PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION

Tuesday 15th April, 2.00pm
Sixfields

Attendance: 121

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, Ritchie JONES, Danny MAY, Joe BURNELL, Jon MARZETTI, Brett JOHNSON, Greg TAYLOR (sub Joe BENJAMIN 81), Giles COKE (sub Ross OULTON 61), Ian HENDERSON, Shaun GOODALL, Jonathan HAYES 
Substitutes not used: Ben JUDD, Shawn RICHARDS, Wes EMERY

Stevenage Borough: Chris ADAMS, James MARTIN, Jamie EAMES, Joe FINN (sub Chris POWELL 72), Lewis FERRELL, Jack BRADSHAW (sub Danny PAYNE 63) Alistair JOHN (sub George BRINKMAN 38), Scott BALDERSON, Anthony MASON, Isaiah RANKIN, Wayne O'SULLIVAN

Referee: Mr A Hendley

Booked:
Cobblers: Ross OULTON (76)
Stevenage: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Stevenage: none

The Cobblers reserves welcomed Stevenage Borough to Sixfields on Tuesday afternoon for their penultimate fixture in this seasons Pontins Holiday Combination.

Brett Johnson, Joe Burnell, Giles Coke, Ian Henderson and Jonathan Hayes were all included in what was a young starting eleven for the Cobblers while one notable name in the Stevenage side was much-travelled forward Isaiah Rankin.

Ian Henderson opened the scoring for the Cobblers on 2 minutes, slotting the ball home neatly from 12-yards after being played in by Giles Coke.

It was 2-0 on 9 minutes, Joe Burnell turning the ball home from close range following a good run and cross from Jonathan Hayes down the left.

Henderson was then involved again a minute later as Shaun Goodall made it 3-0.

Jack Bradshaw came close to pulling a goal back for the visitors on 16 minutes but his well struck free kick curled just over the cross bar.

Coke released Goodall on 24 minutes but the striker couldn't quite find the finish to beat Chris Adams in the Stevenage goal. As the Cobblers continued to press Chris Dunn released Hayes with a quick throw but after a long pacy run down field the on-loan Leicester man fired just wide.

Goodall tried a neat lob on 37 minutes but agonisingly the ball - despite beating Adams - bounced up and over the bar.

Both teams had half chances at the start of the second half, Ian Henderson coming close for the Cobblers while at the other end Chris Dunn did well to save a shot on the turn from Anthony Mason.

Rankin pulled a goal back for Stevenage on 49 minutes, the experienced striker reacting well after his initial effort had been crowded out by the Cobblers defence.

Stevenage then pulled another goal back on 58 minutes, George Brinkman firing the ball home having been played in by Scott Balderson.

The Cobblers restored their two goal cushion on 65 minutes, Henderson doing well to capitalise on a slack back pass from Stevenage defender Lewis Ferrell.

Goodall got his second of the game and the Cobblers fifth on 77 minutes, rising well to head home Henderson's cross to seal matters.

There was still time for George Brinkman to curl home an injury time strike, but the Cobblers had secured the points.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 9
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (7) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 5

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

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