Northampton Town reserves 1 Colchester United reserves 3
The Cobblers reserves were in action for the first time in 2009 on Tuesday afternoon when they welcomed Colchester United to Sixfields for a totesport.com combination fixture.
Chris Doig, who has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury in the Cobblers FA Cup first round tie at Leeds back in November, was named in the starting line-up with Liam Davis, Liam Dolman, Alex Dyer and Joe Benjamin also all given a run out.
The Cobblers started brightly and on 3 minutes Shawn Richards fired in a shot from the edge of the area which flew narrowly wide of the far post. Liam Davis then came close to a goal on 11 minutes when his curled free-kick from just outside the penalty area went narrowly wide.
Joe Benjamin fired just over on 19 minutes following a quick Cobblers counter-attack involving Alex Dyer and Wes Emery.
Colchester took the lead on 27 minutes, Jimmy Pirie sweeping the ball home from close range.
As the Cobblers looked for an immediate response, Joe Benjamin and Shawn Richards both had shots blocked by the Colchester defence. Davis then once again went close from a free-kick with his deflected effort looping just over the cross bar.
Greg Taylor made a powerful run through the middle on 37 minutes but after doing well to ride several challenges his shot was well blocked by the U's keeper. Wes Emery then fired in a shot from the edge of the area which Mark Cousins dealt with comfortably.
Taylor then came desperately close to grabbing an equaliser when from a 40th minute corner his hooked effort came back off the inside of the post. The ball then struck Wes Emery before he had time to react, allowing the U's defence to clear the danger.
The Cobblers made a change at half-time with Michael Jacobs replacing Shawn Richards. Colchester made a goalkeeping change with Andrew Dickey coming on for Mark Cousins.
Alex Dyer tested the Colchester keeper on 51 minutes but his crisply struck shot from 22-yards was tipped over. The U's stopper then saved a Dolman volley from 12-yards.
Joe Benjamin did well on 58 minutes when under extreme pressure his hooked effort flicked the outside of the post. Colchester then made a change with Michael Rafter coming on for Jimmy Pirie.
Wes Emery was presented with a good chance to level matters on 67 minutes but his free-header went straight into the arms of the U's keeper. The visitors made their third and final change on 71 minutes with Shane Stamp replacing Russell Malton.
Michael Rafter doubled Colchester's lead on 80 minutes with his effort from fully 25-yards flying into the top corner. Liam Davis pulled a goal back for the Cobblers on 90 minutes with his well struck effort giving the keeper no chance.
The U's however restored their two goal lead with the last kick of the game, Michael Rafter sliding the ball home under the advancing Zieler.
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