Brackley Town 0 Northampton Town 3 - the match report
MAUNSELL CUP FINAL
Saturday July 25th, 3.00pm
St James Park
BRACKLEY TOWN 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Marc Richards 26
Alfie Potter 51, 84
Attendance: 464
Brackley: Dan Crane, Luke Graham, Stephan Morley, Greg Kaziboni, Curtis McDonald, Ryan Austin, Owen Story, Glenn Walker, Sam Smith, Tom Winters, Richard Batchelor
Substitutes: Tom Sharpe, Sam Whittall, David Moyo, Will Green, Jacob Borg, Dan Farrell
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Josh Lelan, David Buchanan, Jason Taylor, Zander Diamond, Ryan Cresswell, Lawson D’Ath, Joel Byrom, Marc Richards, Nicky Adams, Alfie Potter
Substitutes: Sam Warburton, Ryan Clarke, Rod McDonald, Tom Newey, Danny Clifton, Chris Hackett, John-Joe O’Toole
Referee: Mr D Avent
Booked:
Brackley: none
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Brackley: none
Cobblers: none
Northampton Town travelled to Brackley Town for the Northamptonshire FA’s Maunsell Cup Final. Free agent Tom Newey was named amongst the substitutes but amid interest from other clubs, Ivan Toney was omitted.
The first opportunity fell to the home side, but former Sixfields man Greg Kaziboni was crowded out by the Cobblers defence after latching on to a low cross, while Nicky Adams just ran out of space as he looked to fashion a shooting chance at the other end.
Smith (Sam) forced Smith (Adam) into a low save at his near post on ten minutes, the Cobblers stopper equal to the task, and as an entertaining opening continued, a Marc Richards shot was blocked with Tuesday’s two goal hero Nicky Adams wide with the follow up.
The Cobblers went really close as the first half reached its midway point. Nicky Adams played in Alfie Potter on the angle but the former Oxford’s man drilled shot was grabbed by the keeper right on the line at the second attempt.
The deadlock was broken 5 minutes later through the familiar figure of Marc Richards. Good build up play down the left from David Buchanan and Nicky Adams led to Richards rising highest to nod home a hanging cross.
Brackley defender Curtis McDonald strode forward from defence to drive a 35 yard effort against the cross bar just after the half hour mark, while for Northampton Town a Nicky Adams effort was deflected just over for a corner.
Two separate goalbound Potter headers were claimed by Brackley keeper Crane on the cusp of half time as the Cobblers went into the break a goal to good.
Potter didn’t have to wait much longer to get his name on the scoresheet though, finding the net six minutes into the second half, winning the ball back on the edge of the area before dancing around the keeper and slotting home.
Within a matter of minutes the Cobblers twice came close to extending the lead, first Potter was denied by Crane before Zander Diamond headed narrowly over from the resulting corner.
Richard Batchelor headed a free kick wide on 65 minutes as the hosts looked for a way back into the game, but the Cobblers settled matters when the impressive Alfie Potter drove home his second of the afternoon six minutes from time.
Chris Wilder's side did an effective job of seeing the game out, and lifted the Maunsell Cup shortly after the final whistle.
BRACKLEY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (4) 5
FOULS: (4) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1)
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (3) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4