ANDY WOODMAN BENEFIT MATCH
Tuesday May 15th, 7pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN WEMBLEY 1997 XI 1
Andy WOODMAN 49 pen

WEST HAM UNITED 4
Marlon HAREWOOD 5 Kepa BLANCO 10, 60  Carlton COLE 20

Attendance: 5,434 (1,260 visiting supporters)

Cobblers Wembley 1997 starting XI:  Andy WOODMAN, Ian CLARKSON, John FRAIN, Gareth SOUTHGATE, Ray WARBURTON, Ian SAMPSON, Sean PARRISH, Jason WHITE, Neil GRAYSON, Chris LEE, Dean PEER. Subs: Ali GIBB, Billy TURLEY, Lee MADDISON, Lee COLKIN, Michael WARNER, Danny O'SHEA, Dave SAVAGE, Ian HENDON, David NORTON, Kevin WILSON, Matt MANN, Carl HEGGS, Lee HOWEY

West Ham United starting XI: Robert GREEN, John PANTSIL, James COLLINS, Christian DAILLY, Calum DAVENPORT, Matthew ETHERINGTON, Yosi BENAYOUN, Lee BOWYER, Marlon HAREWOOD, Carlton COLE, Kepa BLANCO. Subs: James WALKER, Luis BOA MORTE, Tony STOKES, Kyel REID, Joe WIDDOWSON

Referee: Mr D Gallagher

Andy Woodman's benefit match saw a Northampton Town Wembley 1997 XI welcome West Ham United to Sixfields. The Cobblers had managed to put together just about all of the side that had triumphed against Swansea City beneath the twin towers in 1997, minus the injured Roy Hunter and John Gayle. Guesting for the Cobblers side was Gareth Southgate, and he started in central defence alongside the legendary pairing of Sampson and Warburton.

After a 15 minute delay because of M1 traffic congestion, the match was reduced to 40 minutes each way with all mindful of the finishing time for the youngsters in attendance. The two sides came out of the tunnel to form a guard of honour for Andy Woodman.

Marlon Harewood volleyed home the first goal through Woody's legs in the fifth minute following a deep cross from Matt Etherington, before the Cobblers keeper made a good stop from the former Peterborough left winger at his near post.

Kepa Blanco doubled the Premiership club's lead on ten minutes when he shot home powerfully at the far post following a delivery from Harewood, while six minutes later Lee Bowyer curled a shot onto the roof of the net.

Carlton Cole provided a cheeky back heel finish from Harewood's cross on twenty minutes to give the Hammers a 3-0 lead, before Woodman rolled back the years to make a smart save from John Pantsil's deflected effort.

Ray Warburton headed a corner from Ian Clarkson wide on thirty one minutes, while Neil Grayson's powerful drive from distance was held by Robert Green as the Premiership side led 3-0 at the break.

Nine minutes into the second half, Lee Bowyer obliged by handballing a corner from Ali Gibb and Andy Woodman stepped up to score from the spot amid much merriment. After that, Woodman left the field to a standing ovation to be replaced by Matt Mann, a former Cambridge United goalkeeper who was invited along by the beneficiary.

Carl Heggs showed some neat touches for the Cobblers as the rolling substitutes continued, before the Hammers three goal advantage was restored when Kepa Blanco scored from close range after good work from Etherington.

The rest of the game was played out in an excellent spirit with Cobblers fans enjoying the chance to see some of the former players in action.

COBBLERS 1997 XI  MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (1) 2
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

WEST HAM UNITED MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (1) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 10