NORTHAMPTON 0 SOUTHEND 0
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood reckons his team can finally break their Southend hoodoo and reach the Millennium Stadium, despite a goalless draw at Sixfields in the first leg. The Cobblers have failed to beat Steve Tilson's men in four attempts this season but Sunday's goalless draw was the first time they have come out on level terms.
And Calderwood will have been encouraged by the amount of chances his side created against a Southend side still reeling from missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the campaign. Scott McGleish wasted two good early chances for the Cobblers, while Darryl Flahavan saved well from Lee Williamson.
Southend responded just before the break when Mark Bentley headed Mark Gower's cross straight at Cobblers keeper Lee Harper. Freddy Eastwood and Luke Guttridge also both headed wide for the Shrimpers, but Northampton hit back again and Flahavan had to be alert to deny Andy Kirk.
Calderwood was in upbeat mood ahead of the second leg at Roots Hall. "There's not been an away victory in any of the play-offs yet, but there will be in the second leg," he said. "Ideally, we'd have wanted to create more chances but we were up against a team who don't concede too many goals so the teams cancelled each other out. But we've got the ability to score anywhere - we haven't beaten Southend yet, so the perfect time's next week."
Southend boss Tilson was equally happy with the outcome and claimed it would be just as tough in the second leg. "I think I'd have taken a 0-0 draw before the game to go back to Roots Hall, so I'm ever so pleased," he said.
"It was always going to be a tough game away from home, as Northampton are a good side and they've come into the play-offs on the back of three wins. There weren't too many chances for either side, so it was probably a fair result in the end."
LINCOLN CITY 1 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0
Stage one was accomplished for Lincoln as they bid to make it third time lucky in the play-offs. The Imps have lost against Bournemouth and Huddersfield during Keith Alexander's first two years in charge at Sincil Bank and are looking to take it one step further.
Gareth McAuley's 11th-minute header from Kevin Sandwith's free-kick was enough to separate the teams and leave the second leg at Moss Rose balanced on a knife-edge. Derek Asamoah and Simon Yeo could have added to the Imps' tally while Matt Tipton hit the bar for the Silkmen in the first half.
Alexander believes that Lincolns crowd will have a huge part to play in driving his team on to the play-off final and was disappointed they didnt make the most of their opportunities. "I'm happy to be going in at 1-0 up but of course we wanted to be two up," he said.
"Macclesfield have had a decent home record. But we'll bring a few supporters and they'll get behind us. There were over 7,000 at Sincil Bank for the first leg and that is a great crowd."
Brian Horton is banking on Macclesfield's excellent home record to see off Lincoln and is looking for a repeat of the league result at Moss Rose. "We are still in with a great chance ahead of the second leg back at our place. We have already beaten them at Moss Rose," said Horton.
"They're strong, they did a magnificent job. We knew they'd be a handful and they scored from a set-piece. They play three up front and take a chance and they do it well. It is all set up for an exciting second leg."
