SHAY FACEY MAIN INJURY DOUBT FOR THURSDAY'S GAME IN SPAIN
Cobblers preparing to take on Hull City under 23s
19 July 2018
After a rest and recovery period on Tuesday afternoon at their Lomas de Campoamor training camp, the Cobblers squad stepped up their intensity on Wednesday and as they build up to Thursday's game with Hull City under 23s, hey only have one injury concern to contend with.
First though, Dean Austin says he has been pleased with the balance of the week.
"I am a big believer in recovery time, it is vitally important," he said.
"If you are going to work as hard as we are, it is important the players have their time to recover.
"Ideally, we would have wanted a game here in Spain earlier in the week but that wasn't possible so we had to change things around a little bit and Hull City under 23s agreed to play us on Thursday. We are getting ready for that and it should be a good end to the week.
"The only player who might be doubtful for Thursday is Shay Facey. He turned his ankle in the game last week and he is struggling with that a little but he is doing a lot of work with the physios but there is no point taking any risks with him."
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Hull City under 23s 1 Northampton Town 3 - the match report
19 July 2018
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY Thursday July 19th, 6.30pm Lomas de Campoamor
HULL CITY UNDER 23S 1
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 Sam Hoskins 61 Aaron Pierre 85 Shaun McWilliams 90
Cobblers first half: James Goff, Hakeem Odoffin, Ash Taylor, Leon Barnett, Jordan Turnbull, Jack Bridge, Sean Whaler, Matt Crooks, Daniel Powell, John-Joe O’Toole, Andy Williams
Second half: David Cornell, Sean Whaler, Jay Williams, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Shaun McWilliams, Sam Foley, Morgan Roberts, Jack Bridge, Sam Hoskins, Kevin van Veen
Booked: Hull: none Cobblers: none
Sent off: Hull: none Cobblers: none
Northampton Town rounded off their pre-season Spanish training camp by taking on the Hull City under 23 side at Lomas de Campoamor on Thursday evening.
Boss Dean Austin named different teams for each 45 minutes, with all members of the travelling party involved with the exception of Shay Facey who is working his way back from an ankle knock. Jack Bridge and Sean Whaler were the two players who started both halves.
The Cobblers enjoyed a lot of possession in the early exchanges but clear cut chances were at a premium. Jack Bridge was involved in much of the action and he went close to opening the scoring on the half hour mark, cutting in from the right and sending in a left footed shot that was tipped wide.
John-Joe O’Toole tested the City keeper with a header from a Matt Crooks free kick ten minutes before the break, while O’Toole was close again moments later, sending a left foot volley just wide of the far post in the closing action of the first 45 minutes.
Sam Foley worked the keeper from distance in the early moments of the second half, but the City stopper was equal to the task.
The Cobblers conceded their first goal of the pre-season campaign on 52 minutes when a low cross from the left was converted, but Dean Austin’s side were level nine minutes later when Sam Hoskins volleyed home a left wing delivery from Jack Bridge.
Northampton Town were close to taking the lead on 65 minutes. Hoskins drew a smart save from the ‘keeper after breaking into the box and shooting low, Foley then saw his effort from the rebound blocked on the line, allowing Hull to clear.
Aaron Pierre headed wide from a corner with 20 to play, but the former Wycombe defender did later give the Cobblers the lead. Dean Bowditch, on for his first action of pre-season, delivered an excellent corner from the left that Pierre headed home from close range.
Shaun McWilliams added a third goal late on after fine hold up work from Kevin van Veen and that rounded things off for the Cobblers, who arrive back in England on Friday ahead of the club’s open day on Sunday.
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