PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
Tuesday July 23rd, 7.45pm
St James Park

BRACKLEY TOWN 1
Tendai Daire 72

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 690

Brackley: Jake Weaver, Ellis Myles, Connor Franklin, Shane Byrne, Kelvin Langmead, Gareth Dean, Matt Lowe, Shepherd Murombedzi, Lee Ndlovu, Jimmy Armson, Carl Baker
Subs: Dan Holman, Tendai Daire, Luke Fairlamb, Thierry Audel, Danny Lewis

Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Reece Hall-Johnson, Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Martin, Sam Hoskins, Scott Pollock, Shaun McWilliams, Nicky Adams, Matt Warburton, Andy Williams
Subs: David Cornell, Joe Bunney, Chris Lines, Vadaine Oliver, Robbie Simpson (trialist), Harry Smith, Ryan Watson, Ryan Hughes, Jack Newell, Jay Williams, Morgan Roberts

Referee: Mr Oliver Mackey

Booked:
Brackley: Carl Baker (3)
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
Brackley: none
Cobblers: none

Keith Curle’s side made the short trip to Brackley Town for their penultimate pre-season fixture. Curle once again named a strong side with the new season less than two weeks away while one time Cobblers defender Kelvin Langmead lined up for Brackley having signed for the National League North outfit in the summer.

On a warm evening Carl Baker picked up an early booking for a late challenge on Charlie Goode. A good ball into the box from Nicky Adams so nearly created the opening goal for the Cobblers but the woodwork was to deny first Andy Williams and then Matt Warburton on the follow-up.

Warburton was again denied when Jake Weaver made a smart save, Reece Hall-Johnson creating the chance this time. Lee Ndlovu had the first shot on goal for the home side while it needed an important block from Jordan Turnbull to keep out a goal bound effort from Matt Lowe.

Robbie Simpson replaced Scott Pollock towards the end of the first half and Keith Curle then made a number of changes at the break. Simpson had a sight of goal early in the second half but his close range effort was well blocked by a Brackley defender before Weaver did well to keep out a stinging 25-yard drive from Ryan Watson.

Brackley took the lead with just under 20 minutes to play, substitute Tendai Daire finishing from close range and that proved to be the only goal of the evening, although there was still time for Ryan Watson to strike the outside of the post late on, the third time the Cobblers had hit the woodwork during the evening.

BRACKLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5 
CORNERS: (2) 5 
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0