A “drunken and abusive” tenant who heaped years of misery on her neighbours could face eviction if she doesn’t change her ways.

Lisa Smalley has been made the subject of a 12-month demotion order, which means her tenancy is no longer secure, and any further bad behaviour could lead to her being thrown out.

She has also been made the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction (ASBI), an indefinite order which prevents her from engaging in housing-related anti-social conduct.

Smalley, aged 43, of Nursery Lane, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, appeared at Northampton County Court on Monday.

The court was told that Northampton Borough Council had received complaints for a number of years about Smalley, who had intimidated neighbours through drunken and abusive behaviour.

The order imposed by the court means she is banned from being under in the influence of alcohol in Nursery Lane and West Ridge, while behaving in a manner likely to cause nuisance, alarm or distress.

She is also prohibited from being abusive, insulting, threatening, or using intimidating language or behaviour in the same streets; from communicating with some specific neighbours, and from entering a specific property in Nursery Lane.

If she breaches either of the last two terms, she can be arrested.

Councillor Mary Markham, (Con, Obelisk), cabinet member for housing said: “It is vital we take action against people who act in an anti-social manner and cause distress to their neighbours. We hope this acts as a deterrent to other residents that cause disturbance and disrupt the lives of others.”

Tenants concerned about anti-social behaviour can contact their housing officer on 0300 330 7000.

Sileby Rangers boss Glenn Botterill labelled Michael Byrne ‘the best goalscorer in the UCL’ after snapping up the striker from Desborough.

Byrne was part of Botterill’s UCL Premier Division-winning Long Buckby last season, and the pair have now been reunited at Fernie Fields.

The frontman rejected rival offers from the likes of St Ives and Spalding to drop down to UCL Division One, to Botterill’s obvious delight.

“He’s the best goalscorer in the UCL, no doubt,” said Botterill, who has also brought in defenders Dan Spaughton and Dan Chilton from Wellingborough Whitworths and Cogenhoe respectively.

“This is a major signing for us and I’m really pleased.

“We just needed to pep up our front line because we’ve still got a lot of games to play.

“The squad needed a shake-up and this will give everyone a lift.”

Byrne, Spaughton and Chilton could make their debuts when division one table-toppers Sileby travel to second-placed Oadby Town this weekend.

LONG BUCKBY

Two coaches leave as Goodwin calls for complete commitment

Long Buckby boss Scott Goodwin says he needs coaches who are 100 per cent committed - after dispensing of the services of his two assistants.

Dave Williams and Joe Smyth have left the club as Goodwin seeks to freshen up the Station Road management team.

He has already moved to make Mike Houghton player-assistant, with the striker having shown his dedication to the cause this season.

And Goodwin now wants everyone to pull together to help Buckby improve their current UCL Premier Division position of 14th.

“There are going to be 101 rumours going around that there’s been an argument but there hasn’t,” said Goodwin.

“I need people who are 100 per cent committed to the club and they have to be here every Tuesday and Thursday (for training).

“If they’re not, it’s only a matter of time before players turn round and say, ‘if the management don’t turn up, why should we?’.

“Though they’re two good blokes, it’s time for everyone to pull together to get us up the table.”

FIXTURES

Saturday, February 2

NFA Junior Cup, Semi-finals: Cogenhoe Res v Brixworth, Rushden & Higham v Rothwell Corinthians.

Knockout Cup, first round: Harborough v AFC Kempston.

Premier Division: Blackstones v Desborough, Boston Town v Irchester, Deeping v St Ives, Holbeach v Cogenhoe, Huntingdon v Long Buckby, Newport Pagnell v Spalding, Sleaford v Quorn, Stewarts & Lloyds v Wellingborough Town, Yaxley v Shepshed Dynamo.

Division One: AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Wootton Blue Cross, Bourne v Bugbrooke, Eynesbury v Harrowby, Spencer v Thrapston, Oadby v Sileby, ON Chenecks v Buckingham, Raunds v Burton Park Wanderers, Whitworth v Olney.

Reserve Supplementary Cup, group two: Thrapston v Rushden & Higham.

Reserve Division One: AFC Kempston v Blackstones, Bugbrooke v Whitworth, Desborough v Stewarts & Lloyds, Peterborough Northern Star v Woodford United.

Reserve Division Two: Burton Park Wanderers v Bourne, Irchester v Eynesbury, Olney v ON Chenecks, Rothwell Corinthians v Yaxley.

Totally out of the blue this week, news began seeping out of Northampton General Hospital about the “M word”: Merger.

