Sheffield FC 0 Northampton Town 3 - the match report
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Friday July 31st, 7.30pm
SHEFFIELD FC 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Marc Richards 61
Trialist 1 71
Ricky Holmes 81
Attendance: 155
Sheffield FC: Jordan Greaves, Hafeez Hamzat, Ben Turner, Conor Glavin, Nathan Okoye, Stuart Ludlam, James Gregory, James Knowles, Benny Igi-Ehon, Jacques Joblon, John Lufudu
Subs: Francois Zoko, Ryan Hall, Eva Kray-Batousol, Edward Dakwa, James Archer, Brad Kilner, Alex Head
Cobblers: Ryan Clarke, Josh Lelan, Tom Newey, Jason Taylor, Ryan Cresswell, Rod McDonald, Chris Hackett, John-Joe O’Toole, Marc Richards, Alfie Potter, Nicky Adams
Subs: Zander Diamond, David Buchanan, Joel Byrom, Ricky Holmes, Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Lawson D’Ath, Shaun McWilliams, Adam Smith
Referee: Mr A Tankard
Booked:
Sheffield FC: none
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Sheffield FC: none
Cobblers: none
Northampton Town’s final pre-season friendly took them to Sheffield FC on Friday night.
Ryan Clarke was called into action early, saving well from James Gregory after the Sheffield man had beaten the offside flag to find himself one on one.
Alfie Potter and Nicky Adams were seeing plenty of the ball for the Cobblers, and it was the latter who went close on 17 minutes, the former Bury man seeing his driven effort blocked by the outstretched legs of keeper Jordan Greaves.
Adams was involved again 6 minutes later, beating Greaves with a curling effort this time but Hafeez Hamzat was there to volley the ball off the line. Moments afterwards the Cobblers had the ball in the net from a corner but the referee ruled the goal out.
Ryan Clarke raced out of his area on 32 minutes to clear from the pacy John Lufudu, while at the other end Potter headed wide from an Adams cross.
Rod McDonald produced a superb tackle to deny Lufudu nine minutes into the second half. The Sheffield man had burst clear of the defence before McDonald made his timely intervention.
Trialist 1 was fouled as he tried to round Greaves on the edge of area on the hour mark, and from the resulting free kick, Marc Richards curled the Cobblers ahead.
Adams was close to doubling the lead moments later, but sent his header from Lelan’s cross just wide, while with 25 minutes to play Ricky Holmes made a welcome return to action.
The Cobblers lead was extended on 71 minutes, Trialist 1 dinking the ball over the Sheffield keeper for a good finish.
Ryan Clarke made a finger tip save to push away a 25 yard drive from Nathan Okoye, while the other Cobblers trialist was denied by Greaves in the Sheffield goal, Holmes sending the follow up effort over.
Holmes put the game beyond doubt with a delightful curled finish after a one:two with Buchanan to round off an excellent pre-season on a positive note.
SHEFFIELD FC MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (7) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (8) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2