PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION
Tuesday December 18th, 2pm
Sixfields

Attendance: 107

Cobblers:  Chris DUNN, Danny MAY, Freddie AVILL, Alex DYER, Mark HAINES, Brett JOHNSON (sub Richie JONES 68), Greg TAYLOR, Tom GERNON, Colin LARKIN (sub Joe BENJAMIN 46), Dean BOWDITCH, (sub Ross OULTON 68) Jon MARZETTI
Substitutes not used: Sam MAUDE, Shaun GOODALL

MK Dons: Nathan ABBEY, Miles MITCHELL-COOP, Adam CHICKSEN, Luke HOWELL, Oliver THORNE, Matt CARBON, Scott TAYLOR, Jordan HADFIELD, Sam BALDOCK, Drewe BROUGHTON, Liam KELLY
Substitutes not used: Laurie WALKER, Stephane KOFFI, Tom WILLIAMS, David KING

Referee: Mr O Langford

Booked:
Cobblers: none
MK Dons: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
MK Dons: none

The Cobblers reserves played their final fixture of 2007 on Tuesday afternoon when they welcomed MK Dons to Sixfields.

Dean Bowditch, Colin Larkin and Brett Johnson all started the game for the Cobblers while notable names in the Dons side included former Cobblers keeper Nathan Abbey and striker Drewe Broughton.

Colin Larkin had the first real chance of the game on 4 minutes but his first time volley from the edge of the area flew narrowly wide.

With the game mainly being played in midfield the MK Dons came close to breaking the deadlock just before the half hour mark when after being played in by Broughton, Sam Baldock, despite being one on one with the keeper, hit the post. Three minutes later and Chris Dunn was called into action, saving an effort from Scott Taylor.

Sam Baldock then gave the Dons the lead on 34 minutes, firing home at the near post after being set up by a long ball from Jordan Hadfield.

There were no further chances of note in the first half and the Cobblers went in at the break trailing 1-0.

Luke Howell made a good forward run for the Dons on 52 minutes but he was denied a shooting opportunity in the penalty area by a good tackle from Freddie Avill. At the other end from a Cobblers corner taken by Danny May, Greg Taylor headed over.

Dean Bowditch was played in by a long ball from Chris Dunn on 58 minutes but the on loan Ipswich striker was denied by a good save from Nathan Abbey.

After Larkin, Bowditch and Johnson had all been taken off, the Dons doubled their lead on 77 minutes, Drewe Broughton sweeping the ball home from 10 yards. Jordan Hadfield was again the player providing the assist.

It was 3-0 on 81 minutes, Matt Carbon tapping home from close range after Scott Taylor's initial effort had been blocked.

The Cobblers players heads didn't drop however and on 83 minutes a vicious effort from Greg Taylor had to be tipped behind for a corner.

Sam Baldock bagged his second of the game on 85 minutes when he latched onto a long ball before slotting home from 12 yards.

That was the last of the scoring and although the Cobblers second string battled away in the last few minutes they signed off 2007 with a 4-0 defeat.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS
SHOTS ON TARGET: 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: 7
CORNERS: 9
FOULS: 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: 2

MK DONS MATCH STATS
SHOTS ON TARGET: 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: 6
CORNERS: 4
FOULS: 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: 3