PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION

Tuesday September 18th, 2.00pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Alex DYER 41

LUTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 109

Cobblers:  Chris DUNN, Danny MAY, Sam HURRELL, Alex DYER, Mark HAINES, Brett JOHNSON, Greg TAYLOR, Sam MAUDE, Colin LARKIN (sub Joe BENJAMIN 55), Ian HENDERSON, Nick THOROGOOD
Substitutes not used: Ritchie JONES, Ian SAMPSON, Ross OULTON, Wesley EMERY

Luton: Dean BRILL, Kris GATE, Lewis EMANUEL, Stephen O'LEARY, Jaroslaw FOJUT, Sol DAVIS, Ahmet BRKOVIC, Ryan CHARLES, Calvin ANDREW, Paul PESCHISOLIDO (sub Jamie McGUINNESS 49) , Elliott OSBOURNE-RICKETTS
Substitutes not used: George BEAVAN, Ashley HARRISON-BARKER, Dean HAMILTON

Referee: Mr G Stretton

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Luton: Ryan CHARLES (68), Ahmet BRKOVIC (68), Jaroslaw FOJUT (84)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Luton: none

The Cobblers reserves were in action on Tuesday afternoon with Luton Town's second string providing the opposition for the Pontins Holiday Combination league clash at Sixfields.

Named in Ian Sampson's side was trialist left-back Sam Hurrell who won the Sky One 'Football Icon' television programme back in 2005, earning himself a pro-contract at Chelsea. He has since been released by the Blues and is currently a free agent.

Ian Henderson, making his return from a hamstring injury, also started for the Cobblers as did Bournemouth goal hero Colin Larkin. Ian Sampson meanwhile named himself amongst the substitutes.

The Cobblers started the game brightly with Ian Henderson heading Colin Larkin's right-wing cross just wide. The lively Henderson was soon involved in the action again, this time forcing Luton stopper Dean Brill into making a good save from his well-driven effort.

With the Cobblers on top Colin Larkin fired just over on 16 minutes after being set up by Henderson before some neat link-up play between Henderson and Danny May resulted in the latter shooting narrowly wide of Brill's left-hand post.

Luton's first effort on goal came on 22 minutes, Ryan Charles crossed for Stephen O'Leary and his volley was well saved by Chris Dunn.

Ahmet Brkovic looked set to open the scoring for the Hatters on 29 minutes but Chris Dunn had other ideas, the young keeper making a superb save to palm away Brkovic's driven shot from 10-yards.

Dunn was again in the right place at the right time on 36 minutes to comfortably save a volley from Elliott Osbourne-Ricketts.

The Cobblers took the lead 4 minutes before the break in somewhat bizarre fashion, the ball going in off the back of Alex Dyer after he had charged down Dean Brill's clearance.

After a quiet start to the second half the Cobblers made their first change on 55 minutes, Joe Benjamin coming on to replace Colin Larkin.

Ian Henderson came close to doubling the Cobblers lead on 66 minutes, his dipping effort from the edge of the area grazing the cross bar.

The first booking came on 68 minutes with Luton's Ryan Charles shown the yellow card for persistent infringement. With play barely re-started Ahmet Brkovic then joined his team-mate in the referee's notebook for a late tackle on Alex Dyer.

As the game entered the final quarter of an hour Sam Maude shot just wide as Ian Sampson's side continued to look for that second goal.

That second goal didn't come but one proved to be enough and a young Cobblers side recorded an impressive victory against their more experienced opponents.

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