PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION
Monday January 21st, 2pm
Sixfields

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, Danny MAY, Richie JONES (sub Freddie AVILL 68), Colin LARKIN, Liam DOLMAN, Gabor GYEPES, Ian HENDERSON, Jonathan HAYES, Poul HUBERTZ, Alex DYER, Andy HOLT (sub Sam MAUDE 48)
Substitutes not used: Richard OSEY, Shaun GOODALL, Mark HAINES

Peterborough: James McKEOWN, Scott MITCHELL, Danny BLANCHETT, Billy CROOK (sub Danny ANDREW 68) , Claude GNAKPA, Josh JIRABANDY, Josh LOW, Lewis WEBB  Callum REED 46), Danny CROW (sub Hakeen ARABA 67), Liam HATCH  , Adam SMITH
Substitutes not used: Evans-Kelly KOUASSI, Luke ABRAHAM

Referee: Mr G Stretton

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Posh: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Posh: none

The Cobblers reserves welcomed their Peterborough counterparts to Sixfields on Monday afternoon for a rearranged Pontins Holiday Combination league fixture. The match was originally scheduled to be played at London Road but was switched to Sixfields upon mutual agreement of the two teams.

Included in Ian Sampson's starting eleven was trialist Hungarian international defender Gabor Gyepes. Fellow trialist, striker Richard Osey, who has been plying his trade out in Germany, was named amongst the substitutes.

Colin Larkin, Liam Dolman, Ian Henderson, Andy Holt, Jonathan Hayes, Alex Dyer and Poul Hubertz were also all given a run out. New signing Adebayo Akinfenwa was not included in the Cobblers side with the former Swansea City striker having instead been put through his paces in an intensive training session.

Former Cobblers winger Josh Low captained the Peterborough side which also included former Sixfields loanee Danny Crow.

After a quiet opening 20 minutes the Cobblers had claims for a penalty turned down by the referee despite Poul Hubertz seemingly being fouled by his marker Liam Hatch. The claims were the result of an Ian Henderson corner that had been headed onto Hubertz by Gyepes.

Chris Dunn made a good save on 28 minutes, doing well to hold onto a powerfully driven shot from Claude Gnakpa.

Colin Larkin came close to opening the scoring on 32 minutes but his header from a Henderson cross was tipped onto the post by James McKeown.

Josh Low gave Peterborough the lead on 41 minutes, slotting the ball home neatly after breaking clear of the Cobblers defence.

The Cobblers were very nearly very quickly back on terms when from a Henderson corner Andy Holt flicked the ball onto Hubertz who set up Gyepes only for the Hungarian to have his shot well blocked by the Boro keeper.

The Cobblers were forced into making a change on 48 minutes when Andy Holt had to leave the field with a head injury, Sam Maude the man to come on.

As the Cobblers then continued to push for an equaliser Jonathan Hayes had a shot blocked by the Peterborough keeper.

Peterborough's first chance of the second half came on 56 minutes but Liam Hatch's effort went wide.

The Cobblers had another strong shout for a penalty on 63 minutes when Henderson was tripped by Gnakpa but the referee again said no penalty.

Peterborough doubled their lead on 67 minutes, Billy Crook turning home a low right-wing cross.

It was 3-0 on 70 minutes, Josh Jirabandy's header from a corner controversially ruled to have crossed the line by the assistant referee much to the bewilderment of the Cobblers players.

Jonathan Hayes then almost immediately pulled a goal back but after going through four or five challenges he was denied by a fine save from McKeown.

Just moments later though and Alex Dyer did score, nicely side footing the ball home beyond the Posh keeper.

Colin Larkin then pulled another goal back on 74 minutes with a powerful volley from a Henderson corner.

4 minutes later and it was nearly 3-3 but Danny May's well struck effort only found the side netting.

Josh Low then restored Peterborough's two goal cushion on 80 minutes, cutting in from the left before firing the ball home past Dunn to round off the scoring in what had been an entertaining game.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 7

POSH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (8) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2