JOHNSTONE'S PAINT TROPHY FIRST ROUND
Tuesday August 31st, 7pm
Victoria Park

HARTLEPOOL UNITED 4
Evan Horwood 66, Antony Sweeney 68, Andy Monkhouse 71, Dennis Behan 75

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 1,359 (59 away fans)

Hartlepool: Scott Flinders, Steve Haslam, Sam Collins, Gary Liddle, Evan Horwood, Antony Sweeney, Joe Gamble, Paul Murray (sub Ritchie Humphreys 76), James Brown (sub Denis Behan 70), Adam Boyd (sub Fabian Yantorno 67), Andy Monkhouse. Subs not used: Leon McSweeney, Jon-Andre Fredriksen.

Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Paul Rodgers, Marcus Hall (sub Dean Beckwith 81), Seb Harris, Andy Holt, Kevin Thornton (sub Billy McKay 67), Abdul Osman, Nathaniel Wedderburn, Courtney Herbert (sub Liam Davis 60), Steve Guinan, Michael Jacobs. Subs not used: Oscar Jansson, Alex Konstantinou.

Referee: Mr R Madley

Booked:
Hartlepool: none
Cobblers: Michael Jacobs (58, 1st of the season) 

5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Hartlepool: none
Cobblers: none

Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

Chris Dunn made his first start since February when he was named in goal for the Cobblers Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round tie at Hartlepool United. Seb Harris made his senior debut, while Courtney Herbert and Michael Jacobs returned to the side in place of Tadhg Purcell and Billy McKay. The rules of the competition only allowed for five substitutes rather than the usual seven.

The home side started brightly and Chris Dunn was forced into action in the opening minutes, doing well to save a stinging effort from Adam Boyd. Joe Gamble headed over from the resulting corner kick.

Michael Jacobs tested the Hartlepool goalkeeper Scott Flinders with a 4th minute free-kick and Jacobs again went close on 9 minutes when his dipping volley from distance went just wide.

Dunn was again called into action on 15 minutes when the ball inadvertently flicked off the head of a defender from Gamble's free kick.

Boyd tried an acrobatic overhead kick on 29 minutes but Dunn again made the save. The Cobblers keeper then again did well on 32 minutes to save a looping header from Sam Collins.

The Cobblers had the ball in the back of the net on 34 minutes but Abdul Osman's effort was somewhat harshly disallowed for a foul on Gary Liddle. Kevin Thornton's corner caused problems in the Hartlepool defence and when Holt's flick on was turned home by Osman the Cobblers thought they had the lead but the referee ruled it out.

Boyd's thumping 39th minute effort rattled the underside of Dunn's cross bar before James Brown's follow-up had to be cleared off the line by the assured Seb Harris.

Jacobs became the first player of the game to be booked when on 58 minutes he was penalised for a foul on Paul Murray.

Ian Sampson then made his first change on the hour mark when the fit-again Liam Davis replaced Courtney Herbert.

Hartlepool took the lead on 66 minutes, Evan Horwood volleying home a deep cross at the far post.

The Cobblers then made their second change with Billy McKay coming on for Kevin Thornton. Hartlepool then made a change of their own with Adam Boyd making way for Fabian Yantorno.

The home side doubled their lead on 69 minutes, Antony Sweeney slipping the ball under Dunn after being played in by a free-kick from Horwood.

Pools made another change on 71 minutes, Denis Behan replacing James Brown.

Andy Monkhouse then quickly made it 3-0 when his low drive from the edge of the area went in off the post.

It was 4-0 on 75 minutes, substitute Denis Behan nipping in behind the Cobblers defence before slotting the ball home from close range.

Hartlepool made their last change on 76 minutes with Ritchie Humphreys replacing Paul Murray.

The Cobblers final change of the game came on 81 minutes with Dean Beckwith replacing Marcus Hall.

The 4-0 scoreline was in truth probably a bit harsh on Ian Sampson's side but the Cobblers paid the price for conceding four goals in nine second half minutes to exit the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the first round stage.

HARTLEPOOL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 10
CORNERS: (7) 9
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (6) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.