PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
Friday July 26th, 7.30pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Sam Hoskins 13
Harry Smith 56
MK DONS 1
Kieran Agard 86
Attendance: 1,904 (596 away fans)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Reece Hall-Johnson, Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Martin, Sam Hoskins, Alan McCormack, Chris Lines, Nicky Adams, Matt Warburton, Harry Smith
Subs: Steve Arnold, Joe Bunney, Shaun McWilliams, Scott Wharton, Ryan Watson, Scott Pollock, Andy Williams, Ryan Hughes, Morgan Roberts, Jay Williams
MK Dons: Lee Nicholls, George Williams, Dean Lewington, Joe Walsh, Russell Martin, Callum Brittain, Ryan Harley, Jordan Houghton, Jordan Bowery, Conor McGrandles, Joe Mason
Subs: Regan Poole, Stuart Moore, Kieran Agard, Baily Cargill, Hiram Boateng, Sam Nombe, David Kasumu, Charlie Pattison, Matthew Sorinola, Dylan Asonganyi, Ben Reeves
Referee: Mr Kevin Friend
Booked:
Cobblers: none
MK Dons: none
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
MK Dons: none
Friday night football at the PTS Academy Stadium saw the Cobblers wrap up their pre-season campaign against MK Dons. Midfielder Alan McCormack made his first appearance for the club while defender Scott Wharton, signed on a season-long loan deal from Blackburn Rovers earlier in the day, was named on the bench.
Starting the game on the front foot, Sam Hoskins saw a shot saved by former Cobblers loanee goalkeeper Lee Nicholls after some neat build-up play involving Harry Smith and Matt Warburton while McCormack saw a volley blocked.
The Cobblers had started brightly and deservedly took the lead on 13 minutes, Nicky Adams' pin-point cross tucked home at the back post by Sam Hoskins.
Charlie Goode was in the right place at the right time to first put in a block and then to clear as the Dons pressed for the first time. A flicked header from Jordan Bowery then went wide after a ball in from Dean Lewington before Nicholls saved from Smith following a Cobblers break.
Smith and Adams combined to set up a chance for Warburton but his low effort was well saved by Nicholls as the Cobblers went close to doubling their lead before half time.
Scott Wharton was one of three players to come on for the second half with the Blackburn loanee replacing Jordan Turnbull in central defence. Shaun McWilliams came on for McCormack in midfield while there was also a change in goal with Steve Arnold on for David Cornell.
Wharton almost scored with his first touch in a Cobblers shirt but his header from an Adams corner went just over. A chance for Dons then went begging with Joe Walsh unable to test Arnold from six-yards.
It was 2-0 Cobblers when Harry Smith headed home an Adams corner and the former Millwall striker almost had a second five minutes later when he raced clear of the Dons defence before firing a shot just wide of Nihcolls upright. Warburton then also curled an effort just wide after some superb work from substitute Morgan Roberts. The traditional flurry of substitutes that accompanies pre-season fixtures then followed as both managers made a number of changes.
Joe Bunney started a move that involved Hoskins and Roberts and ended with a flicked effort from Williams being saved by Nicholls before the Dons pulled a goal back, Kieran Agard with a close range finish.
The Cobblers two goal lead was almost restored when Bunney cannoned a shot against the post from distance late on but the game finished 2-1, the home side turning in an impressive performance ahead of the season opener against Walsall on 3 August.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 7
CORNERS: (0) 5
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
MK DONS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 7
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (5) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0