SAN AN CUP
Thursday July 12th, 2030 CET
SD Portmany Stadium

SD PORTMANY 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 5
Andy HOLT 3, Liam DOLMAN 25, Andy KIRK 37, Ian HENDERSON 53, Shaun GOODHALL 81

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

Northampton Town played the second and final match of their pre-season tour of Ibiza when they took on SD Portmany at the SD Portmany Stadium. Fred Murray started his first game in more than 2 years after a heel injury, while Stuart Gray handed starts to trialists Ramon Manak and Joe Howe, with summer signing Ian Henderson making his first appearance. Danny May, Liam Dolman and Ryan Gilligan were also given their first starts of the pre-season. A calf injury ruled out Chris Doig with Jason Crowe rested because of muscle soreness.

On a cool and cloudy evening with a gentle breeze blowing across the Spanish island, the home side had been expected to provide the Cobblers with a stiffer test than UE San Jose in the previous game, but Stuart Gray's side had the lead after just 3 minutes, Andy Holt heading home a Joe Howe cross.

Ian Henderson came close to his first Cobblers goal on 11 minutes but he headed just wide from a deep Danny May centre.

The Cobblers lead was doubled on 25 minutes thanks to a smart Liam Dolman header at the back post following a corner from trialist Ramon Manak. A Manak corner was also the source of the third goal 8 minutes before half time. His centre was headed back by Andy Holt and Andy Kirk was there to head home a finish from close range.

Mark Hughes had been harshly penalised by the referee on a number of occasions and before the situation could develop he was withdrawn by Stuart Gray, to be replaced by Danny Jackman.

Ryan Gilligan twice went close to scoring moments before the half time interval. First he drove just beyond the far post, and then as the Cobblers came forward again both he and Andy Kirk were denied by a smart double save from the keeper.

The Cobblers continued to dominate as the second half began, and three minutes after the re-start Kirk was denied by the keeper at close range, while the lively striker was twice within an ace of scoring the Cobblers fourth on 52 and 53 minutes but unfortunately for him the keeper made two good saves after the striker had beaten the offside trap.

That fourth goal did arrive moments later, and it was the icing on the cake of a bright performance from Ian Henderson, the former Norwich man pouncing on a poor back pass to coolly slot home beyond the keeper.

Kirk did have the ball in the net on 55 minutes, when he scored after being played in by Joe Howe, but the celebrations were cut short by a mysterious offside flag.

The keeper did well to save a smart chip from Ryan Gilligan on 56 minutes, while on 75 minutes he was doing his work lower down to tip away a shot from Sam Aiston following a powerful run from the substitute.

The final goal of the night and of the tour came with 9 minutes to play, and it was a strike for youth team forward Shaun Goodall. He latched on to a long through ball and showed great composure to lob the keeper and round off a good night for Stuart Gray's side.

That was that, and the Cobblers squad headed off to Ibiza airport to return to the UK.

SD PORTMANY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 1
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (20) 31
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4 

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 14
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 7
CORNERS: (3) 11
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (6) 14