Stevenage 2
Northampton Town 3
League (League Two)

Match report written by Neil Metcalfe, The Comet

A dramatic start was eclipsed by an even more frantic end to a pulsating match - but Stevenage's run of home wins was ended by Northampton Town.

A penalty conceded after 22 seconds and converted by Northampton on 58 seconds started the drama but Danny Rose equalised before half-time.

That's was the score until the last eight minutes when suddenly there was three more goals and a red card, but the dust settled with the Cobblers winning 3-2.

There was also a red card for Boro boss Steve Evans and plenty to mull for the near 5,000 crowd.

Stevenage made three changes from the draw away to Gillingham last Saturday.

Jordan Roberts missed out due to a one-match ban caused by five yellows and was replaced by Jake Taylor.

Michael Bostwick and Kane Smith were the others coming in ahead of Luther James-Wildon and Jake Reeves.

The first half was certainly not one for the faint-hearted and it started with a bang.

There didn't look to be much to complain about with the penalty decision, Terence Vancooten's tackle coming from behind, and the ball was struck home a little more than 30 seconds after the foul.

And it rocked everyone of a home persuasion inside the Lamex.

The crowd was flat, the players looked stunned and Northampton sensed blood in the water.

Mitch Pinnock went closest with a shot across the face of goal, the effort coming just after a penalty shout that had both teams shouting, Boro wanting the dive.

The double yellow and then red for Evans came as players were receiving treatment for injuries and it proved a pivotal moment as while the spat between the two bosses and referee was going on, lots of shouting and finger pointing, Paul Raynor and Alex Revell were passing on instructions to the Boro squad.

They were obviously vital because it did put a stop to Northampton's momentum, before Stevenage grasped the nettle and equalised seven minutes later.

They had created nothing up to that point, and looked like creating nothing either, but the goal owed everything to the determination of Rose.

He won the ball inside the Northampton half and went forward on a charge.

He looked to be on the end of a shove in the back when he got in the box but he still had the wherewithal to stab the ball beyond Lee Burge while on the ground.

From there and for the remainder of the half, it was all Boro.

There was bite in the tackles, incessant pressing and a sudden belief in the crowd.

Dan Sweeney had the best chance, heading a Kane Smith free-kick over the top from five yards out.

Evans had taken a seat in the back row of the West Stand and he was there in the second half, shouting instructions down to the bench.

The first of them was to make a sub after five minutes of the second half, Max Clark replacing Earley.

Boro should have been in front by that point but Jamie Reid sent a tame shot along the ground and straight at Burge when through one one one.

He hit a much better shot shortly after which flew across the keeper and in off the far post.

The touch to him from Taylor was exquisite too but also just after Reid had strayed offside.

He was replaced with 25 minutes to go, Norris brought on after another shout from the back of the stand.

The rest of the half didn't flow but while there was no real chances, the intensity was still there.

It felt as if something was brewing as the game went into the last 10 minutes and so it proved as Bowie struck a partially-cleared cross.

But that wasn't the half of it.

Gilbey sent the Lamex into raptures by sweeping in after a Carl Piergianni header had been cleared off the line but the Cobblers went straight up the other end and McWilliams did almost the same as the ball broke to him six yards out.

There was still time for Danny Hylton to be given his marching orders for a hand in the throat area of Sweeney.

There was to be no more drama though.