Health chiefs have only thus far said they are not ruling it out, but there does seem to be some traction for moves towards an altogether closer collaboration between NGH and Kettering General Hospital.

Part of the problem, however, is this very lack of clarity. When people start talking about mergers there are always going to be huge implications for people, but none more so than when it comes to something as key as the way our hospitals are run.

Boardroom discussions may be ongoing, but it is vital that NHS staff as well as the public - the people who use the service - are kept fully abreast of developments. All this week’s “announcement” is likely to achieve is to start a whispering campaign and a definite climate of uncertainty. This can’t be good for anyone. The sooner we have some proper, firm details about what is planned the better for us all.

*IT will never happen, but you have to admire the chutzpah of the owners of The White Horse pub in Kingsthorpe. Unable to sell or demolish the building, they plan to cover it in TV screens, turning into a kind of Cock Hotel Circus. Good luck with it. It would be an improvement on the current look. Sadly though, it’’ll never happen.

Fees charged to street traders in industrial estates and parks in Northampton are set to be increased by 100 per cent, it was revealed today.

A report published ahead of a meeting of the Northampton Borough Council licensing committee on February 11 has recommended that councillors approve a rise in fees charged to street traders such as burger vans and ice cream vans.

If approved, the cost for a street trader in a standard location, such as an industrial park, will rise from £100 to £200 a year for one trading day a week. The cost will then increase to £225 in 2014/15 and £250 in 2015/16.

The council is also planning to introduce a ‘premium rate’ for street traders in locations in the town such as Abington Street, The Drapery and Abington Park.

Traders wanting to sell goods in these locations for one day a week will have to pay £300 a year in 2013/14, £400 in 2014/15 and 3500 in 2015/16.

The licensing committee has also been asked to approve an increase in the annual cost of renewing a taxi licence rise from £45.50 to £50.

Councillor Christopher Malpas, chair of Northampton Borough Council’s licensing committee, said: “The licensing service is needed to ensure that traders and taxi drivers operate safely and in accordance with statutory rules and regulations.

“The service is non-profit making and so we have to recover our costs one way or another.

“Most of the people who took part in the consultation accepted that our fees were a lot less than other towns and so weren’t entirely surprised by what is being proposed.

“Nonetheless we appreciate that if amended, the changes will make a difference to them. If committee approves the increases we will do all we can to work with traders to look at how we can support them. Paying in instalments is one option we could consider.”

If licensing committee approves the proposals the new fees will come into force on April 1 this year.

At the same meeting, the licensing committee is also being asked to review the fees and conditions for holding car boot sales in the town.

Under the pay structure being proposed fees for events with between 21 and 100 pitches will increase by £5, making the cost of an event with 21 to 50 pitches £15, 51 to 75 pitches £20 and 76 to 100 pitches £25.

The charge for smaller events with up to 20 pitches will remain the same at £10.

If licensing committee approves the changes the new conditions it is proposed fees for holding car boot sales will come into force immediately.

Northamptonshire’s overseas player attentions have turned towards Australian Trent Copeland after the contract offer made to Rory Kleinveldt was withdrawn.

The South African had been given a deadline of midday today (Friday) to accept the short-term deal that would’ve seen him in the County’s colours for the opening five County Championship and three CB40 games of the summer.

But a significant delay, which hasn’t been helped by the Indian Premier League auction that’s scheduled for this weekend, has left the contract untouched and the end result is that Kleinveldt will not be coming to Wantage Road this summer.

But the club are hoping to have the position filled in the near future and have made an offer to Copeland, who rejected their advances earlier in the winter.

The New South Welshman, who has three Test caps to his name, has been offered terms that would cover the first half of the campaign or nine Championship games in fixture terms.

And that would represent the ideal scenario according to chief executive David Smith who said: “Kleinveldt was unable to commit and it had gone on long enough.

“We tried to be patient but you can only wait so long and we’ve had to look elsewhere.

“We’ve put the offer to Trent, who has had a change of heart since we last spoke to him, and we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

“Finance isn’t an issue and he would be a good person to have on board.

“A longer deal is better for everyone and while it’s a shame that Rory won’t be coming, if we can get Trent then we’ll be happy.”

Has the rehabiltation of Daventry MP Chris Heaton Harris suffered a setback? CHH’s regular jokey contribitions to Twitter dropped off after he was embroiled in claims he supported a rival candidate while running the Tories’ (unsuccessful) campaign to retain Corby.

