Northampton maintained their promotion push with a deserved victory over fellow play-off hopefuls Morecambe.
Liam Davis gave the Cobblers a second-minute lead with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Ryan Gilligan slotted in from close range after being released by Adebayo Akinfenwa to doubled the home side's lead six minutes after the break.
Morecambe created little but came close late on when Stewart Drummond's shot was saved by home keeper Jason Steele.
Northampton boss Ian Sampson told BBC Radio Northampton:
"Credit to the boys. The confidence is high at the moment and they played some good stuff.
"The first 20 minutes is probably the best they've played. It's the best we've started the game for a long time."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 20 March 2010
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Northampton
2-0
Morecambe
FT
(HT 1-0)
Davis 2
Gilligan 51
Northampton
26 Steele
02 Rodgers
03 Johnson
05 Hinton
06 Beckwith
23 Gilbert
08 Osman yellow card
12 Gilligan (Guttridge 70)
14 Davis
10 Akinfenwa
17 Mckay (Guinan 82)
Substitutes
13 Walker,
04 Guttridge,
15 Dyer,
09 Guinan,
16 Mulligan,
24 Harris,
28 O'Flynn
Morecambe
01 Roche
05 Bentley
19 Wilson
22 Parrish yellow card
28 Haining (Artell 32)
07 Hackney
14 Panther
16 Drummond
18 Duffy (Curtis 57 yellow card)
10 Jevons
21 Mullin
Substitutes
12 Davies,
02 Moss,
04 Artell,
06 Stanley,
11 Wainwright,
08 Hunter,
09 Curtis
Ref: HorwoodAtt: 4,210
NORTHAMPTON
MORECAMBE
Possession
Northampton56%
Morecambe44%
Attempts on target
Northampton7
Morecambe1
Attempts off target
Northampton4
Morecambe7
Corners
Northampton4
Morecambe4
Fouls
Northampton12
Morecambe11
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:08 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+3:42 Simon Hackney takes a shot. Dean Beckwith gets a block in.
90:00+1:56 Wayne Curtis sends in a cross.
90:00+0:05 Simon Hackney produces a cross.
88:37 Luke Guttridge challenges Stewart Drummond unfairly and gives away a free kick. Barry Roche takes the free kick.
Correction - 87:47 Paul Rodgers fouled by Emmanuel Panther, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Davis restarts play with the free kick.
87:47 Foul by Emmanuel Panther on Paul Rodgers, free kick awarded. Jason Steele takes the direct free kick.
86:41 Corner taken right-footed by Wayne Curtis from the left by-line, free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Mullin on John Johnson. Jason Steele takes the direct free kick.
86:24 Stewart Drummond produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
85:57 A cross is delivered by Laurence Wilson, Craig Hinton makes a clearance.
85:39 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Simon Hackney, clearance made by Craig Hinton.
85:24 Wayne Curtis produces a cross, Peter Gilbert manages to make a clearance.
83:51 The ball is swung over by John Johnson.
83:07 Foul by Jim Bentley on Adebayo Akinfenwa, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Luke Guttridge.
81:57 Substitution Steve Guinan on for Billy Mckay.
Correction - 81:38 Shot by Phil Jevons from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
81:38 Phil Jevons has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
81:00 Simon Hackney delivers the ball.
79:42 Unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by Simon Hackney results in a free kick. Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.
75:53 Luke Guttridge takes the inswinging corner, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Abdul Osman misses to the left of the goal.
75:19 Centre by Adebayo Akinfenwa, Liam Davis takes a shot. Jim Bentley gets a block in.
74:06 Paul Mullin is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jason Steele.
73:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Parrish by Liam Davis. Simon Hackney takes the free kick.
71:56 John Johnson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wayne Curtis. Direct free kick taken by Emmanuel Panther.
71:07 The ball is crossed by Simon Hackney, Paul Mullin has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
69:16 Substitution Ryan Gilligan leaves the field to be replaced by Luke Guttridge.
67:01 A cross is delivered by David Artell.
66:22 The official flags Billy Mckay offside. Free kick taken by Stewart Drummond.
65:28 Simon Hackney delivers the ball.
63:00 Booking Wayne Curtis is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
62:50 Wayne Curtis challenges Paul Rodgers unfairly and gives away a free kick. Liam Davis restarts play with the free kick.
