Eastleigh 0 Northampton Town 1 - the match report
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Friday August 1st, 7.30pm
Silverlake Stadium
EASTLEIGH 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
John-Joe O'Toole 8
Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Dan Spence, Michael Green, Paul Reid (sub Will Evans 63), Dean Beckwith(sub Chris Todd 63), Yemi Odubade (sub Craig Stanley 52), Jai Reason, Ben Strevens, James Constable (sub Craig McAllister 63), Jack Midson (sub Ben Wright 52), Stuart Fleetwood
Substitutes not used: Jack Smith, Tony Lee, Harrison Weeks
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Daniel Alfei, Gregor Robertson, Zander Diamond(sub Ben Tozer 63), Lee Collins, Lawson D'Ath (trialist), Andre Boucard (trialist), Andy Robinson (trialist), Kaid Mohamed (sub David Moyo 63), John-Joe O'Toole (sub Emile Sinclair 63), Ivan Toney (sub Alex Nicholls 63)
Substitutes not used: Dean Snedker, Darren Carter, Marc Richards, Chris Hackett, Ricky Ravenhill, Connor Roberts, Sam Warburton, Ben Jackson
Referee: Mr Colin Lymer
Booked:
Eastleigh: none
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Eastleigh: none
Cobblers: none
Northampton Town travelled to face South Coast side Eastleigh on Friday evening in their final pre-season friendly before next Saturday’s League 2 kick off against Mansfield Town.
The first half got underway with midfield trialist trio Lawson D’Ath, Andy Robinson and Andre Boucaud starting in the Cobblers XI. Northampton went close in the third minute after Kaid Mohamed’s drifted cross was met by John-Joe O’Toole, but the Irishman headed just over the bar from 12 yards.
Northampton went close again on the 7th minute after D’Ath checked inside his marker and swung in a left footed cross which evaded everybody and flicked off the back post and away to safety.
D’Ath was in behind the defence again moments later, and his left footed cross from the by-line was slid home by the on-rushing John-Joe O’Toole to put the Cobblers into a 1-0 lead after 8 minutes.
The trialist was involved once more a minute later, with his long diagonal pass seeking out Toney but the striker could only volley straight at Flitney.
Eastleigh created their first chance on ten minutes, Jack Midson striking from 20 yards but Duke was there with a good save to tip over the bar.
The home side nearly levelled through Stuart Fleetwood, who latched on to a ball over the top of the Northampton defence in the 23rd minute, and struck a sweet volley which was heading towards the top corner only for Duke to fantastically tip over his crossbar.
There were a few half chances for either side before Duke was called into action again on the 38th minute as Jack Midson was released one on one, but his shot under pressure from skipper Lee Collins was easy for the Cobblers keeper to save.
Northampton had the first chance of the second half, but Mohamed glanced wide from Daniel Alfei’s cross.
On the hour mark Zander Diamond found some space but shot over after Mohamed’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box.
D’Ath then played in Mohamed over the top but the winger hit the side netting from a tight angle.
Moyo had a chance to make it 2-0 on 77 minutes after a well-disguised pass from D’Ath put him in, but his shot was saved by the keeper.
Eastleigh never really troubled the Cobblers defence in the second half as Northampton saw out the rest of the game to win 1-0.
EASTLEIGH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (7) 9
FOULS: (9) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (0) 4
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3