have had plenty to work on in training this week and every player has been focused on making sure that we get things right tomorrow.”

Saints team to play Saracens: Stephen Myler; Ken Pisi, George Pisi, Dom Waldouck, Vasily Artemyev; Ryan Lamb, Lee Dickson; Soane Tonga’uiha, Dylan Hartley, Paul Doran Jones, Courtney Lawes, Mark Sorenson, Phil Dowson, Tom Wood, GJ van Velze. Replacements: Mike Haywood, Alex Waller, Brian Mujati, Samu Manoa, Rhys Oakley, Martin Roberts, Tom May, Luther Burrell

The following comment will sound ridiculous to the coaches, players, staff and - most probably - supporters of the Cobblers but here it goes anyway: the result of Saturday’s game against Port Vale is not important.

Before you reach for the pitchfork, let me explain.

It might be ridiculous to dismiss the importance of league points at this stage of the season, but it’s all about the performance this weekend.

Nobody is expecting Northampton to beat Port Vale. They are second in the league and they score goals with a consummate ease.

They are better than Bradford City and so far superior to Barnet that they might as well be playing a different sport.

So anything Aidy Boothroyd manages to glean from this game will be a bonus.

A point would be a very good return.

A win, considering all the injury-related factors, would be a minor miracle.

What everyone really needs more than anything, though, is a performance, 90 minutes that demonstrate this team is capable of a lot more than it showed in the previous 180.

The long-term nature of the Northampton project has been stressed again this week - the first task that awaited Boothroyd when he took over at Sixfields almost a year ago was to keep the club in the Football League; stage two was always going to be about consolidation and solidity.

During this second phase the team is likely to lose just as many as it will win, the nature of any restructuring dictates that - even before the vast, debilitating injury situation is taken into consideration.

But there have to be signs of progress.

Supporters need to see this is a team going in the right direction, and as long as they receive such evidence on Saturday, the result is largely irrelevant.

Admittedly, Port Vale are not the ideal side against which to demonstrate these signs.

They will really fancy their chances of inflicting a third straight defeat on the Cobblers.

There is no good news on the injury front - it is essentially ‘as you were’, which means fielding the same side that started against Bradford with (at best) a couple of tweaks in attack.

The Valiants have only lost one game since August 21, are the bookmakers’ favourites for the win and they will probably get it.

But while Northampton might not get any league points this weekend, but they need to show something.

Nobody is expecting them to challenge the likes of Port Vale and the leading contenders in this division just yet.

They just need to prove, for now, that they can compete with them.

Every journalist that descended on Franklin’s Gardens for Wednesday’s press day asked, in one way, or another, about Chris Ashton’s first game back in Northampton.

The England wing left Saints for Saracens in acrimonious fashion during the summer and hasn’t looked back, scoring four tries in just six games for his new side.

He’s headline news, as usual.

England’s poster boy attracts more publicity than most in the rugby sphere after bursting onto the international scene back in 2010.

And this weekend, most fans in attendance at the Gardens will have a wry smile on their face as he runs out for Saints’ rivals Saracens.

But once the whistle blows, all that matters is how Saints shut Ashton, who scored 92 tries in 110 games in the green, black and gold, and his team-mates out.

You wouldn’t be surprised to see Northampton fancy a forward grind as they aim to stop the supply to Sarries’ spiky backline.

Ashton is just one of a number of England players in the ranks of the nomadic side, who can also boast the likes of Alex Goode and Owen Farrell.

And while Saints have their own attacking threats in the ever-improving Ken Pisi and his brother, George, their best chance remains in the pack.

Drilled by Dorian West, Northampton can turn the screw on the best of sides up front and putting the squeeze on Sarries there. Intimidating them at every turn looks to be the way forward.

If that happens, Ashton will be starved of attention, and we may not witness the ‘Ash Splash’ at any point on Saturday.

It will certainly be nip and tuck, but if Saints can turn on the power in the pack, Courtney Lawes and Co can put Ashton in the shade and keep their side in the spotlight at the top of the table.

A row has blown up between police commissioner candidates after the Tory hopeful claimed some traveller encampments in the county were “no-go areas” for police officers.

Adam Simmonds said Northamptonshire Police needed to do more to fight rural crime and claimed, if elected, he would make sure travellers’ sites were more accessible for officers.

