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Stevenage Borough 0-4 Northampton Town
Wednesday, 28 July 2004, 7.45pm
Friendly
Referee: Norman Appleby
Attendance:
Scorers: None
Friendly
Referee: Norman Appleby
Attendance:
Scorers: None
Stevenage team
Starting XI
Rob Burch 14: Matt Hocking 5: Jason Goodliffe (c) 17: Mark Rogers 3: Jamie Gould 18: Ritchie Hanlon 4: Rob Quinn 8: Michael Brough 12: Richard Hodgson 9: Dino Maamria 10: Brian Quailey |
Used substitutes
24: Gary Schillaci (for 4, 71) 19: Jo Flack (for 5, 59) 7: Jon Brady (for 3, 45) 11: Craig McAllister (for 18, 45) 15: Dannie Bulman (for 12, 45) 21: George Boyd (for 9, 45) 37: Anthony Elding (for 10, 45) Unused substitutes 20: Jon Nurse 26: Darren Williams 25: Shaun Batt 13: Lee Farrow |
BoroGuide
Having looked impressive against other league opposition in their pre-season campaign, Stevenage Borough fell to a heavy defeat against League Two outfit Northampton Town at Broadhall Way, after stunning the home side with four first half goals to put the result beyond doubt.
It was a result that put Boro' back in their place and put them uner no illusions that they're by no means a cohesive unit yet. However, one must account that this was a very strong first team squad for the Cobblers, who're currently the bookies favourites to take the newly named 'League Two' by storm.
The almost did get an early shock though, after Quailey charged down a short backpass and the ball ran loose to the edge of the box for Hodgson, with two defenders to beat. He tore into the box and weighted a perfect cross into Quailey who was just six yards out but managed to fire directly at the keeper who successfully palmed away.
Incredibly only a minute after Boro' had failed to capitalise on a backpass, Town did exactly the same when Hocking's header fell short of Rob Burch, deputising in the Boro' goal for the second game following Andy Woodman's injury. This let through Northampton's triallist striker Habib who rounded Burch but somewhat incredibly spurned his shot from close range, albeit a tight angle, over the bar.
Inside ten minutes though the deadlock was broken as the Cobblers opened the scoring from a 25-yard free kick, converted from the left boot of (number 11). This unsettled Boro's pattern of play and they failed to get a stranglehold on the game, and as a result that lead was doubled just halfway through the first period. Boro's defending on the right hand side was porous allowing a deep cross to the backpost where (number 9) outjumped his marker to head across goal allowing (number 11) to slip in and grab his second from close range.
Boro' capitulated, despite resorting to a revised 3-5-2 formation, and on the half hour the lead had stretched to three goals. Mark Rogers was being run ragged in the under-manned defence and he conceded a free kick which was quickly taken by Northampton over the top of the static Boro' defence on the right wing. This allowed (number 7) in behind Jamie Gould and with a chance to cross to the near post where (number 9) was on hand to finish tidily, again from close range.
The referee poured salt on Boro's wounds before the half was over, awarding a penalty to the Cobblers after adjudging that Matt Hocking had pulled an opponent's shirt. Up stepped (number 11) to claim his hat-trick within 40 minutes, and the result was in effect beyond doubt.
Graham Westley pulled out (number?) changes at half time, replacing the majority of his midfield and front line. The result was a far tamer second half affair than that in the first and fewer incident with the stronger, fresher home side a closer match for the high quality visitors.
Dannie Bulman managed to repeat his dangerous swirling pacey free kick from the Brighton game again, with an effort that swerved conveniently into the arms of the keeper.
Anthony Elding was playing his best half of football pre-season, and seemingly desperate to get his name on the scoresheet for the first time in the new campaign was hitting efforts from various ranges in the Northampton half. The best of these saw an absolute ripsnorter from 35 yards defy the keeper but return off the bar, with a deep suspicion that it crossed the line after bouncing into the turf and out of the goalmouth.
For the first time this season though, Boro' drew a blank in front of goal. No shame though against a Cobblers side brimming with ability. The benefit will be that it will expose any weaknesses that Graham Westley will want to iron out with a full two weeks before the campaign begins full on. It's useful that the squad can taste defeat now and find ways to prevent as many repeat occurences through the season to come.
Having looked impressive against other league opposition in their pre-season campaign, Stevenage Borough fell to a heavy defeat against League Two outfit Northampton Town at Broadhall Way, after stunning the home side with four first half goals to put the result beyond doubt.
It was a result that put Boro' back in their place and put them uner no illusions that they're by no means a cohesive unit yet. However, one must account that this was a very strong first team squad for the Cobblers, who're currently the bookies favourites to take the newly named 'League Two' by storm.
The almost did get an early shock though, after Quailey charged down a short backpass and the ball ran loose to the edge of the box for Hodgson, with two defenders to beat. He tore into the box and weighted a perfect cross into Quailey who was just six yards out but managed to fire directly at the keeper who successfully palmed away.
Incredibly only a minute after Boro' had failed to capitalise on a backpass, Town did exactly the same when Hocking's header fell short of Rob Burch, deputising in the Boro' goal for the second game following Andy Woodman's injury. This let through Northampton's triallist striker Habib who rounded Burch but somewhat incredibly spurned his shot from close range, albeit a tight angle, over the bar.
Inside ten minutes though the deadlock was broken as the Cobblers opened the scoring from a 25-yard free kick, converted from the left boot of (number 11). This unsettled Boro's pattern of play and they failed to get a stranglehold on the game, and as a result that lead was doubled just halfway through the first period. Boro's defending on the right hand side was porous allowing a deep cross to the backpost where (number 9) outjumped his marker to head across goal allowing (number 11) to slip in and grab his second from close range.
Boro' capitulated, despite resorting to a revised 3-5-2 formation, and on the half hour the lead had stretched to three goals. Mark Rogers was being run ragged in the under-manned defence and he conceded a free kick which was quickly taken by Northampton over the top of the static Boro' defence on the right wing. This allowed (number 7) in behind Jamie Gould and with a chance to cross to the near post where (number 9) was on hand to finish tidily, again from close range.
The referee poured salt on Boro's wounds before the half was over, awarding a penalty to the Cobblers after adjudging that Matt Hocking had pulled an opponent's shirt. Up stepped (number 11) to claim his hat-trick within 40 minutes, and the result was in effect beyond doubt.
Graham Westley pulled out (number?) changes at half time, replacing the majority of his midfield and front line. The result was a far tamer second half affair than that in the first and fewer incident with the stronger, fresher home side a closer match for the high quality visitors.
Dannie Bulman managed to repeat his dangerous swirling pacey free kick from the Brighton game again, with an effort that swerved conveniently into the arms of the keeper.
Anthony Elding was playing his best half of football pre-season, and seemingly desperate to get his name on the scoresheet for the first time in the new campaign was hitting efforts from various ranges in the Northampton half. The best of these saw an absolute ripsnorter from 35 yards defy the keeper but return off the bar, with a deep suspicion that it crossed the line after bouncing into the turf and out of the goalmouth.
For the first time this season though, Boro' drew a blank in front of goal. No shame though against a Cobblers side brimming with ability. The benefit will be that it will expose any weaknesses that Graham Westley will want to iron out with a full two weeks before the campaign begins full on. It's useful that the squad can taste defeat now and find ways to prevent as many repeat occurences through the season to come.