PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
Tuesday July 13th, 7.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Sam Hoskins 29
WEST HAM UNITED 2
Sid Nelson 2 og
Conor Coventry 13
Attendance: 1,715
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Michael Harriman, Jack Sowerby, Jon Guthrie, Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Sid Nelson, Jordan Flores, Benny Ashley-Seal, Danny Rose, Josh Debayo (trialist)
Subs: Jonny Maxted, Aaron McGowan, Fraser Horsfall, Paul Lewis, Dylan Connolly, Scott Pollock, Shaun McWilliams, Josh Flanagan, Caleb Chukwuemeka, Liam Cross, Camron McWilliams (trialist)
West Ham: Nathan Trott, Ryan Fredericks, Craig Dawson, Frederik Alves, Ajibola Alese, Conor Coventry, Jarrod Bowen, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Manuel Lanzini, Nathan Holland, Ademipo Odubeko
Subs: Krisztian Hegyi, Ossama Ashley, Bernardo Rosa, Kamarai Swyer, Thierry Nevers
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Booked:
Cobblers: none
West Ham: none
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
West Ham: none
Fans were back at Sixfields as the Cobblers continued their pre-season campaign on Tuesday night against Premier League West Ham United.
There was a first start for Jordan Flores, signed on a season-long loan from Hull City as a handful of summer signings got their first feel for the Sixfields surface. Trialist Josh Debayo was also included in Jon Brady’s starting eleven with latest addition Aaron McGowan named on the bench. Nicke Kabamba missed the game as a precaution.
The Hammers, with Stuart Pearce in charge, fielded a strong side which included Ryan Fredericks, Craig Dawson, Manuel Lanzini and Jarrod Bowen whose cross lead to an early goal, the unfortunate Sid Nelson turning the ball into his own net.
Sam Hoskins fired just wide for the Cobblers before Conor Coventry doubled the Hammers' lead with a composed finish into the far corner, the goal given despite some protestations of handball in the build-up.
Jack Sowerby saw a shot blocked and Danny Rose fired wide from Mitch Pinnock’s lay off as the Cobblers pressed forward while Liam Roberts made a smart low save to deny Keenan Appiah-Forson.
The Cobblers had been threatening and Sam Hoskins pulled a goal back just before the half hour mark, Benny Ashley-Seal providing the assist for Hoskins to tuck home after Pinnock’s initial effort had been well saved by Nathan Trott. Another sharp save from Roberts was then needed to deny Nathan Holland from close range as the Hammers looked to reinstate their two-goal lead.
Jon Brady made six changes at half-time with Aaron McGowan coming on for his first Cobblers action. Jonny Maxted, Fraser Horsfall, Paul Lewis, Shaun McWilliams and Dylan Connolly were the other five players introduced for the second half.
Connolly showed good technique to create an opportunity for Ashley-Seal who was unable to get a clear sight on goal before another batch of changes saw Caleb Chukwuemeka, Scott Pollock, Josh Flanagan and Liam Cross come on for the final half an hour.
A crisp strike from Pollock drew a good low save from Trott with the Hammers keeper also saving well from Paul Lewis following some more neat build-up play from the Cobblers. Trialist then replaced trialist with Camron McWilliams on for Debayo.
Fraser Horsfall headed narrowly wide as the Cobblers continued to create chances on a night sure to have given Jon Brady a lot of positives to mull over ahead of the new season.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (6) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
WEST HAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (7) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2