Goals from Kevin Thornton and Michael Jacobs gave Northampton victory over fellow League Two strugglers Stockport.
Thornton gave the Cobblers the lead inside five minutes, beating two defenders and firing past Matt Glennon.
The hosts had two penalty appeals turned down when Leon McKenzie and John Johnson went down in the box and Anthony Pulis fired wide for County.
But Jacobs sealed Town the win deep into the second half when he curled the ball past Glennon from a tight angle.
Northampton Town assistant manager Malcolm Crosby told BBC Radio Northampton: "I thought we started very well, and when we scored the first goal, I thought we'd score a couple more.
"It was a great goal by Kevin Thornton - he's got great ability. We're always looking for consistency from him and he should be able to play at a higher level. If he can do that, he won't be at Northampton for long."
"It's hard to get players like Adbul Osman, because he works hard, he's such a tough boy and he keeps it simple with the ball. And Michael Jacobs has always got a goal in him."
Stockport County manager Paul Simpson told BBC Radio Manchester: "We looked at today as being a real opportunity to shoot ourselves up the table but we allow a player of Thornton's ability to pick his spot and straight away we've got a mountain to climb.
"I thought after that we kept plugging away trying to do the right thing, but for the possession we had we didn't trouble their goalkeeper enough.
"We've got to lift ourselves because nobody else is going to do it and get ourselves ready for the next one."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Northampton
2-0
Stockport
FT
(HT 1-0)
Thornton 4
Jacobs 75
Northampton
01 Dunn
06 Beckwith
14 Johnson
25 Tozer
04 Thornton
08 Osman
11 Holt (Jacobs 46)
22 Gilligan
23 Davis
16 McKay (King 68)
18 McKenzie yellow card
Substitutes
13 Walker,
02 Rodgers,
03 Hall,
12 Wedderburn,
17 Jacobs,
15 Herbert,
28 King
Stockport
27 Glennon
03 Williams yellow card
17 Halls
20 Rose
32 Aldred
04 Turnbull
08 Tansey yellow card
11 Pulis (Conlon 62)
12 Griffin (Pilkington 73) (Simpson 84)
14 Poole
10 Donnelly
Substitutes
25 Ormson,
07 Vincent,
16 Pilkington,
21 Simpson,
09 Conlon,
23 Fletcher,
29 Salem
Ref: MossAtt: 4,088
NORTHAMPTON
STOCKPORT
Possession
Northampton53%
Stockport47%
Attempts on target
Northampton4
Stockport2
Attempts off target
Northampton9
Stockport2
Corners
Northampton7
Stockport0
Fouls
Northampton4
Stockport14
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+9:43 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
Correction - 90:00+7:46 The referee ends the match.
90:00+1:21 Liam Davis concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Turnbull. Barry Conlon restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:46 Liam Davis fouled by George Donnelly, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ben Tozer.
89:56 Corner taken by Ryan Gilligan, Header on goal by Leon McKenzie from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
89:38 Michael Jacobs takes a shot. Clearance made by Robbie Williams.
89:08 Shot from just outside the box by Kevin Thornton goes over the target.
88:23 Abdul Osman crosses the ball, Jake Simpson makes a clearance.
84:54 The ball is delivered by Paul Turnbull, Dean Beckwith makes a clearance.
83:47 Substitution (Stockport) makes a substitution, with Jake Simpson coming on for Danny Pilkington.
82:14 The referee gives a free kick against Barry Conlon for handball. Indirect free kick taken by John Johnson.
79:00 Corner taken left-footed by Kevin Thornton to the near post, clearance by Greg Tansey.
78:47 Ryan Gilligan crosses the ball, Robbie Williams makes a clearance.
78:11 Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Gilligan, George Donnelly manages to make a clearance.
76:38 Michael Jacobs has an effort at goal from deep inside the box striking the post.
74:06 The assist for the goal came from Leon McKenzie.
74:06 GOAL - Michael Jacobs:Northampton 2 - 0 Stockport Goal scored by Michael Jacobs from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 2-0 Stockport.
73:44 A cross is delivered by Liam Davis, save by Matthew Glennon.
73:29 Liam Davis produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
72:26 Substitution Danny Pilkington is brought on as a substitute for Adam Griffin.
71:26 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kevin Thornton from the right by-line.
70:52 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kevin Thornton, save by Robbie Williams.
70:35 Kevin Thornton takes a shot. Save made by Matthew Glennon.