His remarks, made at a public debate, were seized upon by one member of the 20-strong audience, as well as Jim MacArthur, the UKIP candidate, who said he was wrong to question the bravery of officers.

A former special constable, Mr MacArthur said Mr Simmonds should be “ashamed of himself” for saying police were “too scared” to deal with problems involving travellers.

However, Mr Simmonds said his comments were based on his strategic experiences of dealing with the force and travellers while he worked at Northamptonshire County Council. He said he was not questioning the bravery of officers.

The row erupted at a hustings on Monday, organised by the National Farmers’ Union. The debate, at the Hunsbury Hill Centre, saw the candidates quizzed on a range of issues, including flygrazing, hare coursing and the right to defend your own property.

During the event Mr Simmonds called for a “rural crime policing strategy”, while John Norrie, independent, said as PCC he would highlight rural issues. Asked about hare coursing, Mr Norrie said: “We would have ongoing dialogue with communities and bring these issues to the attention, not only to the police but also to other partners who work with them.”

Questioned on the theft of agricultural vehicles and diesel, Paul Varnsverry (Lib Dem) added: “We need to have a faster response to these types of crime. It means more resources being put into rural crime.”

Lee Barron (Labour) added: “It is about building up a policing plan. We need to join this stuff up to make sure the approach we take is strategic. If that means we take advice from other counties, then so be it.”

In the next hustings, held at All Saints Church, on Wednesday, candidates were asked about their religious beliefs and their “moral compass”.

Mr MacArthur said: “I consider truth and honesty and loyalty and I do think despite my lack of Christian faith that I do have a very high moral compass.”

Next to answer was My Varnsverry, who said: “What makes me tick it routing out unfairness and inequality. That’s what makes me tick and that’s what drives me.”

Answering the same question, Mr Barron said “solidarity, equality and social justice” were among his driving principals.

Mr Simmonds said: “My values are definitely around public service. I want to make a contribution which is bigger than I made so far and I want to try and put right some of the things that are broken in our society.”

Answering the same question, Mr Norrie added: “I would say I have a very strong set of values, certainly around injustice and violence against women.”

The next hustings will be held on Thursday at the University of Northampton.

Roade booked their place in the third round of the County Cup with a 5-1 win over Billing United.

Despite missing a number of regular players, Roade started strongly and were unfortunate not to take the lead when Katy Sanders’ lob struck the bar and fell down into the goalkeeper’s arms.

However, with a quick breakaway and a good finish, it was the unbeaten division twoleaders that took a surprise lead on 18 minutes.

It took Roade six minutes to level the scores, as Dannie Charlton began a good move from the back. Minnie Messenger and Sharn Rowlands had some good interplay before Rowlands’ shot was deflected for Messenger to head home.

Three minutes before the interval, Sanders put Roade ahead with a powerful strike that squirmed through the outstretched hands of the home goa;keeper at the near post.

Roade improved after the break and Nia Barford was unlucky to see her strike ruled out for offside after Messenger had thundered a long shot onto the underside of the crossbar.

Messenger did get her second, however, converting Rowlands’ 67th minute cross.

For a third time in the game for Roade, Sanders hit the framework of the goal, before bagging her double in the 79th minute with a wonderful trademark strike high over the helpless goalkeeper.

In the 90th minute, the 5-1 victory was sealed when a good move saw Sanders cross in low for Eloise Yeomans, who capped a fine midfield display by coolly checking inside and passing the ball into the bottom corner.

Amy Marshall and Jody Marshall were the goal stars as Brackley Athletic eased into the next round of the NTFA Under 16 Invitation Cup with a 2-0 win over Parklands Tigers.

Team: Zara Grudzinski, Eden Brown, Saraya Phillips, Jody Marshall, Hannah Shepherd, Charis Spearing, Stephanie Knight, Lacey Walton, Beth Hope, Amber Gowland, Amy Marshall, Jennifer Cook, Ophelia Plumb, Leah Medri, Jasmin Davis, Charlotte Alderman

PARKLANDS TIGERS

Lost 2-0 TO Brackley

Team: Melanie Hinds, Amy Lethbridge, Paris Harman, Sharee Bobowicz, Chloe Jones, Chloe Wykes, Courtney Hyde, Lois Drage, Aimee Smith, Emma Lewthwaite, Teesha Henry, Lucy Hodgson, Chelsea Felix, Jasmine Eden

