Northampton Town recorded a 3-0 win over Crawley Town at Sixfields.

Crawley would have leapfrogged Jon Brady’s side in the table had they been victorious, but the Cobblers instead pulled away from their opponents.

Tarique Fosu, an own goal by Jay Williams and Mitch Pinnock did the honours for the hosts, who climb up to 17th in the League One table and now have a five point margin on the relegation zone.

The Cobblers were looking to make it three games unbeaten after beating Leyton Orient and drawing with Stockport, and were facing a test against a Crawley outfit who had got their first win under new manager Rob Elliot against Lincoln City in midweek.

At home, Northampton made the quicker start, with Cameron McGeehan denied by away goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott before Tyler Roberts hit the side netting after rounding the Crawley goalkeeper.

With 16 minutes on the clock, it was Northampton that struck first. From a corner routine, Fosu exchanged passes with Samy Chouchane before blasting a strike home to put Northampton ahead.

The second came just after the half hour, with a corner again causing bother. This time, Pinnock’s corner struck Crawley’s former Northampton and Brackley man Williams before trundling over the line, despite McGeehan attempting to claim it.

Crawley had a lot of possession but consistently struggled to create chances, and the points were sealed just before the hour mark when Pinnock received McGeehan’s flick from a Fosu cross and converted.

The visitors did have a few half-chances, but Northampton saw the job through to warm-up for next weekend’s FA Cup derby with Kettering Town with three points in the league.