TOTESPORT.COM COMBINATION
Wednesday March 11th, 2.00pm
Sixfields

Attendance: 82

Cobblers: Paul WALKER , Paul RODGERS, Luke CRAY, Alex DYER, Greg TAYLOR, Liam DOLMAN, Luke GUTTRIDGE, Joe BENJAMIN, Colin LARKIN (sub Wes EMERY 63), Ikechi ANYA (sub Michael JACOBS 63), Liam DAVIS (sub Tom McGOWAN 78)
Substitutes not used: Tom McBRIDE, Josh URQUHART

Peterborough: Jim McKEOWN, Darren GOURLAY, Shane BLACKETT, Lewis WEBB, Sam GAUGHRAN, Josh JIRBANDEY, Dominic GREEN, Jay DAVIES, Ben WRIGHT (sub Scott GINTY 75), Shaun BATT (sub Nathan KORANTENG 50), Danny BLANCHETT (sub Danny ANDREW 76)
Substitutes not used: Callum REED, Edward ADJEI

Referee: Mr A Hendley

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Posh: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Posh: none

The Cobblers reserves welcomed their Peterborough counterparts to Sixfields on Wednesday afternoon for their latest fixture in the totesport.com combination.

Ian Sampson named a strong side with Paul Rodgers, Liam Dolman, Alex Dyer, Luke Guttridge, Colin Larkin, Ikechi Anya and Liam Davis all named in the Cobblers starting line-up.

The Cobblers started the game brightly and after both Luke Guttridge and Ikechi Anya had shots blocked Colin Larkin fired just wide.

Peterborough's first chance of the game came on 4 minutes with Ben Wright's shot from the edge of the area saved by Paul Walker.

From a Cobblers free-kick on 13 minutes Colin Larkin found Alex Dyer in space but his shot was blocked by the body of Posh keeper Jim McKeown. Liam Davis fired just over on 19 minutes as the Cobblers continued to have most of the play.

As the game reached the mid-way point of the first-half a short back pass from Greg Taylor presented an opportunity for Shaun Batt but his effort although beating Paul Walker, was volleyed off the goal-line by recovering defender Liam Dolman.

Peterborough took the lead on 29 minutes, Dominic Green's cross headed home by Shaun Batt.

Posh survived a penalty scare on 32 minutes when defender Josh Jirbandey appeared to foul Ikechi Anya in the area but the referee waved away the Cobblers appeals.

Shaun Batt then came close to doubling Peterborough's lead on 35 minutes when his far-post header came back off the upright.

Peterborough did double their lead on 49 minutes, Paul Walker did well to save Shaun Batt's initial effort but Dominic Green was in the right place at the right time to poke the ball home.

Having picked up a slight knock in setting up the goal Batt was replaced by Nathan Koranteng.

Ikechi Anya then went close to pulling a goal back for the Cobblers but his effort whistled just wide of the post while at the other end, a shot from substitute Koranteng was saved by Walker.

Liam Davis appeared to be felled by a Posh defender in the penalty area on 55 minutes but the referee's decision was to signal for a corner.

Ian Sampson made a double change on 63 minutes with Wes Emery and Michael Jacobs coming on for Colin Larkin and Ikechi Anya.

Substitute Emery was involved in the action almost straight away but his far-post header from a pin-point Liam Davis cross went narrowly wide.

The Cobblers pulled a goal back on 70 minutes, the unmarked Emery finding space to head home Joe Benjamin's right-wing cross from close range.

The equaliser then came just 2 minutes later, Alex Dyer firing home from 8-yards following a neat passage of passing play and a one-two with Emery.

Peterborough then made a double change of their own on 75 minutes, Scott Ginty and Danny Andrew coming on for Ben Wright and Danny Blanchett.

Ian Sampson then made his final change on 78 minutes, Tom McGowan replacing Liam Davis.

The Cobblers very nearly took the lead on 84 minutes but Joe Benjamin's curled effort struck the post, while at the other end Scott Ginty did likewise for the Posh. Paul Walker made a diving save from Danny Andrew in the final action.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 9
CORNERS: (2) 11
FOULS: (4) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

POSH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 9
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (3) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1