MOM: Melanie Hinds

Report: Tigers came up against a well organised team in Brackley but there was absolutely nothing between the teams. Brackley scored from a corner and Tigers gave away a sloppy second to them but other than that Tigers were arguably the better side. We had four or five good chances but didn’t take them. sSome really good battling performances from Tigers, but Mel Hinds deserved MOM for her great saves when she was called upon

UNDER 14

PARKLANDS TIGERS

Lost 5-0 to Corby Gems Sapphires

Team: Charlotte Mortimer, Amy Mann, Dallas Ferguson, Molly Hughes, Courtney Henry, Chloe Southgate, Billie Swift, Hannah Linsley, Eve Leonard, Jayne Taylor, Olivia Willson

MOM: Molly Hughes

Report:A tricky cup fixture saw Parklands at the Sapphires with both teams only having just enough players with no subs. The Sapphires scored two early goals and it took a time for Parklands to get into their stride. Parklands defence kept the Sapphires at bay with Molly, Dallas and Amy playing particularly well, with a very dependable Charlotte in goal. Sapphires scored three more goals during the game, but Parklands kept fighting for every ball with Billie, Courtney, Jayne and Chloe going forward as often as they could. Eve was full of running but it wasn’t Parklands’ day with Sapphires winning 5-0. A good team display by Parklands, who seem to be getting better week by week.

Police have warned they will be holding a crackdown on drivers who break the law in Northampton tomorrow.

Officers from the Operations Tactical Unit will be joined by members of the Special Constabulary and trainee police officers for two operations, which will take place in Northampton and Wellingborough.

They will target drink driving, drivers who are not wearing a seatbelt, talking on a mobile phone and speeding.

PC David Lee of the Operations Tactical Unit, said the operation will be running throughout Saturday in both towns.

He said: “These operations always prove to be a success, which is a sad reflection on the number of people who are prepared to drive and break the law.

“Not only are those motorists who break the law putting their own lives at risk, they are also endangering the lives of others.”

Lee Dickson believes raw desire can win the day for Saints when they clash with rivals Saracens this afternoon (ko 3pm).

The scrum-half sees the game at Franklin’s Gardens as a battle of spirit, with not too much to separate the two sides, who have both won six of their eight games in all competitions this season.

“It’s definitely a very hard game,” said the England man. “You’ve got to be big up front, your set-piece has got to be spot on and you’ve got to have massive defence.

“They come all guns blazing and we’ve got to make sure our defence is full on.

“In attack we’ve got to be smart, making sure our boys get round the corner and work hard.

“It all comes down to desire and who wants it more and at home, in front of a packed stadium we’re going to go all guns blazing and be right up for it on Saturday.”

Saints currently sit top of the Aviva Premiership, but Saracens are just two points behind in fourth, and Dickson recognises how significant a victory could be.

He said: “It’s very important, but it’s very important to win every game.

“If you beat a team in the top four you open up a gap there but we know it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be tight and we know we need to do our basics right and make sure we get on the front foot.”

Saracens go into the game as one of the form teams in the country, having impressed in their two Heineken Cup games to date as they hammered Edinbrugh 45-0 and Racing Club Metro 30-13.

But Dickson says Saints can be a match for them, particularly on home soil.

“Having Sarries come here, it’s always going to be a challenging game,” said Dickson, who was this week named in the England squad for the autumn internationals.

“They’re playing some really good rugby but so are we.

“At home in front of our own fans, which we really look forward to, it should be a very good game of rugby and hopefully we can get on top.”

Former Saints winger Chris Ashton returns to the Gardens for the first time since his summer move, but Dickson didn’t single out his own team-mate, instead focusing on both teams’ strength in depth.

“We’ve watched the video and I know a few of their players in the backline and their forwards and they are very good players,” said Dickson.

“But we’ve got a very good backline out there as well, we’ve got world class players across our backline, and it’s going to be a really good game.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

A Northampton man who committed two robberies has been jailed for 16 months. Christopher Donegan, 23, admitted robbing a sales assistant of tobacco, lighter and mobile phone on a cycle path in Rushden on April 26.

Donegan, of East Park Parade, Northampton, also pleaded guilty to robbing of a 13-year-old schoolboy of a mobile phone in Irchester Road, Rushden, on Sunday, July 15.

