When was the last time we scored FOUR GOALS in the league. More to the point when was the last time we scored FOUR GOALS in a game when we were second best for most of it?

Northampton, in fairness to them, started well and passed and moved quickly which gave us some problems. Smith was having problems with his man and Roger was very very shaky.

Swans started with Tony Bird up front in place of Alsop and Bird played well. I admit I did not think he was the answer to some of our problems but he was hungry tonight and wanted the ball. He made the opening goal for Watkin with a low drive across the goal which left Stevo with a simple tap-in.

That was, in reality, our only chance of the first half (did the Sky stats back that up?) but despite numerous chances Northampton managed very little on target. Roger fumbled at one which was cleared in desperation off the line and they hit the post for which the ref inexplicably gave a corner.

Second half started much the same with the Lion's share of possession going to the visitors.

Coates scored the second in off the post and straight away looked like a man that had some confidence back. First half he was non-existent (I hope they never put the player cam on him) but after the goal he looked better.

Unsurprisingly, Northampton pulled one back to continue the tradition of worrying the home crowd.

The turning point was probably the sending-off. Price burst through the middle and was callously brought down by the last man and the ref made the right decision with a red card.

Thomas added the 3rd in off both posts and Bird scored a deserved goal in the last minute.

At the end of the day, we have moaned for weeks that we don't score goals. Today we were second best in most areas but scored four times. To the Northampton fans, I would say 'Now you know what it feels like'

I stand by what I say that it will take a major fall back to miss promotion now and fingers crossed for Peterborough to lose tomorrow.

We won - 70 points on the board and all roads pointing to Darlington - it's a nice feeling isn't it??

Player Ratings: -

Freestone - 4 - very poor from Rog tonight. Luckily we didn't suffer because of it - let's hope that's his bad game out of the way
Jones - 7 - Shaky at the start and gave the ball away allot but looked better as the game wore on
Howard - 6 - Ditto Jones really.
Bound - 6 - again not one of his better games but composed]
Smith - 7 - torrid time first half came better second half - was SKY TV MOTM
Coates - first half - 3 - second half - 7 - the goal as I said gave him confidence - let's hope he keeps it
Price - 7 - mainly for the run that led to the red card and making the 3rd goal
Cusack - 6 - I'm not a Cusack fan but he covered well at the back when needed
Thomas - 7 - typical Thomas. Got a booking which I think means a one game ban?
Watkin - 6 - not on long enough to make a real impression but he scored
Bird - 8 - worked hard throughout. Won a fair bit in the air at the start but then we played to Alsop when he came on. Made Watkin's goal but missed one after doing all the hard work. Deserved his goal and my personal MOTM

Subs
Alsop - 6 - Nothing really to impress me
O'Leary - 7 - looked good in the 5 minutes he was on. COuld have done with him earlier to shake them up in midfield?

Referee - 3 - I can only presume this man was blind?? Fair play though for showing the red card it was the right decision.

Crowd - 9 - tremendous atmosphere but I wonder if they would have turned against the team if the cameras weren't there? One observation - what is some fans fixation with not giving the ball back??

It feels good to score 4 goals in a game even if it wasn't convincing. Frankly at the moment, I don't care!!!!!!

We travelled 280 miles round trip on Tuesday night to report that we had murdered Halifax 1 - 0. Tonight we travelled a round trip of 8 feet (to our living room sofas) to watch Sky sports 2, and from that heady journey we can report that tonight Northampton stuffed us 1 - 4!!!

A remarkable evening in which a lively and physical Northampton outfit, who we tipped for automatic promotion back in November, outplayed the Swans for long periods, but seriously paid the price for not creating enough chances with their possession, and for spurning the ones they did create. As for the Swans, well it was a case of taking our luck as we found it, and battling as hard as we could. We stuck with the 4 - 4 - 2 which seems to work better for us, but dropped Alsop and replaced him with Bird, presumably promoted because he managed to hit the post on Tuesday.

But the performance was a poor one for the first hour. Northampton started brightly, and should have taken the lead when one of their defenders shook off Bound and headed over after 4 minutes, and a couple of minutes later hesitation from Jones nearly let Corrazin in. For the first quarter of an hour we barely got a kick, our midfield anonymous, our strikers unable to control the ball and even our defence looking hesitant. Then from our first meaningful attack, remarkably, we took the lead, when Bird hit a cross shot from the right which Watkin turned in unmarked from close range - a good striker's goal.

