After a week of cup action, Vale were the visitors and they faced a Cobblers side with one change from the previous week's victory against Boston. Chris Carruthers replaced the injured Paul Rickers.
The visitors stared brightly with sucessive chances in the opening minutes but from then onwards Town took control. Mark Goodlad was forced to save well from Paul Harsley on five minutes and Chris Hargreaves headed over the top from the resulting corner. After 12 minutes Marco Gabbiadini shot wide when clean through.
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The Cobblers top scorer didn't have to wait much longer for a goal though, latching onto a misguided header from Ian Armstrong, Gabbiadini delightfully chipped the ball over Goodlad from the edge of the area to give the Cobblers a deserved lead.
Further goals should have followed, Harsley volleying over from close range and Ian Sampson heading over from a corner when unmarked.
Town kept their control on the game in the 2nd half and Gabbiadini doubled the scoring in the 56th minute, running onto Jamie Forrester's through ball before colly slotting home from 12 yards.
Town were boosted by the return of Darryn Stamp in the final minutes and the hefty striker played in Forrester down the left wing, Forrester cut inside before sending a precision lob over Goodlad for the Cobblers third.
It was a deserved victory for Town against a Vale side who were poor on their day.
NTFConline Man of the Match
Marco Gabbiadini - yet again another brilliant performance and two superb finishes.
Ref Watch
Mr Cain failed to let the game flow and looked confused at many of his decisions.