On-loan West Ham United youngster Joe Powell scored a spectacular winning goal for Northampton Town on Tuesday evening.
The midfielder was introduced as a substitute with just four minutes remaining of the Cobblers’ EFL League Two fixture with Newport County at Sixfields Stadium, with the game goalless.
However, the 20-year-old still had time to lash home an unstoppable 25-yard shot into the top corner, securing a fourth consecutive victory for his side and the Man of the Match award.
Northampton are now seven games unbeaten and have closed the gap on the Play-Off places to just six points, with nine games still to play.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) March 12, 2019
An unbelievable strike from Joe Powell gives us the lead! ? pic.twitter.com/9FjedB2wJu
“When I came on, the gaffer said to me ‘if you see the goal and it’s opened up to you, just hit it’ so I was standing on the edge of the box thinking ‘just fall to me’ and eventually it did!” Powell said. “I hit it and it flew in so I’m buzzing.
“You score some worldies in the U23s and U18s, but the feeling of scoring in senior league football doesn’t compare. It means a lot more and to please the fans is the best thing.
“Knowing my luck, I thought I’d hit it and see it fly over, so to see it go in, I was just happy to see it hit the back of the net. I was just startled, I didn’t know what to think. As soon as it hit the net, I just lost my head and threw my arms up in the air.
“When you score a goal like that, everyone is very enthusiastic on the team and it pushed everyone for the four minutes added on to go on and get the win.”
I’ve been at West Ham for years and they’ve taught me everything I know, so massive thanks to them
Joe Powell
Powell put his superb strike down to the education he received as a young player at the Academy of Football – along with his own talent!
“I’ve been at West Ham for years and they’ve taught me everything I know, so massive thanks to them and obviously you have a bit in your genes, so I think a little bit has come from that as well!” he smiled.
Powell has scored twice in just 294 minutes on the pitch across five League Two appearances for Northampton.
Elsewhere, Josh Cullen was also Man of the Match as Charlton Athletic scored an important win of their own in EFL League One, beating Burton Albion 2-1 at The Valley.
The two teams traded penalties before Ben Reeves’ header secured three points for Lee Bowyer’s Addicks, who sit fifth in the table, eight points behind second-place Barnsley and eleven ahead of Peterborough United in seventh.
And to complete a hat-trick of winners, Moses Makasi started and played for 68 minutes in Stevenage’s 2-0 victory over Swindon Town in League Two.
The Hertfordshire side are now tenth in the table, just five points behind Colchester United in the final Play-Off place.
Marcus Browne was also in action on Tuesday, playing the opening 72 minutes as Oxford United drew 0-0 at Rochdale in League One – a result that leaves the U’s inside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Finally, Oladapo Afolayan made his maiden EFL start for Paul Scholes’ Oldham Athletic in League Two, having previously appeared twice as a substitute.
However, the 21-year-old was withdrawn after 44 minutes of the Latics’ 2-0 defeat at leaders Lincoln City due to a shoulder injury.