Stevenage boss Dino Maamria disappointed with Northampton draw

Stevenage manager Dino Maamria was disappointed his side did not to take all three points after they “totally dominated” the second half of their 1-1 League Two draw against Northampton.

The visitors trailed to a goal from former player Dean Bowditch in first-half stoppage-time as he turned home Daniel Powell’s cross, but Ben Kennedy pounced on a poor defensive clearance to level 15 minutes from time.

Maamria said: “It was there for us in the last 15 minutes and I thought we totally dominated the second half. We got the goal at the right time and were on the front foot.

“I’m disappointed not to get all three points but you take the one because, if you look at it before the game, Northampton have been very good at home since changing the manager.

“They’re eight games unbeaten at home now and they’re a decent team with good players but, right now, I’m disappointed with just the one point.

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Their goal was a lapse of concentration on the last kick of the first half but we maintained the same game plan and we totally dominated the second half from start to finish.

“We played some good football.

“If we kick it to their big centre-backs, they’ll probably win the ball so our best chance is to pass the ball and I thought we passed it really well considering the conditions.”

Northampton manager Keith Curle felt it was a tale of two halves for his side after they made it eight successive home games in all competitions unbeaten.

He said: “It was a very wet afternoon but I thought we gained a good foothold in the game in the first half and we had a couple of opportunities where we needed a bit more quality in the final third.

“I was reasonably happy with the first half but, again, in the second half I didn’t think we did the simple things well and we didn’t move the ball quickly enough.

“We picked the wrong options at times when we were on the front foot and looking to get forward.

“We started the day eight points off the play-offs but we’re now seven points away so we’ve gained a point and that’s a positive.

“We won’t get things all our own way and we have to earn the right and earn that bit of good fortune, but we do that by working and learning.

“We had good dominance in the fist half and showed a sprinkling of what’s to come but we have to have that game understanding and discipline in our play that simple is good and, when you get the rewards, keeping doing it.”