PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Tuesday July 31st, 7.45pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3
Darren WARD 22, Andy KEOGH 31 pen, Fredy EASTWOOD 88

Attendance: 2,258 (806 away fans)

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

Wolves: Wayne HENNESSEY, Neill COLLINS, Michael GRAY, Seyi OLOFINJANA, Gary BREEN, Darren WARD, Michael KIGHTLY, Darren POTTER, Andy KEOGH, Stephen ELLIOTT, Charlie MULGREW.
Substitutes: Rob EDWARDS, Billy LUMLEY, Karl HENRY, Jay BOTHROYD, Fredy EASTWOOD, Jamie CLAPHAM, Stephen GLEESON, Daniel JONES, Jody CRADDOCK

Referee: Mr A Woolmer

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Wolves: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Wolves: none

Northampton Town welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers to Sixfields for their third and final home pre-season friendly.

Mark Bunn (compassionate leave) was absent, and his place was taken by Chris Dunn. Andy Holt (calf) was rested as a precaution, while Chris Doig and Brett Johnson were not risked, although both are back in full training. Giles Coke was the other absentee.

The Cobblers had the first effort at goal after 3 minutes. Ian Henderson picked up a short corner and delivered a cross in to the box. After the ball was half cleared it sat up for Danny Jackman to drive powerfully towards goal, but Wayne Hennessey held on well.

Stephen Elliott was released into the Cobblers area by Michael Kightly on 18 minutes - the offside flag staying down - but Elliott sent in a low shot just beyond the far post.

Darren Ward gave the visitors the lead on 22 minutes, turning home a low cross at the near post from Andy Keogh.

Chris Dunn made a smart save to push away a drive from Michael Kightly on 29 minutes, but moments later the referee awarded the visitors a penalty when Andy Keogh went down following a challenge from Liam Dolman. Keogh himself scored from the spot.

Mark Hughes sent a header against his own post following a cross from Kightly on 33 minutes as Wolves continued their purple patch, but the Cobblers soon recovered their composure as half time approached.

Dunn made a diving save from Stephen Elliott on 54 minutes, before the Cobblers made two changes and Wolves five as the substitutions began to take place.

Michael Kightly's low drive was saved by Dunn on 63 minutes, before the Cobblers youth team product made another good top 5 minutes later, blocking a shot from Fredy Eastwood after Jason Crowe's clearance had rebounded kindly for the former Southend striker.

Bradley Johnson sent in a skidding shot on 73 minutes, breaking out of defence well after Sam Aiston had won the ball back, but his effort was just wide.

The Cobblers were also close to pulling a goal back on 82 minutes, Danny Jackman's deep free kick was headed back across goal by Mark Hughes for Joe Burnell, but the former Bristol City man's header was too high.

Danny May fired a shot over the bar from 25 yards with four minutes to play, but the scoring was complete with 2 minutes to play when Fredy Eastwood found space in the Cobblers area before sending in a low shot beyond Dunn to give the final scoreline a harsh look.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 3
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (8) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 7

WOLVES MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (5) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 7