This week he had to deny claims in the Sunday Times he was involved in a “plot” to have Adam Afriyie - the “British Obama” - elected as the next Tory leader.

As one very senior Tory asked us: “What an earth is Chris playing at?” CHH had to issued this Sunday lunchtime rapid rebuttal: “I want and expect David Cameron, who I admire hugely and support as Party Leader completely, to lead the Conservative Party into the next General Election and I also fully expect us to win that election....I have not, am not and will not support any attempt to remove him as Leader as I completely believe he is the right man to lead our country through the difficult times we find ourselves in”. Expect the joke count to drop off again...

SPARE a thought for #PCC Adam Simmonds this week as he settles into the new surroundings of Wootton Hall West Wing.

There’s still plenty of work to be done sprucing the place up – although it’s unlikely those missing police artefacts will be featuring anywhere – but Adam still has a way to go to match the palatial surroundings of Chief Constable Adrian Lee’s enormous office described by one Wootton Hall insider as “bigger than your average maisonette”. Not only that, Chief Ade enjoys a first floor vista over the trimmed lawns beneath compared with the ground floor end of terrace office of his new #PCC pal.

Actually though, we’re more sympathetic to the time Adam has had to spend this week engaging with some of the Chron’s online commentatariat, a narrow clique of (largely) pseudonyms who decry every utterance the #PCC makes and plenty he doesn’t either. In ‘The World According to (insert pseudonym of your choice here)’ comments tend to pile up very quickly, but fair play to #PCC Adam who, by Wednesday morning had knocked out 1,761 words of replies to his detractors which is a superhuman effort by any standard. Chief among them was a pretty trenchant critique of Bona Fide Citizen Dickie. “You are a former council leader of a dramatically different era to today. I won’t pass judgement on your record, legacy or indeed achievements, others have done that”.

Ever the diplomat, the #PCC signed off, without irony, to thank everyone for the “witty, positive, innovative and forward thinking commentary” provided by his (largely) faceless detractors. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em...

MIKEY Ellis was on his best behaviour for Prince Charles, but he got a kicking from the Speaker at yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions. In case you missed Aufona’s tweet yesterday – bit.ly/Xi863D – John Bercow gave him a proper going over asking him why as a “distinguished, practising barrister” he was capable of such unruly Parliamentary behaviour. His final put down: “Calm yourself and be quiet. Learn it man” had a dash of the late Michael Winner in it.

What was the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership’s website up to the other day?

Plastered all across its latest content page were some very off-piste adverts that didn’t seem to chime with the publicly funded enterprise group: “Payday loans, no fax required”,“Features of trying to play web casino” they screamed out at us.

We had thought of ringing their Oxfordshire-based PR firm for a comment - if only to query if a)they had been hacked or b) this was, in fact, a new piece of commercial weaponry in a triple dip recession - but decided against it in the end when a spot of internet gambling proved all too alluring...

Part of the M45 motorway will be closed at night for almost three months from tomorrow to allow for roadworks to take place.

The Highways Agency said the westbound carriageway towards Coventry would be closed overnight at Dunchurch from 8pm to 8am and the hard shoulder and lane one closed 24/7 for safety fence works. Diversions will be be put in place while the work is carried out.

The M45 starts just north of Watford Gap and is a popular route for motorists heading towards Coventry and the West Midlands from Northamptonshire.

Meanwhile, the southbound exit slip road and lane one of the main southbound carriageway at junction 15a will be closed for resurfacing for three nights starting on Tuesday. The closures will be in place from 10pm to 6am each night and will be followed by similar work on the northbound entry slip, running for three nights from Thursday 7, from 10pm to 6am.

The Highways Agency is also starting work on the A5 at the Weedon crossorads where an overnight lane closure will be in place on the southbound carriageway from February 8-22, between 8pm and 6am.

And there will also be new work starting between junction 1 of the A14 and junction 19 of the M1 where both carriageways will be closed for resurfacing for two nights from Tuesday. The closures will be in place from 8pm to 5am each night and diversions will be signed.

Ongoing roadworks will continue on the northbound M1 between hunction 15 and 15a and on the southbound M1 between junction 17 and 16.

A 27-year-old woman from Northampton died as a result of a head injury suffered in a car crash, an inquest heard today.

Laura Louise Miller, aged 27, of Watkin Terrace, in Northampton town centre, died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital after the Volkswagen Polo she was driving was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Vectra on the old A421 in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

The crash happened shortly before 5.30pm on Monday and the 40-year-old male driver and two passengers, including a baby, were also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A coroner’s inquest into Ms Miller’s death opened today and the cause of death was given as a traumatic brain injury.

