Northampton Town 2-1 Carlisle United: Blues beaten despite Armer goal

Jack Armer struck soon after the break to give Paul Simpson's side the advantage.

But Sam Sherring and Louis Appere quickly hit back for the Cobblers.

Jon Brady's third-placed side held onto their advantage as Carlisle - who lost Ryan Edmondson to an arm injury - head into the Christmas period still in seventh position.

They were left to curse a damaging spell soon after Armer's goal as they failed to temper Northampton's attacking in the rearranged fixture at the Sixfields Stadium.

It also came on a night they missed Jon Mellish on the left of their central defence, as the latest injuries totted up at United, who lost for the fourth time in the league in 2022/23.

Mellish was said to be nursing a knock he picked up last time out against Sutton as fit-again Morgan Feeney returned to the XI, while midfielder Taylor Charters was recalled at the expense of Jordan Gibson.

There was a further boost on the bench, where Joel Senior was in the first-team squad for the first since since February, following a long injury lay-off.

Northampton also made two changes, with ex-Blues midfielder Jack Sowerby sidelined with illness and Mitch Pinnock dropping to the bench, Marc Leonard and Appere coming into the XI and former Manchester United midfielder Josh Harrop in the squad after his recent move.

United made some promising early running as ex-Cobbler Edmondson battled clear onto a Armer ball down the left and almost set up Kristian Dennis.

Jack Armer celebrates United's opener (Image: Richard Parkes)

At the other end, a Shaun McWilliams cross went unrewarded after a slick home move.

United, with Corey Whelan the left-sided central defender in Mellish's absence, battled to keep Northampton at bay, with Paul Huntington going up against big frontman Appere.

Carlisle then fashioned the best early chance when Edmondson, in the 11th minute, picked up a Huntington header and attacked down the left before cutting through a cluster of defenders and shooting just wide.

The home side failed to make the most of promising moments through Appere, while Owen Moxon's diagonal ball found Jack Ellis who almost cushioned a pass to Dennis at close range.

Kieron Bowie was also a danger for the Cobblers, burning past Ellis on one occasion as Feeney, not for the first time, had to intervene for the Blues.

Holy then came to United's rescue when he showed good reactions to parry a Sam Hoskins finish after Bowie had got free down the right.

The home side, meanwhile, were repeatedly annoyed by the amount of time Carlisle were taking over throw-ins and set-pieces, and eventually it led to a booking for Whelan.

Northampton's Ben Fox was next into the book for a foul as United made their way to the interval all square.

Louis Appere's shot finds the United net to make it 2-1 to Northampton (Image: Richard Parkes)

Things then came alive early in the second half as Carlisle took the lead - then quickly went behind.

The 49th minute saw United in front as pressure involving Armer, Dennis and Edmondson eventually saw the ball loop to Ellis in space, and his miscued attempt reached Armer who fired his first of the season past Lee Burge.

But the lead only lasted four minutes, as Sherring met a delivery from the right and saw his header evade players from both sides as it bounced into the net.

That galvanised the hosts, who should have scored again when in Appere found space in the box away from Ellis, only to blaze the chance over the bar.

The striker atoned moments later, though, as a Huntington error allowed Appere through their left defensive channel, and he went through and fired confidently past Holy.

Simpson responded by sending on Jack Stretton for Dennis as United looked for a way back.

But the Blues continued to appear vulnerable to the counter-attack as Brady's side looked for the kill.

Ryan Edmondson went off with an arm injury (Image: Richard Parkes)

Edmondson then could not continue, injured after a challenge on the United left, and he was replaced by Tobi Sho-Silva as part of a triple change, with Jordan Gibson and Jamie Devitt also on at Charters' and Whelan's expense.

Bowie almost made things safe for Northampton when he got away from Huntington, only for the chasing defender to deny him just as he shot.

At the other end, Stretton and Sho-Silva combined but home defender Sherring tracked the latter well to clear.

United applied more pressure late on, almost finding a way back when Moxon helped a cleared corner towards Feeney, but keeper Burge - earlier booked for time-wasting - saved.

Sho-Silva then had the ball in the net but the offside flag had already gone up as Carlisle competed for a free-kick, while Devitt couldn't beat Burge with a header as he attacked a deflected Gibson attempt, as the 225 travelling fans went home disappointed from the rearranged fixture.

Northampton: Burge, McGowan, Odimayo, Guthrie, Sherring, McWilliams (Pinnock 75), Fox, Leonard, Hoskins, Bowie (Magloire 90), Appere (Hylton 86). Not used: Harrop, Eppiah, Maxted, Haynes.

Goals: Sherring 53, Appere 56.

Booked: Fox, Burge, McGowan.

United: Holy, Feeney, Huntington, Whelan (Devitt 69), Ellis, Armer, Guy, Charters (Gibson 69), Moxon, Dennis (Stretton 61), Edmondson (Sho-Silva 69). Not used: Senior, Harris, Kelly.

Goals: Armer 49.

Booked: Whelan, Armer.

Ref: James Oldham.

Crowd: 4,583 (225 United fans).