PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Thursday July 23rd, 7.45pm

AFC STAMFORD 0

AFC Stamford: Chris WRIGHT, Dave BURTON-JONES, Andy ELLIS, Paul MALONE, Ross WATSON, Michael STEVENSON, Dan COTTON, Lee ELLISON, Sam BETTINSON,  Phil STEBBING, David FARRELL
Substitutes: John-Paul DUNCLIFFE, David COBB, Karl GIBBS, Ashley STEVENS, Marc DAY

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, Paul RODGERS (trialist), Dean BECKWITH, John CURTIS (trialist), Andy HOLT, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Craig HINTON 64), Michael JACOBS (youth) (sub Alex DYER 82), Liam DAVIS, Steve GUINAN (sub Danny JACKMAN 64), Billy McKAY (sub Joe BENJAMIN 68), Gary MULLIGAN (sub Sebastian HARRIS (trialist) 75)
Substitutes not used: Luke GUTTRIDGE, Paul WALKER

Referee: Mr S Ross

Booked:
AFC Stamford: none
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
AFC Stamford: Dan COTTON (29)
Cobblers: none

Northampton Town's latest pre-season friendly took them to the Vic Couzens Stadium, home of Unibond League side AFC Stamford. Ryan Gilligan and Liam Davis were both handed starts after sitting out the Jackson Grundy Cup game with Coventry City.

The referee awarded a harsh 3rd minute free kick against Chris Dunn inside the Cobblers area, claiming the keeper had picked up a deliberate back pass from John Curtis. Dunn made a fantastic save from the free kick, blocking a powerful drive from Dan Cotton from 8 yards.

Dean Beckwith headed just wide of the far post on 22 minutes, the defender meeting a Ryan Gilligan inswinging corner before the home side were reduced to ten men, Dan Cotton being sent off after a poor looking two footed lunge at Michael Jacobs.

Billy McKay volleyed just over the bar as the game re-started after the dismissal, and soon afterwards the recent signing turned provider, delivering a ball from the right that strike partner Steve Guinan headed powerfully past Chris Wright.

Andy Holt headed home five minutes before the break but the goal was disallowed for a push as the Cobblers ended the first half with a one goal advantage.

Ryan Gilligan fizzed a drive just wide of the post in the opening exchanges of the second half, before the same player had a curling far post free kick tipped away by the keeper.

A delightful 67th minute delivery from Liam Davis saw McKay head just wide, Gary Mulligan then headed off target at the near post after meeting a cross from Paul Rodgers.

Substitute Karl Gibbs forced a diving save out of Dunn when the Stamford man sent a dipping volley towards goal. Moments later though the Cobblers lead was doubled, trialist Sebastian Harris latching on to a long clearance from Dunn to lob the ball over the advancing keeper.

That secured a comfortable 2-0 victory for Stuart Gray's side in their latest pre-season work out, Dunn tipping a free kick away in the closing moments to preserve his clean sheet. 

AFC STAMFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (7) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3