CHECKATRADE TROPHY       
Tuesday August 29th, 7.45pm       
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Alex Revell 29

CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1
Piero Mingoia 27

Attendance: 1,453 (143 away supporters)

Cobblers: Luke Coddington, Brendan Moloney, David Buchanan, Leon Barnett, Ash Taylor, Billy Waters, Shaun McWilliams, Matt Grimes, Daniel Powell, Alex Revell, Chris Long (sub Joe Iaciofano 80)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Aaron Pierre, Dean Bowditch, George Smith, Marc Richards, Matt Crooks

Cambridge: Dimitar Mitov, Jake Carroll, Leon Legge, Piero Mingoia, Jabo Ibehre (sub Ade Azeez 61), Emmanuel Osadebe, Liam O’Neil, Jevani Brown, Paul Lewis (sub Medy Elito 66), Leon Davies (sub Greg Taylor 90), Harry Darling
Subs not used: Finlay Iron, Sam Squire, Jordan Norville-Williams, Ben Worman

Referee: John Brooks

Booked:
Cobblers: Billy Waters (16) 
Cambridge: Leon Legge (83)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none       
Cambridge: none

The Cobblers kicked off their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with their first group game against Cambridge United at Sixfields. Chris Long, Billy Waters and Daniel Powell all came into the side as boss Justin Edinburgh made three changes, switching formation to a back four.

Alex Revell headed over early for the home side while Luke Coddington got down well to save a shot from Jabo Ibehre. An instinctive save from Dimitar Mitov prevented Revell opening the scoring midway through the first half, Long creating the chance with a pin-point cross following some good work down the right by Waters.

Cambridge took the lead on 27 minutes, Piero Mingoia finding the bottom corner with a low strike from just outside the area.

The Cobblers were soon back on terms though, Alex Revell tucking a shot into the top corner following a strong run from Long.

Powell showed some good pace before seeing his shot saved by Mitov and Waters had an effort blocked inside the six-yard box as the first half ended all-square at 1-1.

The second half was more scrappy with clear cut chances for either side hard to come by and neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

Academy graduate Joe Iaciofano came on for the final ten minutes, taking the place of Burnley loanee Chris Long.

The game ended 1-1 and a penalty shoot-out followed, using the new ABBA system, to see which side would collect an additional point.

PENALTIES

Medy Elito (Cambridge) scored 0-1
Alex Revell (Cobblers) scored 1-1
Joe Iaciofano (Cobblers) scored 2-1
Piero Mingoia (Cambridge) scored 2-2
Jevani Brown (Cambridge) scored 2-3
Billy Waters (Cobblers) scored 3-3
Shaun McWilliams (Cobblers) scored 4-3
Liam O’Neil (Cambridge) saved 4-3
Ade Azeez (Cambridge) scored 4-4
Ash Taylor (Cobblers) scored 5-4

The Cobblers won 5-4 on penalties

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (5) 6          
FOULS: (3) 11        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

CAMBRIDGE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 2 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (3) 4
FOULS: (7) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2