Northampton Town handed an opportunity to former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers defender John Curtis who appeared as a trialist in the latest pre-season friendly at Corby Town. Fellow trialist Sebastian Harris was named among the substitutes, while Andy Holt made his first start of the pre-season campaign.
The Corby side included a host of players with league experience and a number of former Cobblers, with Tommy Jaszczun, Lawrie Dudfield and Jason Lee all lining up against their former employers.
With boss Stuart Gray away scouting, Ian Sampson and Jim Barron took charge of the Cobblers side. The first chance fell to the Cobblers, Luke Guttridge finding Billy McKay in the box, the striker only being denied by the body of Corby keeper Mark Osborn. The home side had a chance of their own seconds later with Lawrie Dudfield getting behind the Cobblers defence and squaring for Mark Stallard, but the former Notts County man's shot was blocked by the recovering John Curtis.
Giles Coke found Steve Guinan inside the area in the 12th minute, but Chris Hope got across to make the tackle, before seconds later the home side had the lead, Jason Lee getting up highest at the far post to head home a deep Tommy Jaszczun cross.
Luke Guttridge and Billy McKay linked up well to create the next Cobblers opportunity, the move ending with the former's low shot being well held by Mark Osborn. Guinan then flashed a shot wide of the near post from the corner of the area.
Billy McKay saw a header deflected wide from a dangerous 33rd minute Guinan cross, before the Corby lead was doubled. Lawrie Dudfield was played in behind the Cobblers defence, and although Paul Walker did well to block the first effort, the ball eventually bounced up and into the net off the chest of the luckless Chris Willmott as he raced back to cover.
Billy McKay's header was held by Osborn, and soon afterwards the Cobblers had the ball in the net, but Alex Dyer's close range touch home from Steve Guinan's knock back was chalked off for an unfortunate offside decision.
Dudfield hit the outside of the post in the opening exchanges of the second half, firing in a shot from an acute angle, while from the following goal kick Steve Guinan poked just wide from the edge of the area, getting to the ball before the advancing Mark Osborn.
Walker saved well from Dudfield to earn the home side their first corner as the open start to the second period continued, while after a slight lull in the goalmouth action Andy Holt headed wide from a Danny Jackman free kick.
Young Cobblers stopper Walker made a fine clawing save to keep out a 61st minute header before the Cobblers pulled a goal back, Billy McKay pouncing on a poor clearance from Corby keeper Mark Osborn to drive home a left footed finish into the bottom corner.
Fellow trialist Sebastian Harris fired inches over the bar on 78 minutes, before both Danny Jackman and Harris had powerful goalbound shots blocked as the Cobblers put pressure on the Corby goal. They could not find an equaliser though, and the Cobblers suffered their first pre-season defeat.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Saturday July 18th, 3pm
Rockingham Triangle
CORBY TOWN 2
Jason LEE 13, Chris WILLMOTT 33 og
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Billy McKAY 72
Attendance: 1,027
Corby: Mark OSBORN, Dean WEST, Tommy JASZCZUN, Phil GULLIVER, Chris HOPE, Dave DEENEY, Lawrie DUDFIELD, Stephen TOWERS, Jason LEE, Mark STALLARD, Paul MAYO
Cobblers: Paul WALKER, John CURTIS (trialist), Chris WILLMOTT (trialist), Dean BECKWITH (sub Craig HINTON 59), Andy HOLT, Luke GUTTRIDGE, Giles COKE (sub Danny JACKMAN 46), Alex DYER (sub Joe BENJAMIN 66), Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Gary MULLIGAN 46), Billy McKAY (trialist), Steve GUINAN (sub Sebastian HARRIS (trialist) 68)
Substitutes not used: Michael JACOBS (youth), Liam RUDDICK (trialist), Michael GHERASIN (youth)
Referee: Mr M Dexter
Booked:
Corby: none
Cobblers: none
Sent off:
Corby: none
Cobblers: none
CORBY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 3
CORNERS: (0) 4
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (4) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
