PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Saturday July 11th, 2pm
St James Park

Attendance: 507

Brackley: Richard MORRIS, Jamie KEARNS, Mark DUCKETT, Josh GREEN, Danny SPENCER, Wayne BLOSSOM, Oli BURGESS, Lee HILDRETH, Mark RAWLE, Ben MACKEY, Tom WINTERS
Substitutes: Elliot SANDY, Jack GOODE, Jack LONGFORD, Ross OULTON, Luke CARNELL, James GOULD

Cobblers: Paul WALKER, Paul RODGERS (sub Oscar LUBWAMA 60), Danny JACKMAN (sub Luke CRAY 73 (youth)), Alex DYER (sub Ryan GILLIGAN 66), Craig HINTON (sub Chris WILLMOTT 70), Dean BECKWITH, Luke GUTTRIDGE (sub Gavin McCALLUM 46), Abdul OSMAN (sub Giles COKE 60), Billy McKAY (sub Joe BENJAMIN 84), Adebayo AKINFENWA (sub Steve GUINAN 46), Liam DAVIS (sub Gary MULLIGAN 46)
Substitutes not used: Michael GHEASIM (youth), Michael JACOBS (youth)

Referee: Mr S Burt

Booked:
Brackley: none
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
Brackley: none
Cobblers: none

Northampton Town kicked off their pre-season campaign at Brackley Town. Trialists Paul Rodgers, Chris Willmott, Billy McKay, Oscar Lubwama and Gavin McCallum were all included in the Cobblers squad.

Wearing their new away kit, the Cobblers began well. On 6 minutes Billy McKay drew a good save from Richard Morris in the Brackley goal, Morris tipping the trialist's near post effort away as he met a Luke Guttridge cross.

On 11 minutes, McKay headed wide from another Guttridge delivery, while at the other end Paul Walker was called into his first action of the afternoon two minutes later when he saved from Tom Winters.

A one:two between Akinfenwa and Guttridge created an opportunity for the latter on 14 minutes, but the shot was blocked, before the lively McKay continued to cause Brackley problems and in the 19th minute he took down a pass from Guttridge well but sent a shot over the bar.

With Cobblers youth coach Ray Warburton on the Brackley staff, he looked on from the home dug out as Craig Hinton drew a round of applause for denying Ben Mackey at the midway point in the first half, the new Cobblers signing showing calmness and composure to deal with the home side's break.

Brackley enjoyed a good spell 10 minutes before half time, going close twice within a minute. Firstly Tom Winters saw a volley blocked by Beckwith, before Paul Walker pushed away a header from former Cobbler Oli Burgess.

Akinfenwa fired over the bar eight minutes before the break, while ex-Oxford United man Winters rattled the woodwork for the home side, his powerful drive coming back off the underside of the bar two minutes before the end of a goalless first half.

Elliot Sandy had a drive deflected wide in the opening moments of the second half, while for the Cobblers Steve Guinan shot wide after Gary Mulligan had flicked on a left wing corner from Jackman.

As the teams continued to exchange opportunities, Ben Mackey sent a shot from the edge of the area rising over the bar on 56 minutes for Brackley, before Guinan was close again for the Cobblers, hitting a half volley perfectly from 20 yards but sending his shot just too high.

Former Cobblers youth teamer Ross Oulton drew a save from Paul Walker on 58 minutes, the Cobblers keeper getting behind a shot from Elliot Sandy moments later.

The Cobblers had the lead on the hour mark, Steve Guinan sidefooting a composed finish beyond Morris after being found in space on the edge of the area by McKay. Walker did well to preserve that lead four minutes later, twice denying Tom Winters with near post blocks.

Gavin McCallum headed over the bar for the Cobblers on 70 minutes, the trialist meeting a deep Gilligan cross after it had bounced and sending his effort off target.

Strike pair Mulligan and Guinan linked up well on 72 minutes to create an opening for the former Gillingham man. Mulligan found Guinan who released McCallum down the left, his near post cross was met by Mulligan but beaten away at the near post by a sprawling Morris.

Mulligan had an effort blocked and Guinan headed over in the same 80th minute move, before Giles Coke headed wide from a Benjamin delivery.

That was the last of the action, and the Cobblers pre-season campaign was up and running with a victory.

BRACKLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (4) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (5) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1