The Robins slipped to their first away defeat under Mark Yates this afternoon with the consolation being that Marley Watkins scored his first for the club.

Akinfenwa and Harris scored for the Cobblers on what was a difficult pitch due to the amount of rain ahead of the game. Cheltenham looked stronger in attack after the break but the Robins will be disappointed tonight.

Mark Yates had made three changes to the squad that started against Torquay midweek with the most obvious switch up front with both Hayles and Alsop dropping to the bench and replaced with Hammond and Richards. Danny Andrew came into midfield at the expense of Matt Thornhill (hamstring) with David Hutton sitting behind the strikers in the diamond formation.

1: First shot of the match fell to Elvis Hammond but it was a poor effort from outside the area and picked up easily by Jason Steele.

3: The water on the pitch started to play havoc with some of the passing movements particulary with Hammond and Richards.

5: Adebayo Akinfenwa fired a long warning shot across Brown's goal but it was high and wide.

7: Billy McKay picked up a dangerous cross from Davis' cross but his fantastic touch wasn't enough to stop Brown from taking possession from the striker's feet.

11 BOOKING: Josh Low was yellow carded for bringing down Osman after the midfielder made a good challenge.

12: High, wide and not very handsome from Josh Low. Northampton had gifted Low an opportunity at goal with some sloppy play but he fired over from 20 yards.

14: McKay had a strike from goal thanks to some good work by Akinfenwa but his strike deflected off Ridley and away from danger.

17: A series of corners caused Northampton a few problems but the Robins couldn't make the pressure count.

24: Header from John Johnson following a Northampton corner forced Brown into a good looking save.

30: A terrific run from Paul Rodgers caused the Robins some trouble but his shot left a lot to be desired as it sailed far over the crossbar.

38: The game went very flat with not much happening. It's been hard for either team to string any movement together but the Robins have being playing some nice stuff when they can.

41: Freekick to Northampton on the edge of the area following a foul on Akinfenwa by Pook. McKay's left footed effort struck the side netting to disappoint an already celebrating Cobblers crowd.

Half Time: Northampton 0-0 Robins

46 DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Julian Alsop and Barry Hayles both came on at half time for Hammond and Richards.

47 BOOKING: Ashley Eastham was booked for throwing the ball away in frustration following a Northampton attack.

51 GOAL: Adebayo Akinfenwa broke the deadlock following a Northampton corner.The ball fell in the area but the Robins failed to clear their lines and the srong centre forward made them pay with a simple finish past Brown.

55: Northampton started to turn the pressure on with a great move starting with Rodgers. The Cobblers moved the ball well down the left and the cross found Akinfenwa but the big man fired his shot wide.

60: Great football from Northampton who are really grilling Cheltenham. Billy McKay had the opportunity on goal this time but pulled his shot wide.

62: Superb save from Scott Brown. McKay broke free of Lee Ridley and stormed in on goal only to be denied by the Robins keeper.

64 DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Marley Watkins entered the game replacing Lee Ridley. Northampton brought on Seb Harris for the impressive Akinfenwa.

68: Good link up on the right with Josh Low and Markey Watkins. Low fired a cross in which found the head of Alsop but his effort was deflected over for a corner. Alsop fired the resulting corner over the bar with his head but Cheltenham looking a lot stronger in attack following the changes.

75: John Johnson sent in a low cross but neither McKay nor Harris could finish the opportunity off.

77 SUBSTITUTION: Second change for the Cobblers. Liam Davis makes way for Alex Dyer.

78 GOAL: David Hutton went down the left wing with a clever run and turned on the ball to loop in a right footed cross. The ball evaded Hayles and Alsop but Marley Watkins was waiting at the far post to take control and slot the ball home. That was Marley Watkin's first goal for Cheltenham Town.

78 BOOKING: Marley Watkins was yellow carded for celebrating with the Robins fans. Harsh booking from Kettle.

85 GOAL: Short corner from Northampton and the resulting cross from Dyer found the head of Seb Harris and his looping header left Brown no chance.

86 SUBSTITUTION: Northampton's final change was Courtney Herbert who replaced Rodgers.

90+4: Eastham looped a ball into the box following a good attack but Alsop's diving header didn't have the desired impact and Steele save comfortably.

Full Time: Northampton 2-1 Robins

Northampton Town (4-4-2): Steele (GK); Johnson, Hinton (C), Beckwith, Gilbert; Rodgers (Herbert 86), Osman, Curtis, Davis (Dyer 77); Akinfenwa (Harris 64), McKay

Subs not used: Walker, Mulligan, Jacobs, O'Flynn

Cheltenham Town (4-4-2 Diamond): Brown (GK); Bird (C), Eastham, Gallinagh, Ridley (Watkins 64); Pook, Low, Andrew, Hutton; Richards (Alsop 46), Hammond (Hayles 46)

Subs not used: Puddy (GK), Duff, Haynes, Lewis

Referee: T. Kettle

Attendance: 4,428 (257 from Cheltenham)

Robins Star Man: Scott Brown - He made a number of quality saves that denied Northampton taking full control of the game.

James Brown from Sixfields