Officers from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Collision Investigation Unit are currently preparing a report into the fatal road traffic collision.

Cobblers defender David Artell will miss a further two to three weeks of first-team action with an Achilles injury that has kept him out since October.

The club have received advice from a specialist not to play the central defender, who was not on the substitutes bench at Gillingham and who will miss a return to his boyhood club Rotherham United this weekend.

“There is no issue with his injury, we sent him to a specialist to make sure it is 100 per cent healed,” said manager Aidy Boothroyd, who did welcome John Johnson back to the matchday squad for the game at Priestfield.

“The advice from the specialist was that he needs another two or three weeks before it is fully healed before he can crack on and play.

“He looked inside and made sure it was all okay, which it is, but that was the diagnosis and that’s what we go by.”

Artell was unlikely to start the game against Rotherham, where he was born, with Boothroyd unlikely to make many changes from the 11 that has played the past two matches.

That side won at Aldershot but was beaten at Gillingham to slip back to fourth in the npower League Two table, and Boothroyd is aware of the need for a response at Rotherham, who could overtake the Cobblers with a victory.

“Rotherham play slightly differently to the past two teams we have played, they are quite narrow in midfield and they use a diamond,” he said.

“What you know about them is that they will come flying out of the traps for the first 20 minutes of the game, and their record suggests that if they get on top in that period they do quite well.

“But there have been one or two results there which have not gone so well and hopefully we can be in that group that causes an upset.”

Tuesday night’s loss at Gillingham was a setback of sorts but Boothroyd was pleased generally with his team’s performance.

Although their attacking threat petered out in the second half, he felt they did enough in the first 45 minutes to ensure confidence should be high for the weekend game.

“I thought we actually played better against Gillingham than we did against Aldershot but we didn’t take our chances,” said the Cobblers boss.

“We had 12 chances and didn’t score any of them - although people will say it’s all about taking you’re chances, and they’re right, if you are getting that many chances generally it means you will do well, and get results.”

Paul di Resta said he was like a child at Christmas when the covers came off his new Force India F1 car at Silverstone this morning - and revealed he is “more comfortable than ever” behind the wheel of his new racer.

The Scotsman was on hand to pull back the covers on the new VJM06 in front of the world’s media, before taking the car out for a brief maiden run at the team’s home track.

The car is visually very similar to last year’s, save the introduction of a “vanity” fairing to cover the stepped nose, which ran on most cars in 2012.

Speaking to the Chron at the launch, di Resta said the goal was improving on last year, when the team finished seventh in the constructors’ championship.

He said: “We have got to be hoping to raise our game, focusing on getting higher up the table. I think consistency over the whole year is the main thing.

“The team’s desire is to look at the whole picture, rather than getting one-off results.

“It is hard world and it’s ruthless at times, but at the same time it’s all about driving the cars and the individual feeling for me.

“I am very focused on the on-track performance. I enjoy doing it - it’s my sport, it’s my hobby, it’s my life. I am very passionate about my racing and I want to race to the top of my game.”

Di Resta was also full of praise for the team, whose Dadford Road base is just a few hundred yards from the Silverstone gates.

He said: “Every member of this team is a key factor in it. They have their qualities and that is why they are a part of this team.

“We are a small team that punches above our weight, and I think they work harder than some people in this area.

“The journey is still going on for Sahara Force India. They are a relatively young team with big ambitions ahead.”

The car will now be shipped to Jerez in Spain for the first pre-season test next week, something di Resta is relishing.

He said: “I’m very excited. Any time you see a new car it’s like Christmas - you are like a small boy again.

“The car is very sharp. I think the finer details are underneath. This car is an evolution of the car we had last year, not a revolution, because the rule changes are not allowing that.

“I am very comfortable in the car. I am more comfortable than I’ve ever been. That’s one job ticked, and hopefully we can do the rest when it starts running.”
Di Resta’s team-mate has yet to be announced, with former Force India star Adrian Sutil and Ferrari development driver Jules Bianchi said to be leading the running.

David Smith wants the County Ground to stage a World Cup fixture in 2019.

The admission comes in the wake of the news that 13 of the 18 counties have received £1million loans from the ECB.

In total, £18million is available between the counties who show evidence of a suitable business plan and each club is required to meet certain targets relating to stadia and facilities, customer relations, community programmes and business operations.

And with plans in place to improve what the County Ground has to offer in relation to both cricket and off-field activities, chief exectuive David Smith is already looking long-term.

