SAN AN CUP
Tuesday July 10th, 2100 CET
SD Portmany Stadium, Ibiza

UE SAN JOSE 1

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Sam AISTON 25, Colin LARKIN 26, Andy HOLT 38

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Joe HOWE, Danny JACKMAN, Mark HUGHES, Brett JOHNSON, Sam AISTON, Joe BURNELL, Bradley JOHNSON, Andy HOLT, Andy KIRK, Colin LARKIN.
Substitutes: Chris DUNN, Danny MAY, Jason CROWE, Liam DOLMAN, Ryan GILLIGAN, Fred MURRAY, Alex DYER, Shaun GOODALL, Ramon MANAK, Ian SAMPSON.

Booked:
UE San Jose: none
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
UE San Jose: none
Cobblers: none

The Cobblers kicked off their 2007/2008 pre-season campaign in Ibiza at the SD Portmany Stadium against UE San Jose.

Calf strain victim Chris Doig was rested, as was Ian Henderson who was feeling muscle soreness. Trialist Joe Howe was handed an opportunity at right back to allow Stuart Gray the chance to look at his versatility. Fred Murray was named among the substitutes as he prepared to enter a football field for the first time since May 2005.

The game kicked off in cooler conditions, with the evening sun setting and the pitch in shade.

The Cobblers were quickly on top, and after 6 minutes Mark Hughes saw his header from a Danny Jackman corner hit the inside of the post and bounce away. Four minutes later another Jackman set piece caused problems but this time Andy Holt's effort was tipped away by the keeper at full stretch.

The home keeper was in action again a minute later when he clawed away Andy Kirk's chip, while on 18 minutes Andy Holt flashed a shot wide from an acute angle.

It was the turn of Joe Burnell to go close on 20 minutes when he curled over the bar, while four minutes later the Cobblers thought they had scored but the referee ruled the goal out for an infringement. Jackman's corner had been headed against his own bar by a defender and after the ball had been half cleared, Bradley Johnson headed home a Holt cross, but the whistle had already gone.

Just a minute later, the Cobblers did have the lead, Sam Aiston cutting inside and beating a couple of defenders before slotting a finish beyond the keeper.

On 26 minutes that lead was doubled with a spectacular finish from Colin Larkin. The home keeper had failed to properly deal with Andy Holt's cross and Larkin was there to volley the rebound home.

Just after the half hour mark the home side made three changes and altered their shape, and while the Cobblers were adjusting to this, Mark Hughes had to clear off the line.

Seven minutes before half time Colin Larkin ended a run with a twenty yard shot that was turned away by the keeper. Danny Jackman's resulting corner was headed home by Andy Holt to make it 3-0.

That was the last action before Larkin was withdrawn after a bright and busy display as the expected changes began to take place with the Cobblers comfortably in charge at half time, even though the home side clipped Mark Bunn's cross bar with a long range effort moments before the interval. 

Three minutes after the break Andy Kirk was played in by Bradley Johnson but despite striking the ball well, the home keeper was able to make a good block.

Wholesale changes were made on 55 minutes and eventually all of the starting XI apart from Joe Howe, Brett Johnson and Sam Aiston had been withdrawn, with Fred Murray one of the replacements, making his first steps on a football pitch since the play off semi final at Southend in May 2005.

Youth team striker Shaun Goodall was played in by Ryan Gilligan on 65 minutes but his shot was pushed away by the keeper, before, with 11 minutes left, San Jose pulled a goal back with a smart volley from a deep corner.

This was a good opening work out for the Cobblers, with the Jackman and Holt pairing down the left showing real promise with the former displaying his ability to deliver dangerous set plays on a regular basis.

UE SAN JOSE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (4) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2 

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (9) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 10
CORNERS: (7) 10
FOULS: (10) 20
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2