PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Saturday August 1st, 3pm

MK DONS 3
Jemal JOHNSON 8, 34, 85

Attendance: 4,651

MK Dons: Willy GUERET (sub Stuart SEARLE 83), Dean LEWINGTON, David McCRACKEN (sub Sol DAVIS 70), Darren POWELL (sub Alton THELWELL 66), Stephen GLEESON, Jermaine EASTER (sub Daniel POWELL 80), Jemal JOHNSON (sub David KING 87), Lewis GOBERN (sub Richie PARTRIDGE 71), Danny WOODARDS, Luke HOWELL (sub Mark CARRINGTON 46), Luke CHADWICK 

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, John CURTIS (sub Michael JACOBS 82), Danny JACKMAN, Craig HINTON, Dean BECKWITH, Luke GUTTRIDGE (sub Romone ROSE 32), Alex DYER (sub Paul RODGERS 73), Abdul OSMAN, Andy HOLT, Adebayo AKINFENWA (sub Ryan GILLIGAN 51), Billy McKAY (sub Sebastian HARRIS 86)
Substitutes not used: Paul WALKER, Joe BENJAMIN

Referee: Mr G Horwood

Booked:
MK Dons: none
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
MK Dons: none
Cobblers: none

Northampton Town travelled to stadium:mk for their final pre-season game. Queen's Park Rangers winger Romone Rose was named amongst the Cobblers substitutes as a trialist.

The Dons had an early effort at goal, Jemal Johnson curling a driven shot against the outside of Chris Dunn's post with the ball bouncing away to safety. That was a warning of things to come, as on 8 minutes it was Jemal Johnson again who found himself in space 20 yards from goal and he drilled a low effort beyond the Cobblers keeper and into the net.

Jackman tested Willy Gueret in the Dons goal with a curling 10th minute free kick from distance, before the dangerous Johnson sent a shot across the face of goal on the quarter hour mark.

On 16 minutes, Andy Holt volleyed just wide of the near post as he came on late to a Luke Guttridge cross, while moments later Billy McKay was played clear of the Dons defence on the angle by a through ball from Danny Jackman. McKay drew the Dons keeper but was denied by Gueret.

Jermaine Easter sent in a shot off target as the open nature of the game continued, before Dean Beckwith deflected a 25th minute effort from the same striker behind for a corner.

The Cobblers were level on 27 minutes. Danny Jackman played a one:two with Akinfenwa and made his way into the penalty area. Jackman's effort was parried by Gueret only for the alert Billy McKay to be the first man to the rebound and he stroked the ball home.

Romone Rose came on as an early substitute for Luke Guttridge, and the trailist almost had the perfect start, picking the ball up in midfield he surged forward and unleashed a drive that grazed the far post.

After that scare, the last season's League One play off semi finalists went back up the other end and retook the lead, Jemal Johnson scoring from 18 yards via the inside of the post. Chris Dunn then pulled off two good saves, firstly doing well to deny Stephen Gleeson and then minutes later Johnson, the Cobblers keeper twice getting a firm hard to a rising shots.

After an end to end first half, the second period started in a much more cagey fashion. A Jackman free kick on the hour mark caused problems for the Dons defence with Darren Powell heading just past his own post for a corner. The resulting flag kick was met well by Abdul Osman, but he headed over the bar when he seemed odds on to score.

McKay played in Holt on 64 minutes but he was denied by a fine recovering tackle from Danny Woodards, before Ryan Gilligan headed wide from a McKay cross.

The Dons first effort on goal of the second half came on 76 minutes, but Dunn got behind a shot from Richie Partridge, before the Cobblers keeper pushed away an effort from Luke Chadwick.

Jemal Johnson completed his hat trick on 85 minutes, the striker drilling low through a crowd of players following a short corner.

That was the end of the action, with all eyes now turning to the season opener against Macclesfield Town.

MK DONS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 8
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (11) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 5

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1