Paul Anderson goal earns victory over Luton Town
Northampton Town 1
Paul Anderson 42
Luton Town 0
Brendan Moloney featured for Northampton Town along with Paul Anderson, Jak McCourt, Harry Beautyman and Rod McDonald in a 1-0 victory against a Luton Town XI at Sixfields on Tuesday.
The Cobblers dominated much of the first-half and had a succession of early corners and crosses cleared away by the Luton defence. McCourt then saw a curling effort towards the back-post well beaten away.
Luton’s Jack Marriott was lively and had two opportunities inside the opening 20 minutes, but his shot was well blocked by McDonald and he then arrowed a left-footed effort wide of Cornell’s post.
The Cobblers moved the ball around well from side to side and Moloney and Raheem Hanley got forward at every opportunity from their full-back positions.
The Hatters fashioned a chance on the edge of the box but an effort was dragged wide of the near post but it was then the Cobblers who took the lead just before the break. Emmanuel Sonupe’s dangerous run on the left got him to the left by-line, his effort then hit the post and fell for Paul Anderson to tap into the net from 6 yards.
Shaun McWilliams almost doubled the lead immediately after half-time but his shot from Jak McCourt’s corner was blocked at close range, McDonald sent the rebound ball over the bar from a tight angle.
Moloney made way on the hour mark as he stepped up his recovery from injury having come through unscathed.
Luton threatened down the left on 68 minutes, the ball was cut back towards the penalty spot but the on-rushing Marriott couldn’t quite connect on the slide and McDonald was there to clear away.
Youth teamers James Hammond and Ben Toseland completed 90 minutes, whilst both Josh McCammon and Jamie Hall featured from the substitutes bench.
McDonald was forced into making a great block on the penalty spot with 5 minutes remaining, but other than that there were few other chances in the second 45.