Northampton Town’s recent good form was put to the ultimate test on Easter Monday as they travelled to face League Two leaders Swindon Town with Paulo Di Canio’s side looking to extend their five-point lead at the top of the table.
Di Canio had celebrated extravagantly after his men won at Sixfields on New Year’s Eve but prior to the reverse fixture Aidy Boothroyd had said: “We are a far different team to what we were last time we played them.”
And that proved to be the case as the Cobblers pushed their opponents all the way in a game that was decided by a single strike from Holmes on 52 minutes.
Defeats at the bottom of the table for Macclesfield and Hereford leave Town still nine points above the drop zone with all of the teams below having just four games left to play.
After the match, boss Boothroyd said: "It wasn't a good game and I am a little disappointed with the performance. We huffed and puffed a bit and it's disappointing we've got nothing to show for our efforts."