Northampton end Shrewsbury run

Northampton became the first visiting team to pick up three points at the Greenhous Meadow this season by beating Shrewsbury 2-1.

Goals from Chris Hackett and Joel Byrom gave the Cobblers, who were without injured top scorer Marc Richards, a notable victory over Micky Mellon's promotion chasers. Northampton started brightly with Lawson D'Ath twice off target with shots from the edge of the box before the Cobblers were rewarded with a 20th-minute breakthrough. D'Ath ran at the Shrewsbury defence and slipped a pass to Hackett who arrowed a fine shot from 20 yards to the far corner of the net, a finish which left goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler with no chance. Shrewsbury picked up as the first half developed and Scott Vernon volleyed a cross from Ryan Woods narrowly over before Vernon's close range effort was straight at keeper Matt Duke. Shrewsbury were close to an equaliser right on half time but Vernon's cross-shot just eluded James Collins with the goal gaping. Northampton doubled their lead two minutes into the second half with Byron powering home an angled 15-yard shot from a well worked free kick. It was the signal for Shrewsbury to push forward in numbers and they finally clawed a goal back in the 83rd minute when Mickey Demetriou headed in a Bobby Grant free kick. Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro then had a fine chance to salvage a stoppage-time point but nodded a Demetriou cross just wide as Shrewsbury suffered a second successive defeat.