A couple of minutes later, Freestone dropped a corner at the feet of Hunter but then saved brilliantly on the line. We responded with a cross shot from Thomas which was blocked, but then it was all Northampton until the break, but they created very little other than a flurry of long range shots which didn't trouble us. However, Corrazin should have scored in the 39th minute when his stopping header struck the foot of the post. The sky commentators then revelled in the fact that their (rather dodgy) stats showed Northampton well in control.

The Cobblers dominated the early stages of the second half too - but this 13 minute spell of pressure failed to create a serious chance. Then in the 57th minute, a misplaced midfield pass found its way to Coates, who strode forward and struck a terrific left foot drive from 25 yards past Welch into the far corner to give us an undeserved 2 - 0 lead. Ironically, the Sky commentators gave Coates no credit for the strike, instead preferring to blame the keeper for not saving it, and the pitch for an alleged "bobble".

Northampton responded well - their Howard hit a good long range effort which Freestone saved, and from a dangerous left wing cross, Bound skied the clearance, and Freestone flapped at the enusing punch, almost presenting Corrazin with a chance. Shortly after, Hunt hit a low shot just wide after some close skill in the area. Alsop nodded over from a Howard cross in a rare Swans attack, but then Northampton got the goal they deserved when Corrazin struck home after a nod down from Hodge - the elation of the Sky commentators was almost embarrassing.

At this point, my money was on a Northampton equaliser, but the game turned when price broke through a gap created by a good decoy run from Bird. As last man, Hendon had no option but to pull Price back, and was rightly sent off. Thereafter we took control - and created further chances for Thomas, who shot wide, and Bird, who fluffed an excellent chance which he had created well for himself. Coates rifled an excellent right foot shot over the bar on the 83rd minute, and then Thomas made the game safe with a superb anlged shot across the keeper, after receiving a lay off from Price. In the dying minutes a hopeful long cross from Howard was flicked on by Alsop to Bird, who struck the ball home from clsoe range at the far post to lend an extremely flattering air to the scoreline.

At the final whistle we had cantered home, but for much of the game frankly we were hanging on. It has to be said though that tonight the team looked seriously tired. Tactically, we got it just right at Barnet and Halifax - two tough fixtures, the latter on a really draining pitch. So it was not surprising that the lads lacked some pace tonight, but they will need to get back to their best if they are to make an impression at Darlo in 8 days time. As for the Cobblers, well they moaned and groaned and cursed their luck, but they used all that up a couple of years ago didn't they? And I have no sympathy for them. At least their fans knew what colour they were playing in tonight ; - )

Profiles
Freestone - 5 A rare nightmare for Roger - dropped a couple of crosses and flapped at his punches.
Jones - 7 Battled well, but failed to prevent some dangerous crosses from the left.
Howard - 5 Struggled against John Hodge.
Smith - 8 Thank God we had him
Bound - 7 Steady, but lost his marker once or twice.
Coates - 6 Improved second half and scroed a great goal.
Price - 6 Again had a better second half and turned the game with that run.
Thomas - 7 Put himself about and kept us in the game; great goal
Cusack - 5 Some nuisance value helping out in defence
Watkin 6 - Scored a good goal but did little else before going off with injury
Bird - 6 Not too bad in general play, but not enough influence - will that goal get him another contract?
Alsop - 4 One good assist, but generally very poor
O'Leary - not on long enough to make an impression.

JH and AC - well they got us a good win, and JH was honest enough to admit it was lucky. Not too sure why Bird was in the team ahead of Boyd. Could have done with giving Appleby a run, but the result justified the means.

In summary - at the start of this tricky week of three tough games in 7days, we would have settled for a 5 or 6 point haul. In the event, we have taken all 9, 6 of them comfortably deserved, and really, we just can't argue with that...we have now given ourselves such a great chance, and great credit is due to the mangement and team for this effort in what has been a long and punishing season. And of course, all roads lead to Darlington in 8 days time...can't wait!!!