PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Monday July 10th, 1900 CET

VIHREN SANDANSKI 0

Vihren Sandanski:  Flor, Ozorov, V Geozgiev, S Geozgiev, Paes, Petrov, Feher, Pisani, Santos, Reis, Bareto.

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Andy HOLT, Liam DOLMAN (sub Chris DOIG 66), Gabor GYEPES, Mark HUGHES, Giles COKE, Abdul OSMAN, Ian HENDERSON (sub Ryan GILLIGAN 81), Leon CONSTANTINE (sub Adebayo AKINFENWA 69), Danny JACKMAN (sub Alex DYER 76)
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Liam DAVIS, Joe BENJAMIN, Colin LARKIN

Just 24 hours after arriving on German soil, and after a heavy training session, the Cobblers kicked off their pre-season tour by meeting Bulgarian side Vihren Sandanski in Kleve.

Vihren were promoted to the top flight of Bulgarian football for the first time in their history at the end of the 2005/2006 season and have finished 9th and 10th for the past two seasons.

On a warm and sunny evening in Kleve, Stuart Gray handed first starts of the pre-season to Jason Crowe, Andy Holt, Gabor Gyepes, Abdul Osman, Ian Henderson and Danny Jackman, with Adebayo Akinfenwa starting on the bench.

Holt was the first player to have an attempt at goal, but his 15th minute header - that was on target - was blocked by the Bulgarian defenders and cleared to safety.

After a fairly even first 30 minutes, the Cobblers took control in the quarter of an hour before the break, forcing six corners in that period. A number of the deliveries from Danny Jackman caused problems for the Sandanski defence. On 40 minutes, Ian Henderson saw his volley saved by the keeper, while Holt shot wide from the edge of the box.

Mark Hughes went even closer moments later, but his volley from 12 yards was spectacularly tipped around the post by the keeper. From the resulting corner the Cobblers did have the ball in the net, but the referee ruled the goal out, awarding a foul against Andy Holt.

The only real effort of note from the Bulgarians in the first half was a 35th minute drive from Reis that was comfortably dealt with by Bunn.

Just after the re-start, Danny Jackman was in the right place on the post to clear off the line as Geozgiev met a corner with a powerful header, and that was as close as the Bulgarians were to come all evening.

Leon Constantine did well in the area on 57 minutes to create a shooting opportunity that was blocked by a recovering defender, before Adebayo Akinfenwa was introduced for his first action of pre-season, coming on to replace the former Leeds United striker.

Akinfenwa nearly ended the game in the perfect fashion, but his 88th minute half volley on the turn was blocked on the goal line, ensuring the Cobblers second pre-season friendly ended the same way as the first - goalless.

SANDANSKI MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (9) 19
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (6) 8
FOULS: (12) 20
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0