DEAN AUSTIN EAGER TO GET PRE-SEASON GAMES UNDER WAY
The Cobblers boss looks ahead to Tuesday's Sileby Rangers opener
2 July 2018
Northampton Town manager Dean Austin is looking forward to getting the pre-season fixtures under way.
The Cobblers kick off their pre-season campaign at Sileby Rangers on Tuesday evening (7.45pm) after a week and a half of pre-season training, and Austin says the squad are in decent shape.
“We’ve already been doing a lot of work with the ball in training,” he said.
“The players were told at the end of last season that if I was here they needed to get a lot of the leg work in before they came back. I like to do a lot of work with the ball early.
“There is no guarantee for any player here, we have got a good squad and places are going to have to be earned.
“We’ve got to be ready for the challenge that comes our way this year.
“It’s going to be a massive ask of our squad but if we do our work right hopefully we will be in for a good season.”
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Sileby Rangers 0 Northampton Town 2 - the match report
3 July 2018
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY Tuesday July 3rd, 7.45pm Fernie Fields
SILEBY RANGERS 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2 Morgan Roberts 72 Sam Foley 86
Cobblers first half: David Cornell, Aaron Phillips, Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Camron McWilliams, Joe Iaciofano, Sean Whaler, John-Joe O’Toole, Jack Bridge, Kevin van Veen, Andy Williams
Cobblers second half: James Goff, Shay Facey, Leon Barnett, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Billy Waters, Shaun McWilliams, Sam Foley, Daniel Powell, Morgan Roberts, Sam Hoskins
Referee: Mr Andy Woolmer
Sileby: none Cobblers: none
Sent off: Sileby: none Cobblers: none
As has become tradition in recent years, the Cobblers pre-season campaign kicked off with a game against Sileby Rangers at Fernie Fields.
Matt Crooks (hamstring) and Dean Bowditch (knee) were unavailable for selection, Crooks not risked as a precaution. Summer signing striker Andy Williams made his first appearance for the club while right-back Aaron Phillips, invited back for pre-season training after missing virtually the entirety of the 2017/18 campaign through injury, was also given a run out as boss Dean Austin opted to field a different eleven in each half.
Former Cobblers striker Courtney Herbert, playing as a centre-back captained Sileby.
Despite some good early possession from the Cobblers there were very few chances for either side before Kevin van Veen curled a 25th minute free-kick just wide. At the other end David Cornell made a smart save, diving to his right to keep out a free-kick from Joyce.
Sam Hoskins curled a free-kick just over the bar as the game approached the hour mark before Morgan Roberts also went close with a free-kick after Aaron Pierre and Leon Barnett both had headers blocked.
Academy graduate Morgan Roberts then broke the deadlock, his header from a Daniel Powell cross going in off the post. Sam Foley added a second late on, heading home powerfully from a delivery from Shay Facey.
SILEBY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets) SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 2 SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2 CORNERS: (2) 2 FOULS: (4) 8 CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets) SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5 SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4 CORNERS: (2) 4 FOULS: (5) 6 CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
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