PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
Saturday July 17th, 12.00pm
Zeeco Stadium
STAMFORD AFC 2
Cameron Johnson 16
James Blunden 41
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Benny Ashley-Seal 55
Stamford AFC: Max Peverell, Joe Burgess, Connor Bartle, Michael Armstrong, Sean Wright, James Blunden, Des O’Hare, Harry Vince, James Hicks, Cameron Johnson, Rodrigo Gorcalves
Subs: Stacey Freeman, Mason Rhiney, Cosmos Matwasa, Tendai Chitiza, Rob Morgan, Joe Tarris
Cobblers: Jonny Maxted, Aaron McGowan, Max Dyche, Jon Guthrie, Josh Debayo (trialist), Liam Cross, Jay Williams (trialist), Paul Lewis, Mitch Pinnock, Benny Ashley-Seal, Nicke Kabamba
Subs: Liam Roberts, Michael Harriman, Fraser Horsfall, Sid Nelson, Jordan Flores, Josh Flanagan, Dylan Connolly, Caleb Chukwuemeka
Referee: Carl Henry
Booked:
Stamford AFC: none
Cobblers: Josh Debayo (75)
Sent off:
Stamford AFC: none
Cobblers: none
It was a hot and sunny afternoon as the Cobblers continued their pre-season campaign with a trip to Stamford. There was another start for trialist Josh Debayo with former Cobbler Jay Williams also in the side. A number of players were unavailable for selection, some due to having to self-isolate while Joseph Mills was still not quite yet ready to return to action.
After a quiet opening quarter of an hour, Paul Lewis drew the first save of the afternoon from Max Peverell.
Stamford broke the deadlock on 16 minutes, Cameron Johnson with a finish to beat Jonny Maxted who soon after then made a terrific save to keep out Rodrigo Gorcalves’s deflected effort.
Mitch Pinnock fired over, Nick Kabamba was just unable to connect with a low ball across the box from Liam Cross and Benny Ashley-Seal had a shot blocked after some good work by Josh Debayo as the Cobblers pressed for an equaliser.
It was Stamford who struck again before half-time though, James Blunden heading home from a free kick.
Jon Brady made a host of changes for the second half with only trialists Debayo/Williams and Ashley-Seal remaining from the first-half line-up.
One of those players, Benny Ashley-Seal, pulled a goal back for the Cobblers ten minutes into the second half, lobbing the ball over the Stamford keeper after latching on to a fine ball over the top from Sid Nelson.
Dylan Connolly then had a goal ruled out for off-side before delivering a teasing cross into Ashley-Seal who flashed a header wide.
With five minutes to go, Jordan Flores tested the keeper from distance with a dipping effort in the final effort at goal on a very hot afternoon.
STAMFORD AFC MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 0
CORNERS: (0) 5
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 6