He said: “I want to get to a situation where we are seriously considered to host games in the 2019 World Cup.

“Not Australia versus England becuase we know that won’t happen but I want to make certain that our facilites are good enough for those kind of games.”

And for tnat to come about, an overhaul of the club’s headquarters will be undertaken.

Smith added: “There are payments to meet certain objectives that are set out in the business plan and that, primarily, will be to improve aour conference and events facilities.

“It’s also an opportunity to tidy up the ground because parts of it are a bit shabby.

“There’s a big opportunity to look at revenue generative areas and that’s what the business plan is all about.

“The club has to be sustainable - that’s the bottom line, and we have to be more robust and not so reliant on cricketing income.

“We know that people will come to the venue as we sold a lot of covers at Christmas but we don’t get them coming to the other side of the ground becuase it’s a bit tatty.”

As well as cosmetic alterations, the club are also looking to improve the facilities for the media, something that is long overdue.

“The press box is being tidied up with new carpet and there will be Wi-fi all over ground for example becuase we have to create a good impression and have people wanting to come back here to work.

“In the future we want to build two pods on top of the indoor school for the broadcasters becuase what we have at the minute isn’t really good enough.

“That’s not going to happen immediately but it’s definitely on the agenda.”

A 14-year-old boy was punched in the face and had his mobile phone stolen during a robbery in The Racecourse park in Northampton.

The teenager was with two friends in the play area close to Barrack Road at 9am today when two men approached the group.

One of the men asked the boy for his mobile phone and when the boy refused he was punched in the face.

The two men then ran off, one towards Barrack Road and the other man towards Cowper Street.

The man he punched the boy is described as white or mixed race, between 17 to 22 years old, short black hair, stubble and wore a black zip up jacket and black tracksuit bottoms.

The second man, who had no direct involvement in the incident, is white, slim build and wore black clothes.

A Northampton man facing charges including sexually assaulting a child and possessing extreme pornography has appeared in court.

Matthew Ibbeson, aged 34, of Springwood Court, Goldings, appeared via a video link at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was refused bail.

Ibbeson faces charges of sexually touching a girl under 13, inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, taking, making and possessing an indecent photograph of a child and possession of extreme pornographic material.

The court heard the assault, incitement and indecent image charges relate to a young girl.

No pleas have been entered but John Weaver, defending, said Ibbeson denied the charges of sexual assault and inciting sexual activity.

He said: “His week in custody has been a salutary lesson.”

Ibbeson appeared from HMP Woodhill, wearing a grey Ellesse jumper and grey jogging bottoms.

He shook his head as the prosecution read out details of the case against him, and appeared to wipe away a tear as he was told he would be remanded in custody.

Ibbeson will be before the same court in March, for his case to be committed to the Crown Court.

Trains were briefly stopped at Northampton’s rail station this morning after firefighters were called.

An emergency call was made at 4.06am when a point heater caught fire at the trackside.

A crew from The Mounts and another from Mereway attended and the lines had to be shut down. However the firefighters found the blaze was out when they arrived.

A spokeswoman at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service control room said: “Trains were briefly stopped for crew safety but the heater had self-extinguished when we arrived. The stop message was given at 5.14am.”

The trains were understood to have being prepared at the time before the first journeys of the day.

The LV= Cup may not be the most prestigious prize in rugby, but Saints can gain plenty from it should they collect the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this season.

A bonus-point victory at Exeter on Saturday would make sure of the club’s place in the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh competition for the fourth time in fifth seasons.

And going all the way to Sixways can inspire real acceleration as the campaign reaches its conclusion.

With Jim Mallinder’s men out of Europe, a couple of extra games could be welcome.

They will get two weekends off in April and should they be eliminated from the LV= Cup, they will have the same in March.

That would surely be no good as the team looks to build momentum going into the final flings of the campaign, as four weekends of inaction would see a complete lack of consistency.

And what Saints need now after a patchy end to 2012, but a good start to 2013 is momentum.

They don’t want to be having too many weekends away from the action, being put through their paces by the notorious Nick Johnston on the paddock.

There’s no substitute for the real thing.

Players like James Craig, who attended the press day this week, are certainly keen for Saints to get through as the competition is ideal for squad players looking to get game time.

Men such as Luther Burrell and Alex Waller are kept fresh and mentally sharp by playing and progression can only be a good thing.

So if Saints are on-song - a la their full-back and Ben Foden - this weekend, a win will not be the only reward.

