PONTINS HOLIDAY COMBINATION
Tuesday April 22nd, 2pm
Sixfields

Attendance: 103

Cobblers:  Chris DUNN, Danny MAY, Jon MARZETTI, Alex DYER, Ritchie JONES, Liam DOLMAN, Shawn RICHARDS, Greg TAYLOR, Shaun GOODALL, Joe BENJAMIN, (sub Wes EMERY 48) Jonathan HAYES
Substitutes not used: Ben JUDD, Odysseas ECONOMIDES

Colchester: Craig ROSS, Kyelan MARVELL, Lorcan FITZGERALD (sub Benjamin GRIFFITHS 46), Adam VIRGO (sub Adam BAILEY-DENNIS 63), James HAMMOND, Kevin WATSON, Thomas WEBB, Kemi IZZET, Jamie GUY (sub Jimmy PIRIE 11),  Kevin McLEOD, Anthony WORDSWORTH
Substitute not used: Samuel CORCORAN

Referee: Mr J Farries

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Colchester: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Colchester: none

The Cobblers reserves welcomed Colchester United to Sixfields on Tuesday afternoon for their final fixture of the season in the Pontins Holiday Combination.

Ian Henderson was named in the Cobblers original starting eleven but had to withdraw from the side shortly before kick-off because of a sore foot, Joe Benjamin coming in.

The first chance of the game fell to Shaun Goodall on 4 minutes but his shot from an acute angle was turned round the post by Colchester keeper Craig Ross.

Chris Dunn made a good save on 10 minutes, getting down well to his left to deny Anthony Wordsworth.

Colchester then took the lead a minute later, Thomas Webb's left-footed shot beating the Town keeper.

As the Cobblers looked for a quick response, having been played in by Ritchie Jones, Shawn Richards was denied by the feet of Ross.

Colchester doubled their lead on 17 minutes, substitute Jimmy Pirie finishing well past Dunn.

Thomas Webb was played in by Kemi Izzet on 32 minutes but having timed his run well to beat the Cobblers off-side trap he blazed his shot over the bar.

The Cobblers were forced into making a change just 3 minutes into the second half, Wes Emery coming on to replace Jonathan Hayes, the on-loan Leicester man having fallen awkwardly after a challenge.

Chris Dunn made an excellent save on the hour mark, going down well to his left to keep out Kevin McLeod's powerfully driven effort.

Danny May cut in from the right on 64 minutes but his shot across goal flashed just wide of the far post.

Shawn Richards made a good run from inside his own half on 69 minutes but his cut-back from the by-line somehow just managed to evade everyone in the U's area.

Ian Sampson's side continued to press and on 73 minutes a superb defence-splitting ball from Alex Dyer released Wes Emery but his shot was well parried by Craig Ross.

Alex Dyer tried his luck from distance on 79 minutes but his effort from fully 25-yards went just high and wide of the Colchester goal.

That proved to be the last action of note and despite having battled hard in the second half Colchester's two first half goals proved to be decisive.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (5) 7
FOULS: (2) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

COLCHESTER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 6