Joe Widdowson says there is no time for the Cobblers players to ‘feel sorry for ourselves’ as they prepare to take on promotion-chasing Port Vale at Sixfields today (Sat, ko 2pm).

Town go into that game on the back of two defeats, with Tuesday night’s 1-0 home reverse against Bradford City coming hot on the heels of last Friday night’s 4-0 horror show at Barnet.

The Cobblers have now won just one league game in the past seven, picking up just five points out of a possible 21, and they have slipped to 17th in the npower League Two table.

After en encouraging start to the campaign, Town are just five points above the relegation zone, but Widdowson is staying positive.

And the left-back knows how important it is going to be for the team to get off to a good start in the clash with Vale, not only to lift the players, but also the home supporters inside Sixfields.

“We have to try and get off to a good start against Port Vale,” said the former Rochdale man.

“There is no time for us to feel sorry for ourselves, we have a game every three or four days in this league, so we can’t dwell on things.

“We have to look at where we went wrong against Bradford, see where we can improve, and that is what it is all about.

“We have to learn from each game, and we have to improve.”

The Cobblers are likely to again be without the injured Chris Hackett and John Johnson this afternoon, as well as the long-term absentees Luke Guttridge, Ben Harding and David Artell.

It’s an injury list that has left the Town squad looking paper thin, but Widdowson says he and his team-mates just have to get on with it.

“It is a tricky run for us, but it is a long season and you are going to have these spells,” he said.

“Our job as players is to just get on with it, we can’t let it affect us.

“We have to go into every game positively, we have to stick together, and we have to keep working hard to try and get results.”

And he added: “It was a difficult game on Tuesday. Bradford are a strong team, they are a direct team, and the conditions also played a part in the performance.

“It was a bit of a battle, and I think in terms of attitude and endeavour the lads applied themselves brilliantly.

“You can’t fault anybody’s work ethic, everybody was together, but one little mistake has led to a goal and that is what has cost us.”

Widdowson still believes that the Cobblers squad – when everybody is fit – is capable of challenging at the top end of the league two table, but he knows that talk is cheap and that the players have to start proving they are as good as they believe they are.

“We aren’t far away, but we can’t keep saying that,” said Widdowson.

“We are a team that want to try and be successful, so we need to be better, and we need to eradicate the things that we are doing wrong.

“I really don’t believe there is a lot between us and Bradford, and we are getting there.

“But we have been unlucky with injuries, the team is changing a lot from game to game, and it has been hard for us to field a consistent side.

“None of those things help, but we have to stay resilient, we have to keep plugging away, working hard, and whoever comes into the team, and wherever they play, we have all got to try and do a good job.”

A fruit and vegetable trader has said the 25 per cent reduction in rents for stallholders in Northampton Market Square is the “best thing the council has ever done.”

From the beginning of November until 2014 rents for permanent traders will be reduced by 25 per cent, which will reduce rents on a Saturday from £25 to £19 and typical weekday rents from £10 to £7.50 a day.

Eamonn ‘Fitzy’ Fitzpatrick, who has been a vocal critic of Northampton Borough Council in the past, said he was extremely pleased that local politicians had listened to traders concerns and done something to help them.

Fitzy was joined on his stall today by Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of the council, and Councillor Jonathan Nunn (Con, Nene Valley), council assistant cabinet member responsible for the town centre, who were helping to promote the ‘Love Northampton Market Campaign’.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “I honestly think this is the most positive thing and group of politicians has ever done for the market.

“I’m pleased to know politicians care abut us and see us as an asset for the town.

“I was talking to traders in other towns about the 25 per cent rent reduction and they were absolutely amazed. It is unheard of.

“I think it will help traders to up their game.”

Councillor Mackintosh said: “We had an independent survey of the market in March and one thing that came out was that traders thought the rents were too high.

“The market is vital to the town and with the new bus interchange opening in 2014 it will be enjoying an increased footfall.

“We know this is a difficult period for the economy and we wanted to help the market traders.”

Councillor Nunn said: “I think the rent reduction will make the market really attractive to traders and we hope they will use the saving to reinvest into their stalls.”

Councillor Mackintosh said that he admired the work ethic of traders such as Mr Fitzpatrick and hoped the rent reduction would attract new stallholders.

