PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Saturday July 30th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Ben Tozer 20, Nick McKoy 78
WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1
Gareth Ainsworth 18
Attendance: 1,044 (107 Wycombe fans)
Cobblers: Sam Walker, Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Ashley Corker (sub Lewis Young 55), John Johnson (sub Ashley Westwood (trialist) 80), Byron Webster (sub Andy Holt 80), Ben Tozer, Paul Turnbull, Arron Davies, Jake Robinson, Michael Jacobs, Adebayo Akinfenwa (sub Nick McKoy 73). Subs not used: Freddy Hall, Marin Pozgain.
Wycombe: Nikki Bull, Andy Sandell, Marvin McCoy, Chris Doig, James Tunnicliffe, Gareth Ainsworth, Scott Donnelly, Scott Rendell, John Halls, Joel Grant, Stuart Beavon. Subs: Steve Arnold, Ben Strevens, Kadeem Harris, Anthony Stewart, Matt McClure, Charles Dunne.
Referee: Mr A Woolmer
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Wycombe: none
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Wycombe: none
Northampton Town rounded off their pre-season campaign with a home game against Wycombe Wanderers.
Free from injury, Nana returned at right-back while former Town defender Ashley Westwood was named among the substitutes as a trialist having spent a few days training with Gary Johnson's side. New signing Lumbardh Salihu was unable to feature with the club still awaiting international clearance. Another former Cobblers centre-half, Chris Doig, started for Wycombe, also as a trialist.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side, Michael Jacobs leaping well to narrowly head over from a perfectly delivered Arron Davies corner. With the game starting to open up Stuart Beavon shot wide for Wycombe after being played in by Joel Grant. Sam Walker then had to be alert to save a neatly struck effort from Scott Donnelly.
Gareth Ainsworth fired Wycombe into the lead on 18 minutes, finishing well after cutting in from the right-hand side.
The Cobblers were soon back on terms though, Ben Tozer providing the first-time finish from just inside the penalty area following some good work from Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Jacobs played in Akinfenwa on 28 minutes but after beating the defender, Bayo's left-footed effort was turned behind at full stretch by Nikki Bull. Walker saved well from John Halls before as play quickly switched to the other end, Nana fizzed in an effort which was just inches away from finding the top corner.
Bull was again called upon on 37 minutes, palming away a fiercely driven shot from Jacobs. The livewire Jacobs then curled just over from a free kick on the edge of the box.
Having come on at half-time, Wycombe goalkeeper Steve Arnold did well to palm away a header from John Johnson at the start of the second half. For Wycombe, Joel Grant blazed over when well placed while Scott Rendell glanced a header just wide of Sam Walker's goal.
The League One side came close to re-taking the lead when Grant fed in Ben Strevens but despite being through on goal the pace on the pass proved just too much for the striker. Jake Robinson fired in a volley on 77 minutes only to be thwarted by a fine save from Arnold.
Substitute Nick McKoy then gave the Cobblers the lead, poking the ball home from close range from a Lewis Young cross.
With the Cobblers now well on top, goalscorer Ben Tozer shot narrowly wide from 25-yards.
Arron Davies had a shot charged down late on but there were no more goals as the Cobblers comfortably held on to claim a 2-1 victory.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 10
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5
WYCOMBE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (2) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