69:58 Barry Conlon is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Tozer.
69:43 The offside flag is raised against Michael Jacobs. Matthew Glennon takes the indirect free kick.
69:17 Michael Jacobs decides to take the corner short.
67:06 Substitution Billy Mckay leaves the field to be replaced by Craig King.
63:52 Barry Conlon concedes a free kick for a foul on Abdul Osman. Chris Dunn takes the free kick.
63:52 Booking Leon McKenzie goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
63:17 Booking Greg Tansey goes into the referee's book.
61:49 Substitution Barry Conlon is brought on as a substitute for Anthony Pulis.
61:21 Close range effort by David Poole goes wide of the right-hand upright.
60:25 Unfair challenge on Kevin Thornton by Greg Tansey results in a free kick. Ben Tozer takes the free kick.
58:22 The offside flag is raised against Leon McKenzie. Andy Halls restarts play with the free kick.
57:04 Greg Tansey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Thornton. Indirect free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
55:43 Effort from just outside the area by Ryan Gilligan goes over the bar.
55:18 Paul Turnbull concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Jacobs. Free kick taken by Ben Tozer.
54:18 The official flags Leon McKenzie offside. Matthew Glennon takes the free kick.
53:19 John Johnson sends in a cross.
53:06 Ryan Gilligan takes a shot. Save made by Matthew Glennon.
52:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Abdul Osman by Greg Tansey. Free kick taken by Ben Tozer.
49:35 Corner taken by Kevin Thornton from the right by-line played to the near post.
49:00 Unfair challenge on Abdul Osman by Adam Griffin results in a free kick. Free kick taken by John Johnson.
48:34 Tom Aldred challenges Leon McKenzie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
46:18 John Johnson crosses the ball, Anthony Pulis manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 45:01 Substitution Andrew Holt goes off and Michael Jacobs comes on.
45:01 The second half begins.
45:01 Substitution Andrew Holt goes off and Michael Jacobs comes on.
Half Time
45:00+1:05 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+0:28 David Poole is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
45:00+0:21 The ball is delivered by Andy Halls, Dean Beckwith makes a clearance.
43:19 Liam Davis delivers the ball, Header by Andrew Holt from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
42:57 John Johnson delivers the ball, clearance by Jordan Rose.
38:42 Anthony Pulis challenges Kevin Thornton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
37:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Johnson by Adam Griffin. Free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
36:47 The ball is crossed by Andy Halls.
35:54 The official flags Leon McKenzie offside. Jordan Rose restarts play with the free kick.
34:50 Greg Tansey takes a shot. Chris Dunn makes a save.
33:50 Unfair challenge on Kevin Thornton by Adam Griffin results in a free kick. Dean Beckwith takes the free kick.
31:48 The ball is swung over by Andy Halls, John Johnson manages to make a clearance.
31:20 Billy Mckay challenges Tom Aldred unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Glennon restarts play with the free kick.
30:58 The referee blows for offside against George Donnelly. Chris Dunn takes the free kick.
30:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by George Donnelly on Ben Tozer. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
25:38 The ball is sent over by Robbie Williams, Paul Turnbull has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the goal.
Correction - 21:38 Foul by Robbie Williams on Leon McKenzie, free kick awarded. Kevin Thornton takes the free kick.
21:38 Robbie Williams gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leon McKenzie. Kevin Thornton takes the indirect free kick.
21:38 Booking Robbie Williams is given a yellow card.
20:20 Billy Mckay delivers the ball, Andy Halls manages to make a clearance.
16:45 Unfair challenge on Leon McKenzie by Jordan Rose results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Thornton.
14:48 Robbie Williams takes a shot. Save by Chris Dunn.
14:24 Robbie Williams fouled by Liam Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Griffin.
13:48 Unfair challenge on Tom Aldred by Abdul Osman results in a free kick. Matthew Glennon takes the free kick.
11:13 Andrew Holt produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
8:45 John Johnson delivers the ball, clearance by Jordan Rose.
6:23 The referee gives a free kick against Leon McKenzie for handball. Jordan Rose restarts play with the free kick.
5:28 A cross is delivered by Andrew Holt, Billy Mckay has a headed effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
3:43 The assist for the goal came from Ben Tozer.
3:43 GOAL - Kevin Thornton:Northampton 1 - 0 Stockport A goal is scored by Kevin Thornton from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Northampton 1-0 Stockport.
0:00 The game begins.
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