Alloa Athletic 1 Northampton Town 1 - the match report
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Thursday July 17th, 7.45pm
Recreation Park
ALLOA ATHLETIC 1
Kevin Cawley 79
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Marc Richards 8
Alloa: Craig McDowall, Jonathan Tiffoney, Mark Docherty, Ben Gordon, Daryll Meggatt, Stephen Simmons, Kevin Cawley, Iain Flannigan, Greig Spence, Graeme Holmes, Liam Buchanan
Subs: Adam Asghar, Steven Hetherington, Lewis Wilson, Michael Doyle, Ryan McCord, John Gibson
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Daniel Alfei, Ian Morris, Lee Collins (sub Ben Tozer 64), Zander Diamond, Gregor Robertson, Ricky Ravenhill, Darren Carter, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Kaid Mohamed 64), Marc Richards, Ivan Toney (sub Emile Sinclair 64)
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Connor Roberts, Alex Nicholls, David Moyo
Referee: Mr A Muir
Booked:
Alloa: none
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Alloa none
Cobblers: none
For the only game of their pre-season training camp in Edinburgh, Northampton Town made the trip to face Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park.
Chris Wilder took the opportunity to look at a system of three central defenders, with Lee Collins (captain), Zander Diamond and Gregor Robertson all named in the starting XI. Daniel Alfei and Ian Morris were the wing backs, with Darren Carter and Ricky Ravenhill in midfield. John-Joe O’Toole played just behind a front two of Marc Richards and Ivan Toney. Chris Hackett, Evan Horwood and Kelvin Langmead were rested.
On a pleasant and warm evening, the first effort at goal came from Marc Richards, but his powerful third minute shot was beaten away by the keeper. The former Chesterfield man did find the net to open the scoring five minutes later, lifting the ball over the advancing keeper having been found in space in the left hand channel by Ian Morris.
Alloa, who play in the Scottish Championship and who will be up against Rangers, Hearts and Hibs this coming season, saw Ben Gordon go close from the last of a succession of corners as the half reached the midway point.
Kevin Cawley wasn’t too far away for the Wasps on 32 minutes but his shot was just off target, while as half time approached Daniel Alfei saw his shot touched over the bar by home keeper Craig McDowall.
Marc Richards had the ball in the net on 48 minutes, but his header from a left wing cross was ruled out by an offside flag.
Daryll Meggatt headed a corner wide for the hosts shortly afterwards while as the game entered its final quarter, substitute Ben Tozer volleyed wide from a Cobblers corner.
With fifteen minutes to play, Zander Diamond hit the outside of the post with a header from a Darren Carter corner, but four minutes later Alloa drew level when Kevin Cawley shot home low from the edge of the area.
That strike ensured the honours were shared between the two sides.