The Northampton Town squad took on the AFC Bournemouth under 23 squad in a training game at the club’s Pinatar Arena training base in Spain on Tuesday evening.
The game, which was played in 3 x 30 minute periods, gave some first action of the pre-season period to Jordan Turnbull, Ryan Watson and Scott Pollock while trialist Curtis Yebli also featured.
Bournemouth threatened early on, Charlie Seaman and Jaidon Anthony delivering dangerous crosses but both were dealt with by Steve Arnold inside the opening minutes.
A left-sided cross then picked out Scott Pollock at the back-post but he steered wide under pressure with a right-footed effort.
Bournemouth opened the scoring on 13 minutes when a clever, precise passage of play saw Keelan O’Connell combine with Jaidon Anthony to allow the latter to score the opening goal from inside the penalty area.
Pollock then burst forward from the right side towards the edge of the area before finding Joe Martin on the left, he then picked out Nicky Adams who turned well in the box but his low left-footed shot went just wide of the far-post.
Adams then delivered a brilliant cross from a free-kick wide on the right side, Jay Williams met it powerfully at the back-post but Will Dennis made a smart save at his near-post and the resulting loose ball was cleared.
Sam Hoskins then took aim from 20 yards before seeing a deflected effort drop just wide of the post, before Adams’ resulting corner was met by Ryan Watson in the air but his header was cleared on the line. Adams’ corners were a constant menace with Vadaine Oliver then flicking just wide from another wicked delivery.
The end of the first third saw plenty of changes including the introduction of Shaun McWilliams, Chris Lines, David Cornell, Harry Smith.
Bournemouth then doubled their lead as Jaidon Anthony scored his second of the game, finding the bottom corner with a well-placed finish from the left side of the area.
Morgan Roberts did well on the left and beat his man before delivering a dangerous cross into the 6 yard box, but Bournemouth defender Shaun Hobson managed to get an important flick on the ball to take it away from Harry Smith at the back-post. Andy Williams then clipped the post from a tight angle with a right-footed drive.
A neat touch from Harry Smith drew a free-kick in a dangerous position wide on the right side, Adams delivered another good ball into the area but the ball fizzed through the bodies in the box and to safety.
Andy Williams then had a good chance to get a goal back after being played through by a clever Matt Warburton pass, but his curling shot with the outside of his right boot dropped wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the area.
David Cornell then produced a fine save, winger Tyrell Hamilton weaved his way into the area but the substitute ‘keeper got down well to deny a low effort with his legs before Williams saw another shot well saved moments later.
Matt Warburton then scored a well-taken penalty after Williams was fouled in the area, before Warburton added his second goal moments later with a well taken finish following a ball in from the left.
Great vision again from Warburton saw him thread a clever pass through to Nicky Adams wide on the right at the start of the third period, his cross fell for Williams but the striker couldn’t quite connect fully with his shot as it rolled past the post. Ryan Watson then saw a header well saved on the line after following up a rebound.
Nicky Adams again delivered a dangerous corner from the right side which was nodded wide by Joe Martin, Andy Williams then had the ball flicked away from him at the back-post by a Bournemouth toe.
After Adams dug out a cross from the left the ball landed for Vadaine Oliver at the back-post, he managed to connect on the volley but the angle was tight and he couldn’t quite find the target.
Warburton then slotted in from near the penalty spot late on to complete his hat-trick before Bournemouth equalised with virtually the last kick of this training game as Scrimshaw tapped into an empty net following a break forward.
The Cobblers play their next pre-season fixture, a public game against League 1 side Coventry City at the Pinatar Arena on Friday, kick off 4pm BST, 5pm CET. We will bring you live text commentary of that game on ntfc.co.uk