PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Wednesday July 18, 7.45pm
A Line Arena

KETTERING TOWN 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Andy HOLT 57

Attendance: 901

Kettering:  Cameron BELFORD, John DEMPSTER, Luke GRAHAM, Brett SOLKHON, Tom KEMP, Kevin SPENCER, Andy HALL, Callum LLOYD, Jean-Paul MARNA, Mark RAWLE, Craig WESTCARR.
Substitutes: TOTTI, Darren CASKEY, Serge MAKOFO, Adam FRY, Steve BURTON

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, Jason CROWE, Danny JACKMAN, Mark HUGHES, Liam DOLMAN, Sam AISTON, Ryan GILLIGAN, Bradley JOHNSON, Andy HOLT, Andy KIRK, Ian HENDERSON.
Substitutes: Colin LARKIN, James QUINN, Joe BURNELL, Danny MAY, Joe HOWE, Alex DYER, Freddie AVILL, Mark HAINES, Nick THOROGOOD, Sam MAUDE, Shaun GOODALL.

Referee: Mr A Woolmer

Booked:
Kettering: none
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
Kettering: none
Cobblers: none

Northampton Town continued their pre-season build up with a trip to Kettering Town. Mark Bunn was absent on compassionate leave, and he was replaced by Chris Dunn. Jason Crowe made his first start of the pre-season campaign, while Ian Henderson and Danny Jackman made their first starts for the club on UK soil.

The game kicked-off on a pleasantly sunny evening, with a healthy following of Cobblers supporters making the short journey to the A-Line Arena. In the early exchanges, Andy Kirk nearly opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute, finding space at the far post from a long Andy Holt throw, but his snap shot with his left foot from 12 yards flew over the bar. Just moments later Kirk did have the ball in the back of the net, but unfortunately was adjudged to have strayed offside.

The hosts created a good chance of their own on 7 minutes after neat play down the left, and although Craig Westcarr connected well with his effort from the edge of the area, Mark Hughes threw himself in the way to make an excellent block. On 11 minutes Henderson was pulled back just outside the area and from the resulting free kick the defensive wall did it's job to deflect Bradley Johnson's attempt over the bar for a corner.

On 20 minutes, neat play from Andy Kirk and Sam Aiston released Ian Henderson, but his chip from the edge of the area drifted over the bar. Andy Kirk went close again just 5 minutes later, running onto a well weighted through ball from Sam Aiston, but although his first time effort had the goalkeeper beaten, it went wide of the post.

Andy Holt out jumped everyone on the half hour mark from a Danny Jackman corner, but his looping header lacked a little bit of direction and went over the crossbar. Holt nearly gave the Cobblers the lead moments later in unusual circumstances, Liam Dolman hooked a ball over his head back into the box after a corner had been half cleared, Holt beat the goalkeeper in the air, but his header bounced higher than usual, and clipped the crossbar on the way over.

On the stroke of half-time, Andy Kirk travelled from the half way line, and in using Sam Aiston as a decoy, created space and drove in a low shot from 25 yards, but Cameron Belford in the Kettering goal pushed the ball round the post to ensure the score remained 0-0 at the break.

Neither side made any changes at the interval, but it took a few minutes for the match to find the flow of the first half. Ian Henderson thought he had given the Cobblers the lead on 51 minutes flicking the ball over the advancing goalkeeper having got on the end of a delicate Sam Aiston header into his path, but was foiled by the offside flag.

Moments later Bradley Johnson rattled the crossbar with a fierce free kick from 25 yards, and from the rebound Sam Aiston sent his half chance over the bar.

The Cobblers finally did have the lead on 57 minutes, Sam Aiston stood up an inviting cross to the far post which was powerfully met by the head of Andy Holt and sent into the net, giving him his 3rd goal in 3 pre-season matches.

As is almost now customary in pre-season matches, a plethora of substitutions midway through the second half affected the flow of the remainder of the match.

Mark Hughes was required to head off his line in the last minute from Jean-Paul Marna as the Cobblers went on to record a 1-0 win, but more importantly enjoy good preparation as the pre-season programme continued.

KETTERING MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (0) 3
FOULS: (6) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (9) 14
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (8) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 8