Pato watches on as O'Brien-Whitmarsh's sweet late strike seals first win for Cobblers

Pato and other members of Sports Alpha Capital, the consortium set to buy a stake in the club, were among those in attendance at Sixfields and they were animated observers throughout as Town struggled for long spells before snatching a long, long overdue victory just three minutes from time.

The home side dominated possession in the first half but created little before labouring even more in the second 45, and a goalless stalemate felt inevitable, but Sixfields erupted with euphoria when O’Brien-Whitmarsh picked out the bottom corner with a superb strike, earning Chris Hogg his first win in charge and allowing everyone to breathe a big sigh of relief.

Deadline day signing Sam Chambers made his Cobblers debut in one of three changes to the team as Connor Evans and Harvey Saunders also started, with Logan Briggs and Sam Hoskins dropping to the bench and Lee Evans serving the first of his three-game suspension. Owen Dale and Josh Powell, who also joined on deadline day, were among the subs.

The home side threatened inside six minutes at Sixfields when Joe Wormleighton slipped in Saunders, who had space in the box and shot hard and low but too close to goalkeeper Jordan Wright.

That was not a sign of things to come, however, as while Cobblers controlled possession, it was all a bit predictable and laboured and therefore comfortable for Newport to defend against.

Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh was bright in midfield and he shot wide after a smart turn but otherwise it was extremely slim-pickings in terms of goalmouth action - at both ends of the pitch.

Newport had their first real dangerous moment just after the restart when a ball flashed across the box and Zach Jeacock was down quickly to beat it away.

Chris Hogg did not wait long to make changes, sending on Matty Warhurst and Briggs within 10 minutes of the restart, and the shape was now more of 4-4-2.

But the subs not really add the impetus that was needed, and Cobblers did not even have the control they had in the first half as Newport grew in confidence and upped their threat level.

Opoku’s weak header was easy for Wright before Dale came on for his debut with 11 minutes to go, introduced alongside Hoskins, but the game looked to be meandering towards a predictable conclusion.

With only three minutes to go, however, Sixfields erupted in a combination of relief and joy. O’Brien-Whitmarsh had his initial pass cut out but the rebound fell back to him and he took a touch before unleashing the sweetest of half volleys into the bottom corner, releasing a wave of relief all around Sixfields.

Warhurst nearly added a quick second, his shot beaten away by Wright, before Cobblers saw out four additional minutes to celebrate a first victory since February.

Cobblers: Jeacock, Wormleighton, Moore, Guthrie (c), Maxwell, Fornah, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, C Evans (Warhurst 55), Chambers (Briggs 55), Saunders (Dale 79), Opoku (Hoskins 79)

Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Dyche, Powell

Newport: Wright, Cameron (c), Jenkins, Brennan, Evans (Nyakuhwa 64), Jacob (Thomas 70), Bamba (Adu-Poku 83), Dibley-Dias (Evans 83), Norman, Biggins, Gwengwe (Garner 83)

Subs not used: Turner, Sassi

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 5,546

Cobblers fans: 368