FOOTBALL COMBINATION

Tuesday September 9th, 2pm
Sixfields

Cobblers:  Frank FIELDING, Luke CRAY, Josh McLEOD-URQUHART, Abdul OSMAN, Jon MARZETTI, Greg TAYLOR, Giles COKE, Alex DYER, Ian HENDERSON, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Wes EMERY 73), Joe BENJAMIN
Substitutes not used: Shawn RICHARDS, Paul WALKER, Ben JUDD, Ross OULTON

Leyton Orient: Jamie JONES, Andrew CAVE-BROWN, Brandon MARTIN, Harry BEAUTYMAN, Luke ASHWORTH, Jose Pedro Rodrigues ALVES, Ben RAYNOR (sub Adam BOLLE 60), Adam MARSH (sub Jake ARGENT 83), Bradley GRAY, Sean THORNTON, Loick PIRES
Substitutes not used: Patrick O'DONNELL, Josh MILLWOOD, Joseph BOAKYE

Referee: Mr A Hendley

Booked:
Cobblers: Josh McLEOD-URQUHART (56)
Orient: Sean THORNTON (58) 

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Orient: none

The Cobblers reserves welcomed Leyton Orient to Sixfields on Tuesday afternoon for their first home fixture of the season.

Included in Ian Sampson's side was new loan-signing, Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Frank Fielding.

The Cobblers started the game brightly and in just the second minute first year scholar Josh Urquhart fizzed a shot narrowly over the cross bar after Ian Henderson's deep corner had been parried by the Orient goalkeeper. Play then switched quickly to the other end with Bradley Gray firing over.

Fielding was called into action on 14 minutes, doing well to gather Sean Thornton's well-struck free-kick from 25-yards. As the heavy rain of the previous few days returned Fielding made a brave dive at the feet of Loick Perez to deny the O's a clear goal scoring opportunity.

On 32 minutes Ryan Gilligan played in Joe Benjamin and his effort from the edge of the area with the outside of his left-boot produced a stunning save from Jamie Jones.

With the wind levels rising and the rain persisting the first half came to an end with the scoreline still deadlocked at 0-0.

The first attack of note in the second half came on 54 minutes with Ian Henderson's powerfully driven effort from the edge of the area tipped around the post by Jones. Josh Urquhart was then booked for a challenge on Bradley Gray. Sean Thornton was quick to join him in the referee's notebook after being shown a yellow card for dissent.

Alex Dyer played in Joe Benjamin on 61 minutes but his left-footed effort lacked power and was comfortably saved by Jones.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes, a deflected effort from Thornton was comfortably saved by Fielding. Ian Sampson then made his first change on 73 minutes with Wes Emery coming on to replace Ryan Gilligan.

Leyton Orient took the lead on 84 minutes, the unfortunate Jon Marzetti initially doing well to cut out a low cross before his sliced clearance took a bobble, causing the ball to loop up into the air and over the head of Fielding.

The Cobblers couldn't find an equaliser after that and Orient left Sixfields having recorded a slightly fortuitous 1-0 victory.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (9) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4

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