Boothroyd not happy despite Northampton Town claiming ninth home win on the trot

Town ran out 1-0 winners over Oxford United courtesy of Ben Harding’s second goal of the season, scoring in first-half stoppage time at a snowy Sixfields.

The win puts Northampton fourth in npower League Two, level on points with Cheltenham - who drew 0-0 at Barnet - and one behind Burton Albion, whose home game against Wycombe Wanderers was postponed.

Heavy snowfall had put the game at Sixfields in doubt but around 40 volunteers arrived early on Saturday morning to clear the white stuff from the pitch covers and ensure the game went ahead.

But while Boothroyd was pleased to reward the frozen fans with three points, he was not happy with the way his players performed in a second half during which they allowed Oxford to have lots of possession and set-pieces.

“Every time we have the bad weather we have lots of people turn up to help us out and when you have commitment like that it’s only right that you repay those people,” he said.

“To get the three points is terrific although I thought we did our best to give them at least a point in the second half.

“When you’re in front you have to make sure you play the game in their half but there were three or four occasions when we just gave the ball back to them.

“It’s a difficult one for me because I wanted to go in there after the game and shout at them but we won so I didn’t, I just left them alone. I’ll tell them off on Monday.

“Our goalkeeper was terrific for us and the first-half performance was very good. It’s a very good result for us.”