He said: “I thought I worked long hours but speaking to Fitzy he said he gets up at 2am and then works through to 5pm.”

The rent reduction will last until 2014, when it will be reviewed by the council.

The talk before the game had been of the importance of a performance rather than a result, and despite an excellent win that saw Cobblers inflict a surprise defeat on visitors Port Vale it was still not the scoreline that was the main talking point.

A horror injury to Cobblers striker Alex Nicholls, sustained in scoring the opening goal, saw the rare sight of an ambulance entering the field of play, the striker sustaining a suspected broken leg and receiving treatment for a full 12 minutes.

Such injuries are thankfully rare in modern football and the shock among the crowd, in the home sections at least, was palpable. Nicholls was taken straight to hospital and is likely to be out of action for some considerable time.

His team mates gave the best possible ‘get well soon’ present with a thoroughly deserved victory over their high-flying visitors.

Boothroyd had sprung a major surprise before kick-off by dropping experienced frontman Clive Platt to the bench and switching to a 5-3-2 formation, Tozer dropping back to the centre of defence and Widdowson and East deployed as roving wing backs.

This left a midfield three of Lewis Wilson, the on-loan Emyr Huws and Lewis Hornby – the trio having just four career league starts between them.

Talisman Akinfenwa was partnered up front by summer signing Alex Nicholls.

Cobblers started brightly, with skipper Kelvin Langmead heading over from six yards in the fourth minute after the ball was lobbed back in box when a corner was only half cleared.

But, after weathering the initial storm, Vale surrendered the lead in the 20th minute when Alex Nicholls latched onto an underhit back pass and slotted into an empty net under a heavy challenge from Valiants skipper John McCombe.

However, with Cobblers fans celebrating the breakthrough, it quickly became apparent that Nicholls was seriously injured, laying prostrate in the six yard box.

Referee Richard Clark immediately showed McCombe the red card, sparking a melee on the touch line.

With Nicholls receiving treatment and the Cobblers players visibly shocked at the nature of his injury, concern spread around the ground. Stretchers were brought on and soon after the gates were unlocked and an ambulance arrived on the pitch.

A section of Vale fans did little to endear themselves to home supporters by repeatedly chanting at Nicholls as he received treatment, the ill-feeling tangible as the atmosphere grew ever more concerned as the minutes ticked by.

At least 12 minutes passed between Nicholls scoring and departing in the back of an ambulance, the two sets of players, to their credit, allowing the paramedics to do their job while keeping warm at the other end of the pitch.

Having been reduced to 10 men, Vale brought on centre back Joe Davis for striker Ben Williamson and switched to a 4-4-1 formation.

But Cobblers grew in stature, Hornby and Huws dominating possession in midfield.

The home side thought they had gone 2-0 up in the 42nd minute when Anthony Charles nodded in from a Ben Tozer throw but the linesman inexplicably flagged.

But the frustration was shortlived, a minute later the impressive Akinfenwa slipped the ball through to Louis Moult, who had replaced Nicholls, and the youngster coolly slotted home, much to the delight of the home crowd.

With 14 minutes of added time as a result of Nicholls injury, Cobblers continued to dominate. Moult almost made it three with a curling effort that hit the side netting and Akinfenwa was a constant menace.

However, Cobblers had a lucky escape when Widdowson appeared to bring down Ashley Vincent in the box but ref Clark gave no penalty, with the home fans insisting there had been no contact.

An ugly exchange as the half time whistle blew threatened to boil over as tempers rose between the two teams and, in truth, the interval came at about the right time.

With Cobblers seemingly comfortable, the second half offered them the opportunity to seal the game and a heavy challenge on Akinfenwa in the 50th minute left the home crowd screaming for a penalty but to no avail.

The home side were comfortable in possession and, although perhaps not testing Vale as much as they would like, still had much the better of it at the start of the second half.

Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls had get down smartly at his near post however in the 65th minute to deny Ashley Vincent, his first real action of the afternoon.

The Cobblers midfield pair of Huws and Hornby belied their years with a composed and assured display and were at the heart of all the home side did well in the second half, showing tenacity when it was needed and had time on the ball.

Goalmouth action was minimal and, while it would have been nice to see the home side stretch their lead more, three points was an excellent return.

