Raging Fever 4-3 Shoemakers

With games in short supply for the Cobblers fans this season, the Shoemakers were glad of a short hop to Oxford to meet up with our old friends Raging Fever. Games between these two sides are normally guaranteed to bring goals and this was no exception. Previous meetings had seen a 3-1, 2-2, 5-1 and a 4-7 (Shoemakers score first in each instance).

A squad of the bare 11 arrived at the excellent Horspath Sports Centre on a sunny autumn morning. The home side took early control of the game, taking advantage of a rusty Shoemakers side and took the lead after 15 minutes with a header from John Matthews following a corner.

It was not all one way traffic though, Martin Holmes broke clear of the Fever defence but slid his shot narrowly wide, but on 25 minutes it was 2-0 to the home side, Andy Kelly found himself unmarked to slot home from 12 yards.

The goal seemed to breathe life into the Shoemakers and they pulled a goal back thanks to a volley from Simon Sidwell from close range. It was Sid's first fans team goal for almost two years when he ironically scored in the same goalmouth on the same pitch.

The game then swung in the visitors favour and Neil Siveter equalised with a sweet free kick from 25 yards, beating the keeper to his left. Siv was delighted to mark his return after injury had ruled him out for over a year.

Richard Fletcher almost made it 3-2 just before half time with another free kick, this time the keeper pulled off a great save to his right.

Buoyed by the first half comeback, it was the visitors who began the second half with intent and just before the hour they were rewarded with a third goal. Neil Siveter got his second of the game, finishing well from the edge of the area after Matt Cockerill's long goal kick flicked off a defender.

Raging Fever began to force their way back into the game as time wore on and the lack of substitutes began to tell on the team in claret. Stuart Burson equalised with a close range shot with 20 minutes to go and then the home side really went for the kill.

Tired legs couldn't prevent Pat Wehmeier from grabbing a winner for the home side with just over ten minutes to go, but again Northampton and Oxford fans had played their part in a thrilling match, contested in great IFA spirit.

The bare 11 heroes were - Matt Cockerill, James Averill, Steve Marley, Ant Collett, Luis Pereira, Mark Kennedy, Tom Robinson, Simon Sidwell, Neil Siveter, Martin Holmes, Richard Fletcher