MvF Northampton 3 vs 1 MvF Stoke 11’s

This weekend we made the 100 mile journey south to Northampton for our first game in 3 months. It was to be a truly emotional occasion following the tragic event on Tuesday at Northampton MvF.

Northampton started the game well & took the lead in the 4th minute from a harmless looking free kick which somehow beat an unsighted Dave in goal.

We should have been awarded 2 penalties for hand ball, but the referee waved play on even though the home team’s linesman flagged for the spot kick for the first one. HT 1-0

The home team scored again in the 52nd minute with a well worked goal & extended their lead further on the hour from an in swinging corner that should have been dealt with.

We changed our shape slightly & from then on were practically camped out in the Northampton half, however Dave made a couple of outstanding saves when the home side countered. Brownie scored with a wind assisted cross from the right wing to give us hope, but apart from George hitting the post, the home defence held firm to see out a well deserved win.

I don’t know if it was the 3 month lay off or the 100 mile journey, but Northampton were the better team on the day & handled the windy conditions better than we did. Their defence never really gave our strikers a sniff. However, the outcome of the game could have been much different had the referee given us what were clear penalties in the first half.

We look forward to the return game at OSSMA