60:52 Corner taken by Liam Davis.
59:30 Booking The referee shows Andy Parrish a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
59:11 Unfair challenge on Liam Davis by Andy Parrish results in a free kick. Ryan Gilligan takes the direct free kick.
56:41 Substitution Wayne Curtis is brought on as a substitute for Mark Duffy.
56:35 Mark Duffy delivers the ball.
55:46 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emmanuel Panther by Billy Mckay. Barry Roche restarts play with the free kick.
54:09 Billy Mckay has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
52:25 Shot from just outside the box by Liam Davis goes over the bar.
Correction - 50:25 GOAL - Ryan Gilligan:Northampton 2 - 0 Morecambe Ryan Gilligan fires in a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 2-0 Morecambe.
50:25 Adebayo Akinfenwa provided the assist for the goal.
50:25 GOAL - Ryan Gilligan:Northampton 2 - 0 Morecambe Ryan Gilligan finds the back of the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 2-0 Morecambe.
47:53 Billy Mckay is caught offside. Barry Roche restarts play with the free kick.
46:50 Dean Beckwith fouled by Phil Jevons, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Steele. Shot by Ryan Gilligan from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+3:16 The ref blows to end the first period.
Correction - 45:00+0:36 David Artell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa. Direct free kick taken by Craig Hinton.
45:00+0:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by David Artell. Craig Hinton takes the free kick.
45:00+0:03 Andy Parrish sends in a cross.
43:14 Mark Duffy produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.
42:24 Laurence Wilson crosses the ball, Peter Gilbert makes a clearance.
42:02 The ball is swung over by Andy Parrish.
40:19 David Artell fouled by Adebayo Akinfenwa, the ref awards a free kick. Barry Roche takes the free kick.
36:22 Mark Duffy concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Gilbert. Jason Steele takes the free kick.
34:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Hackney on John Johnson. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
32:39 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Simon Hackney.
31:11 Substitution Will Haining goes off and David Artell comes on.
28:25 Paul Mullin takes a shot from close range clearing the crossbar.
27:54 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Beckwith on Paul Mullin. Free kick taken by Emmanuel Panther.
27:31 The assistant referee flags for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Barry Roche.
27:25 Abdul Osman delivers the ball.
25:34 Unfair challenge on Stewart Drummond by Abdul Osman results in a free kick. Barry Roche takes the free kick.
24:08 The assistant referee signals for offside against Billy Mckay. Direct free kick taken by Barry Roche.
22:28 Outswinging corner taken by Liam Davis, Laurence Wilson makes a clearance.
20:23 Jim Bentley concedes a free kick for a foul on Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan, John Johnson takes a shot. Save by Barry Roche.
19:10 Mark Duffy takes a corner.
19:03 The ball is crossed by Emmanuel Panther, clearance made by Craig Hinton.
18:52 Centre by Laurence Wilson.
18:02 Unfair challenge on Laurence Wilson by Paul Rodgers results in a free kick. Barry Roche takes the free kick.
14:08 The assistant referee signals for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Barry Roche.
12:54 The ball is swung over by Simon Hackney, clearance by Ryan Gilligan.
11:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jim Bentley by Adebayo Akinfenwa. Free kick taken by Barry Roche.
10:09 Corner taken by Liam Davis from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Stewart Drummond.
9:52 Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save made by Barry Roche.
8:27 The offside flag is raised against Phil Jevons. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
8:12 The ball is delivered by Ryan Gilligan.
5:54 Laurence Wilson sends in a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Will Haining misses to the left of the target.
5:54 Booking Abdul Osman is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
5:47 Abdul Osman handles the ball and concedes a free kick.
5:33 Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save by Barry Roche.
5:16 The ball is crossed by Paul Rodgers.
3:25 Emmanuel Panther takes a shot.
3:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Will Haining. Direct free kick taken by Barry Roche.
1:54 GOAL - Liam Davis:Northampton 1 - 0 Morecambe Goal scored by Liam Davis from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 1-0 Morecambe.
1:15 Peter Gilbert gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Duffy. Andy Parrish takes the free kick.
0:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emmanuel Panther by Ryan Gilligan. Emmanuel Panther takes the direct free kick.
0:14 Billy Mckay takes a shot. Barry Roche makes a save.
0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
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