Football legend Paul Gascoigne has claimed he cannot remember a curtailed speaking engagment in Northampton where he disappointed paying fans.

Guests, who paid £100 per ticket to hear anecdotes from the 1990 World Cup hero at a Cobblers-organised event at the Park Inn hotel on Thursday, saw him abandon the stage after only ten minutes after he burst into tears.

Audience members said he was also trembling uncontrollably and apologised after swearing several times while answering questions put to him by his agent.

Asked about by a reporter for The Sun last night his health following his apparent fragile state, he was reported to have replied: “What happened in Northampton?”

Guests were originally told Gascoigne, formerly of England Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Lazio, was too ill to appear but he eventually did and had to be helped on stage by Park Inn security guards.

A further 15 dates on his public speaking tour have now been cancelled.

A man who threatened to kill himself in Northampton is “helping officers with their enquiries” following an armed siege this morning, police have said.

An armed response team and regular police officers were called to Whitworth Road in Abington at about 8am.

Up to a dozen officers cordoned off the area for public safety after concerns the man had a gun.

However, after a stand-off that police said lasted about an hour, he was taken away by police. No gun has been recovered.

Inspector Phil Kings said: “A man had threatened to harm himself so we attended to reduce the risk to him and the public.

“He has been assisting us with our enquiries and we are now making sure he is well and safe.”

The Cobblers’ travel sickness showed no signs of easing at Rotherham as the home side romped to a comfortable victory.

Town had no answers to a team that - along with Manchester United - are the only club in the Football League not to have drawn a home game this season.

There was no danger of such an outcome in this match, with Northampton making the Millers look like the giants of Old Trafford in the form of a 3-1 scoreline improved only cosmetically by a late Clarke Carlisle header.

Rotherham’s inconsistencies were well documented in the build-up to the game but while they are undoubtedly a talented squad they went into the game on the back of a three-game losing streak.

It started so well - Adebayo Akinfenwa showed some good feet on the edge of the Millers box before rattling off a shot to which Andy Warrington, diving low to his right, was the equal.

Kayode Odejayi did likewise at the other end after debutant Jordan Slew bustled his way - somewhat fortuitously - through a couple of challenges before sliding the pass across.

In what was a fairly open start to the game, Jake Robinson then cut inside off his wing and fired a right-footed shot that dipped past Warrington and against the post, with Mark Bradley pouncing on the rebound to deny the arriving Akinfenwa.

Things started to turn five minutes from half-time when Ben Harding was harshly adjudged to have fouled Bradley in the box - it appeared Harding got a toe to the ball but the referee had other ideas and pointed to the spot.

Daniel Nardiello, who had barely been in the game up to that point, made no mistake, sending Nicholls the wrong way.

Rotherham started the second half brightly, Tozer blocked at the feet of Odejayi and David Noble steering a shot into Nicholls’ hands after a midfield raid.

Town had their moments too, notably when Akinfenwa slipped a pass out to Chris Hackett, whose first shot was blocked by two covering players and his second by a combination of Warrington and a third Rotherham defender.

But their attacks were rarely sustained periods of pressure on the home side’s goal and the match was settled when the ball broke to Ben Pringle to fire a Rotherham second.

The ball squirmed to the central midfielder 20 yards from goal, he took a touch and then rattled a left-footed shot that deflected - but not by much - past Nicholls and into the corner.

The goalkeeper made a great save to deny Nardiello after he had wandered in behind a ball-watching Tozer but it only delayed the third goal, which came when Noble took the ball in his stride, controlled it on the bounce and despatched it with style.

Rotherham could have added to their tally and certainly finished the game as the stronger side, even if Carlisle did socre a consoling header with the game’s final touch.

The Cobblers’ promotion credentials, meanwhile, continue to be undermined by a travel sickness that often leaves everyone feeling as green as their glow-in-the-dark kit.

Rotherham: Warrington, Bradley, Arnason, Mullins, Ridehalgh, O’Connor, Pringle, Noble, Nardiello, Slew, Odejayi

Subs: Agard (for O’Connor 84), Kearns (for Noble 86), Cameron (for Nardiello 90+2)

Not used: Thompson, Revell, Morgan, Rowe

Cobblers: Nicholls, Tozer, Langmead, Carlisle, Widdowson, Hackett, Oyeleke, Harding, Guttridge, Robinson, Akinfenwa

Subs: O’Donovan (for Oyeleke 46), Platt (for Robinson 71)

Not used: Johnson, Demontagnac, Snedker, Moult, Hornby

Attendance: 7,739

Away fans: 956