The thoughts of all Cobblers fans will tonight however be with Alex Nicholls as he faces up to a long spell on the sidelines.

The result was magnificent but the well-being of Nicholls will be the club’s main concern.

Northampton Town 2-0 Port Vale

Northampton Town: L Nicholls, East, Langmead, Charles, Widdowson, Hornby, Tozer, Huws, Wilson (Demontagnac), A Nicholls (Moult), Akinfenwa

Subs not used: Higgs, Platt, Mukendi, Dias, Moyo

Goalscorers: Nicholls (20) Moult (43)

Port Vale: Neal, Yates, Taylor, McCombe, Owen (James), Myrie-Williams, Vincent, Pope, Morsy (Lloyd), Williamson (Davis), Burge

Subs not used: Murphy, Dodds, Johnson, Shuker,

Attendance: 5,061

Away fans: 994

Cobblers manager Aidy Boothroyd has revealed he was heading straight to Northampton General Hospital from Sixfields to see striker Alex Nicholls, who is tonight having an operation on a double break of his left leg.

Nicholls sustained the horror injury in scoring Cobblers opening goal in their 2-0 win over Port Vale folowing a desperate lunge from Valiants skipper John McCombeand Boothroyd confirmed the frontman is now likely to miss the remainder of the season.

He said: “Alex has got a compound fracture of the fibia and the tibia. He’s having an operation tonight and I’m going straight there now. His mum, dad, wife and baby girl were down here for the match today and saw it happen, they’re at the hospital now with him and that’s where I’m heading too.

“We’re absiolutely gutted for him. It was a brave goalscorer’s goal. John McCombe didn’t mean to cause the damage, I’m convinced of that. He went for the ball and it’s one of those where he has just come up to me to apologise for what’s happened.

“It took the edge off a fantastic performance and a terrific victory for the lads that were out there.

I threw something different at them with the three at the back and it worked. They responded well, we got two AND it could have been three, I don’t know what the other one was disallowed for.

“Today was our day in terms of the result but all our thoughts are with Nico. I’ve been there myself, I’ve broken a leg and I know what it’s like.

“He’s now got an oppertunity to come back tougher and stronger. He’s a terrific character who was well on the way to being one of our players of the season, I’m convinced about that but he’ll bounce back and we’ll do all we can to support him.”

Nicholls’ strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa, who was just yards from his partner when the injury happened, said: 
It’s an eerie feeling. All our prayers and wishes are for him now. He wished us good luck before he went off for his operation and that’s the kind of guy he is. He’s good peoples man, he’s good peoples.

“I’ve played against McCombe many times and he didn’t mean that, he’s not a malicious character. Sometimes that happens, it does put football into perspective.

“It does overshadow the result but it’s just one of those things. It sounds like a cliche but we just had to go out there and win it for Nico.”

Growing up as an ardent Stoke City fan, there are few things a young Louis Moult can have dreamt of more than scoring the winner against their bitter rivals Port Vale.

But that dream became a reality for the cool centre forward on Saturday when he latched onto strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa’s through ball to put Cobblers two up and effectively seal the three points.

He said: “I was a massive Stoke fan so to get the goal today was absolutely fantastic, you dream of moments like that and the fact it’s come against Port Vale makes it that bit sweeter.”

Moult couldn’t have imagined worse circumstances in which to come on, with fellow centre forward Alex Nicholls carted off in the back of an ambulance having suffered a double leg break in scoring the first goal and the youngster was quick to pay tribute to his team mate.

He said: “It’s a massive win for him personally and he’s been terrific all season. We battled for him because he put his body on the line to get us that first goal.

“We’ve got a massive game on Saturday now against Bradford in the cup and hopefully we can keep it going and get a result. I think we can go on a little run now.”

The link-up play between Moult and talisman Adebayo Akinfenwa was one of the highlights of an excellent Cobblers display and Bayo was the first to congratulate his new partner on his performance.

He said: “It shows the quality that we have in this squad, there’s plenty of strength in depth and good players waiting in the wings ready to come on and get their opportunity.

“Moulty has been working hard in training. You saw his finish for the goal and I’d put him up there as one of the best finishers at the club but good players can play with good players and we played some nice stuff.

“if anybody had a magic wand and could make us play like we did today every week, you’d use it, sometimes it happens like that but were trying to build something here.

