Northampton Town Football Club

Attendance: 2,234 (553 away fans)

Cobblers: Andrew Fisher, Shaun McWilliams, Jay Williams, Scott Wharton, Joe Martin, Ryan Watson (sub Vadaine Oliver 64), Matt Warburton (sub Sam Hoskins 51), Chris Lines, Harry Smith, Nicky Adams (sub Morgan Roberts 78), Billy Waters
Subs not used:  David Cornell, Scott Pollock, Andy Williams, Ryan Hughes

Peterborough: Christy Pym, Dan Butler, Frankie Kent, Siriki Dembele, Louis Reed, Nathan Thompson (sub Niall Mason 67), Rhys Bennett, Serhat Tasdemir (sub Ivan Toney 79), Joe Ward, Idris Kanu, Harrison Burrows (sub Josh Knight 78)
Subs not used: Conor O’Malley, Kyle Barker, Flynn Clarke, Ricky-Jade Jones

Referee: Josh Smith

Booked:
Cobblers: Scott Wharton (29)
Peterborough: Nathan Thompson (63)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none       
Peterborough: none

After beating Arsenal under 21s on penalties in their first group game the Cobblers were back in Leasing.com Trophy action on Tuesday night when they welcomed Peterborough United to the PTS Academy Stadium for what was Keith Curle’s 50th game in charge. A fit again Scott Wharton returned to the side, partnering Jay Williams at centre-back as Curle made six changes.

Matty Warburton drew an early save from Christy Pym but it was Peterborough who went close to the opening goal when Louis Reed’s free-kick struck the woodwork. A point blank save from Pym denied Harry Smith his first Cobblers goal after some good work by Billy Waters and not long after that the deadlock was broken, Idris Kanu getting the final touch from a corner as Peterborough took the lead somewhat against the run of play.

A fine individual goal then saw the visitors make it 2-0, Siriki Dembele embarking on a run through the Cobblers defence before firing the ball into the roof of the net.

It needed another good save from Pym to keep out a header from Chris Lines while Smith headed over from a Nicky Adams cross as the Cobblers pressed forward. Posh were still looking dangerous though and Kanu dragged a shot just wide under pressure from Ryan Watson.

Andy Fisher saved from Harry Burrows and Joe Ward at the start of the second half with the Cobblers forced into an early change when Warburton picked up a knock, Sam Hoskins on in his place.

Kanu drew another smart save from Fisher as Posh threatened a third goal while a whipped cross in from Hoskins was headed wide by Smith. Curle was then again forced into making a change, Ryan Watson this time picking up an injury after being tripped by Nathan Thompson when in full flow with Vadaine Oliver coming on.

Fisher was making some good saves and the on-loan Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper was at it again to keep out a low strike from Dembele. Morgan Roberts came on in the Cobblers final change with former Cobblers striker Ivan Toney on for Peterborough.

Oliver went close to pulling a goal back in stoppage time but his effort was deflected wide as Peterborough claimed the victory.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7  
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 7
CORNERS: (0) 4           
FOULS: (3) 7        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0

PETERBOROUGH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)       
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5 
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (5) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2