PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION

Tuesday October 23rd, 2pm
Sixfields

Attendance: 227

Cobblers: Ademola BANKOLE (trialist), Danny MAY, Danny JACKMAN (sub Ben JUDD 65), Alex DYER, Chris DOIG, Brett JOHNSON, Giles COKE (sub Sam MAUDE 56), Joe BURNELL, Shaun GOODALL, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Joe BENJAMIN 73), Chris JAMES (trialist)
Substitutes not used: Jake SUCKLING, Richie JONES

Southend: Nathan McDONALD, Kerrea GILBERT, Che WILSON, Peggy LOKANDO (sub Johnny HERD 78), Zoltan LIPTAK, Simon FRANCIS, Franck MOUSSA, Richard PRIEST, Matt HARROLD (sub Charles ADEMENO 46), Charlie MacDONALD (sub Rhys HENRY 69), Eric ODHIAMBO

Referee: Mr P Gibbs

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Southend: Peggy LOKANDO (65) 

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Southend: none

The Cobblers reserves were back in Pontins Holiday Combination league action on Tuesday afternoon as they welcomed their Southend United counterparts to Sixfields.

Giles Coke made his first start in a Cobblers shirt while Chris Doig was also included in Ian Sampson's starting eleven. Coke, who joined the Cobblers from Mansfield in the summer, has been sidelined so far this season after picking up a knee injury whilst playing for the Stags last term. Doig meanwhile was making a return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury.

In front of a healthy attendance, boosted by the fact that it is currently half-term, the game kicked off in bright but chilly conditions with both sides playing some neat passing football in the opening exchanges.

The first real chance of the game went to the visitors on 13 minutes when Charlie MacDonald capitalised on a short back pass from Doig only to see his effort well saved. From the resultant corner Zoltan Liptak headed over.

The Cobblers took the lead on 16 minutes thanks to a sweetly struck volley from Chris James, Shaun Goodall's initial cross having been nicely diverted into the path of trialist James by Alex Dyer.

As the Cobblers looked to increase their lead Joe Burnell shot over from the edge of the area on 38 minutes while in first half stoppage time Chris James made a good run into the opposition penalty area only to see his effort well saved by Shrimpers keeper Nathan McDonald.

Southend started the second half on the offensive and it took a good block from Chris Doig to deny a close range effort from Charlie MacDonald. On 49 minutes the aforementioned MacDonald was involved again as his header from an Eric Odhiambo cross was well saved by Ademola Bankole.

The Cobblers made their first change on 56 minutes as Giles Coke made way for Sam Maude.

Substitute Maude was then on the wrong end of a late challenge by Peggy Lokando on 64 minutes, a challenge which saw Lokando enter the referee's notebook.

The Cobblers doubled their lead on 70 minutes, Shaun Goodall doing well to hold off the challenge of Zoltan Liptak before curling the ball neatly over Nathan McDonald. Alex Dyer was the man with the assist, his through ball initially playing in goalscorer Goodall.

Ian Sampson's side continued to press and on 74 minutes substitute Joe Benjamin forced Nathan McDonald into making a full length save with a shot from 8-yards.

Franck Moussa pulled a goal back for Southend on 76 minutes as he drove the ball home well from close range at the far post, but the two goal lead was soon restored when Shaun Goodall scored his second, finding the net with a rebound after McDonald had saved his initial effort.

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

SOUTHEND MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4