“Rome wasn’t build in a day though and you’re going to have your ups and you’re going to get your downs but we were very professional.”

One other highlight for the Cobblers was the performance of young midfielder Lewis Hornby was was making his full debut.

He put in a composed and assured display in the engine room and displayed a pleasing maturity when in possession.

He said: “My family were here to see me and hopefully they were proud of me.”

Few Cobblers fans would have dared dream of a 2-0 win over high-flying Port Vale ahead of kick-off on Saturday.

A patched-up team due to an ever-growing injury crisis at Sixfields and a switch to a largely untried and untested 5-3-2 formation, with the midfield trio having just four career league starts between them, is not normally the recipe for an upset.

But at times on Saturday you would have been hard-pressed to say which were the division’s in-form side and which was the pretty desperate rabble that capitulated to a 4-0 hammering at lowly Barnet just a matter of days previously.

Sure, a red card always helps, but give Cobblers credit. They more than matched Port Vale in the opening 20 minutes and created the better chances while also enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

The formation worked well, wing backs Joe Widdowson and Danny East getting forward well and the three in midfield showing maturity beyond their tender years.

Adebayo Akinfenwa was a menace up top and Alex Nicholls looked lively. His horrendous injury, which saw the game stopped for 12 minutes while he received treatment and saw an ambulance come onto the playing surface to ferry him to hospital, will be the talking point and it’s a shame that something so nasty took the gloss off a tremendous team performance.

Nicholls was replaced by Louis Moult, a youngster who lost his way at Stoke City before being given a second chance by Aidy Boothroyd at Northampton.

He has had limited game time and has been used sparingly but on Saturday, when his chance came, he grabbed it with relish.

He formed an excellent partnership with Bayo and the pair linked up well on many occasions, Akinfenwa’s sheer strength creating space for the lively Moult to exploit.

His goal came directly from such a scenario, Akinfenwa holding off the challenge before slipping it into the path of the youngster who finished with aplomb.

He threatened to add to his tally with a left footed curler which could find only the side netting but the pair were a thorn in the side of the Port Vale defence throughout.

But the front pair were only as good as the service they received and, in truth, it was the Cobblers midfield that won them this game.

With no experience of any note to count on, it would have been easy for them to crumble, particularly in such odd circumstances which saw the game delayed by 12 minutes due to Nicholls injury.

But Lewis Wilson, the on-loan Emyr Hughes and full debutant Lewis Hornby were excellent throughout, looking composed and assured in possession and winning more than their fair share of tackles.

It takes courage to put your foot on the ball and have a look around you at League Two level but Huws, clearly well schooled at parent club Manchester City, did this to great effect throughout.

He was calmness personified, playing the simple ball and rotating the play. He was backed up well by Hornby who did enough to suggest he has the potential to have a bright future ahead of him.

Clearly a talented footballer, Hornby could be one to revel in the Cobblers midfield for years to come.

These young players may have got their chance through others’ misfortune but on Saturday’s evidence at least, they are grabbing it with both hands.

Lee Nicholls - 7

Had precious little to do but was a composed presence throughout. One smart save down to his left in the second half

Joe Widdowson - 6

New role for the wing-back and looked steady if unspectacular. Possibly a little lucky to have not given away a penalty just before half time.

Kelvin Langmead - 7

Marshalled his troops well and had very little to do. Dangerman Tom Pope was in his pocket.

Anthony Charles - 7

No idea why his header was ruled out. Solid performance

Ben Tozer - 8

Long throws always a threat, converted to centre half with no problems. An assured display.

Danny East - 7

Got forward to good effect. Appeared to relish his new role.

Lewis Wilson - 7

Did pretty well in a young midfield. Certainly not overawed.

Emyr Huws - 9

Superb performance. retained possession brilliantly and bossed the midfield.

Lewis Hornby - 8

Excellent full debut, looked like he’d been playing this level for years. Assured.

Adebayo Akinfenwa - 7

The big man didn’t have a clear sight of goal but was a menace throughout, linking up well for the second goal.

Alex Nicholls - 7

Pounced for the goal but day was ended in that incident. Hope he can bounce back.

Subs

Ishmel Demontagnac - 6

Did well when he came on, looked good on the ball without ever really threatening

Louis Moult - 8

Very impressive link-up play with Akinfenwa, took goal well. Promising.