PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Wednesday July 19th, 7.45pm
Hayden Road
AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 2
Ben Farrell 28
Tom Lorraine 80
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Heath, Westwood, Ford, Brown, Dolman, Gyasi, Smith, Bunting, Farrell, Shariff, Dillon
Subs: Curtis, Punter, Brown-Hill, Lorraine, Finlay, Hembury, Fairlamb
Cobblers: James Goff, Brendan Moloney, Regan Poole, Jarvis Wilson (youth), George Smith, James Gillard (youth), Yaser Kasim, Prudence Anaele (youth), Leon Lobjoit, Alex Revell, Dean Bowditch
Subs: Aaron Phillips, Williams (youth), Leon Barnett, David Buchanan, Sam Foley, Matt Taylor, Daniel Powell, Roberts (youth), Billy Waters, Marc Richards
Booked:
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: none
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: none
Cobblers: none
Just 24 hours after making the long trip to Somerset to take on Frome Town the Cobblers were back in pre-season action with a rather shorter trip to take on AFC Rushden & Diamonds at Hayden Road. James Goff started in goal as Justin Edinburgh included three academy players in his starting XI.
Alex Revell was denied by the home keeper early on after some good work down the right from Dean Bowditch. Left-back George Smith shot just wide as the Cobblers pressed forward but it took a good save from Goff to keep the scores level midway through the first half.
Ben Farrell put the home side in front on the half hour, curling a shot into the top corner from just inside the area. The home side then went close to doubling their lead on 38 minutes when Darryl Smith saw his shot come back off the bar.
With an hour gone Justin Edinburgh made ten changes, continuing to build up the fitness of the players gradually ahead of the new season. James Goff remained in goal.
Billy Waters had appeals for a penalty waved away and Leon Barnett went close as the Cobblers pushed for an equaliser but it was the Diamonds who struck next, Tom Lorraine doubling the home side’s lead and 2-0 was how it finished.
AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6)
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5)
CORNERS: (5)
FOULS: (7)
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0)
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1)
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5)
CORNERS: (0)
FOULS: (6)
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2)