PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION
Tuesday February 26th
Sixfields

GRAYS ATHLETIC 1
Scott TAYLOR 46

Attendance: 112

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, Richie JONES, Mark HAINES, Alex DYER, Chris DOIG (sub Jon MARZETTI 38), Liam DOLMAN, Sam MAUDE, Giles COKE (sub Shaun GOODALL 68), Greg TAYLOR, Ian HENDERSON, Jonathan HAYES (sub Joe BENJAMIN 73)
Substitute not used: Jake SUCKLING

Grays Athletic: Danny KNOWLES, Simon DOWNER, Adam GROSS, Jamie STUART, Santos GAIA (sub Chris SAUNDERS 46), Danny KEDWELL (sub Sean McCAFFERTY 46), Aaron O'CONNOR, Ian SELLEY (sub Scott TAYLOR 46), Jamie TAYLOR, Ben WATSON, Marlon PATTERSON
Substitutes not used: Jamie DAY, Jack OBERSTELLER

Referee: Mr J Farries

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Grays: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Grays: none

The Cobblers reserves were in action at a typically blustery Sixfields on Tuesday afternoon as they took on Grays Athletic in the Pontins Holiday Combination.

Chris Doig and Jonathan Hayes, both returning from injury, started the game for the Cobblers with Giles Coke, Ian Henderson, Liam Dolman and Alex Dyer also given a run out. One notable name in the Grays side was former Arsenal and Fulham midfielder Ian Selley.

Greg Taylor had the first effort at goal after just 2 minutes but having been played through by Jonathan Hayes he dragged his shot just wide of the far post after being one on one with the Grays keeper.

Grays thought they had opened the scoring from a corner on 8 minutes but their appeals that the ball had crossed the line were waved away by both the referee and his assistant. As play then quickly switched to the other end Ian Henderson appeared to have been brought down in the penalty area but this time it was the Cobblers players appeals that were dismissed by the referee.

A long goal kick from Chris Dunn on 26 minutes presented a chance for Ian Henderson but his shot on the turn sailed just wide of the far post. A minute later and Dunn was involved again, this time doing well to save a shot from Marlon Patterson at the second attempt.

The Cobblers took the lead on 34 minutes, Ian Henderson's half volley from 35-yards flying into the roof of the net, leaving the Grays keeper with no chance of making a save.

Greg Taylor then nearly doubled the Cobblers lead almost immediately but the Grays keeper spread himself well to save the close range effort.

The Cobblers made their first substitution on 38 minutes, Jon Marzetti coming on to replace Chris Doig.

Danny Kedwell came close to grabbing an equaliser for Grays on 43 minutes but his effort from 8-yards was superbly deflected onto the cross bar and out for a corner by Mark Haines. That was that for the first 45 and the Cobblers went in at the break a goal to the good.

Grays made three changes at the break with Santos Gaia, Danny Kedwell and Ian Selley coming off for Chris Saunders, Shaun McCafferty and Scott Taylor, who having been on the pitch for less than a minute equalised for Grays with an unstoppable volley which went in off the angle of post and cross bar.

A great mazy jinking run from Jonathan Hayes on 64 minutes deserved better but after cutting in from the touchline his cross went just behind Henderson and was subsequently cleared by the Grays defence.

Ian Sampson made his second change on 68 minutes, Shaun Goodall coming on for Giles Coke. The Cobblers final change came on 73 minutes with Joe Benjamin replacing Jonathan Hayes.

A through ball from Greg Taylor on 78 minutes presented Joe Benjamin with a chance but he couldn't quite steer his effort in at the far post.

Both teams had chances to win the game, but in the end the points were shared in a 1-1 draw.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (2) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 4

GRAYS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (8) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 7