O'Donovan celebrates his decisive goal for Northampton
We got a bit of a battering and were nowhere near our best
Mark Yates, Cheltenham manager
The Irish striker scored after 26 minutes as the Cobblers extended their Sixfields Stadium sequence to 12 wins in the past 13 matches. But there will be a sense of unease going into the Whaddon Road return match after Aidy Boothroyd’s side failed to kill off their opponents despite a dominant opening half.
“I am probably a happier man than Aidy right now. We got a bit of a battering and were nowhere near our best,” said Cheltenham manager Mark Yates.
Adebayo Akinfenwa could have completed a hat-trick while Northampton were piling on the pressure. He had an effort deflected wide and then headed over from a corner.
Mark Yates was not pleased with his sides' first leg performance
The former Swansea striker snatched at a shot and then saw a drive deflected wide from O’Donovan’s cross before failing to connect with Ben Harding’s corner. But Northampton took the lead at last as Akinfenwa fed the impressive Chris Hackett, who crossed for O’Donovan to convert on the half-volley.
In the second period it took a wonder save from Scott Brown to keep out Akinfenwa’s header. “They are frightened to death of Adebayo,” said Boothroyd.
“At some point or another he will score in this tie, and we know that we have a very good opportunity.”
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