NORTHAMPTON TOWN RESERVES 3
Ian Henderson 9, 87
Sam Maude 65

NORWICH CITY RESERVES 3
Chris Martin 28, 55
Ross Kelly 81

Pontins Holiday Combination, Sixfields, Wed 5 March 2008

The Cobblers reserves welcomed Norwich City to a fairly bright but chilly Sixfields on Wednesday afternoon for a re-arranged fixture in the Pontins Holiday Combination.

Liam Dolman, Ian Henderson, Alex Dyer and Colin Larkin all started the game for Ian Sampson's side which was mainly made up of youth team players. The man in the middle was former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher.

Norwich had the game's first attempt on goal after just 2 minutes but Korey Smith's effort from 12-yards was saved well by Chris Dunn. The rebound then fell to Bally Smart who's fiercely driven effort crashed against the cross bar before being cleared away to safety by the Cobblers defence.

The Cobblers opened the scoring on 9 minutes, Ian Henderson slotting the ball home against his former club after Colin Larkin's initial effort from Alex Dyer's through ball had only been half-saved by Matthew Gilks in the Canaries goal.

Norwich were back on level terms on 28 minutes, Chris Martin calmly slotting the ball home neatly past Dunn.

Alex Dyer found himself in a good position on 34 minutes but his well driven shot was saved by the feet of Gilks. Colin Larkin then tried his luck from the edge of the area on 40 minutes but his fiercely struck effort was palmed over the cross bar by the Canaries keeper.

The Cobblers came close to re-taking the lead on 42 minutes when from an Ian Henderson corner Liam Dolman's header was scrambled away by Gilks.

Dunn was called into action just before half-time but his fine reflex save to deny Luke Daley from close range ensured that the game was still level going into the break.

Henderson came close to scoring his second of the game on 52 minutes but his header from Greg Taylor's cross was well turned behind by Gilks.

Norwich then took the lead on 55 minutes, Chris Martin smashing the ball home from fully 30-yards. Dunn got a hand to the ball but was simply beaten by the sheer pace of the strike.

The Cobblers were back on level terms on 65 minutes when from a well worked short corner Sam Maude smashed the ball home from close range. The goal also owed a lot to Henderson who's dinked cross from the by-line had set up the chance for Maude to convert.

Norwich re-took the lead on 81 minutes, Ross Kelly's chip from 15-yards just looping over Dunn and into the back of the Cobblers net.

The Cobblers once again restored parity on 87 minutes, Henderson neatly slotting the ball past Gilks from 12-yards.

Norwich then nearly snatched a winner but Chris Dunn pulled off a superb save to deny Chris Martin his hat-trick.

That would have been harsh on the Cobblers though and in the end what had been a thoroughly entertaining game ended 3-3.

Teams
Cobblers: Chris Dunn, Richie Jones, Nick Thorogood, Matthew Cassidy (trialist), Mark Haines, Liam Dolman (capt), Sam Maude, Alex Dyer, Ian Henderson, Colin Larkin, Greg Taylor
Substitutes not used: Shaun Goodall, Jake Suckling, Ben Judd, Joe Benjamin, Jon Marzetti

Norwich: Matthew Gilks, Andrew Cave-Brown, Rossi Jarvis (Ross Kelly, 60), Damon Lathorpe (Paul McLean, 76), Tom Miller, Michael Spillane, Bally Smart, Korey Smith, Chris Martin, Luke Daley (Jordan Yong, 80), Robert Eagle
Substitutes not used: Danny Kelly, Steven Arnold

Referee: Mr D Gallagher

Attendance: 105

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (5) 12
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (7) 10

NORWICH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (3) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2