Brighton scores placed first.
Albion defend well at the beginning of the second half and clear comfortably.
1-0 Richard Barker (Albion), traps, spins around and shoots into
the net, from a Peter Smith quick cross. 48 mins.
Kerry Mayo (Albion) runs at the defence and curls the ball narrowly
wide.
Ally Gibb (Northampton) has quite a battle with Albion full back Graeme
Atkinson.
Nondescript play. Albion have just the edge. Albion defend well.
Kerry Mayo (Albion) volleys the ball but it is tipped over the bar
by Andy Woodman.
Duncan Spedding comes on from Northampton to give the visitors two
wingers.
Graeme Atkinson (Albion) crosses just too far for Richard Barker who
can only head the ball to Alan Woodman in the visitors goal.
Albion enjoy a period of midfield advantage. Crosses not accurate enough
to trouble Northampton. 79 mins.
John Frain (Northampton) collects a long ball and blazes well
over.
Ian Culverhouse dominates the Albion defence. 83 mins.
Charlie Bishop (Northampton) long throw fails to trouble the
Albion defence.
Mark Walton (Albion keeper) starts an attack which is ended by a long
run by Jamie Moralee who shoots just too high.
Northampton mount a last minute attack, followed by a corner.
FT: 1-0
Extra time:
Duncan Spedding (Northampton) operating on the left wing against
Peter Smith.
John Frain, left back, (Northampton) comfortable on the ball.
1-1 Carl Heggs (Northampton) equalises after indecision
by Peter Smith, (failing to head the ball back to Mark Walton or conceding
a corner), in the Albion defence. 98 mins. The ball put through was about
as innocuous as Albion's equaliser against
Chester in the last match. Golden goal rule no longer applies in
extra time.
Micky Bennett (Albion) cuts in and crosses but there is no Albion striker
to convert.
Stuart Storer (Albion) comes on for Kerry Mayo. 101 mins. Albion now
playing three strikers.
Stuart Storer (Albion) crosses but there is no Albion striker to convert.
et ht: 1-1
Graeme Atkinson (Albion) shows some good touches and intelligent play.
Two successive corners for the Albion, taken by Jeff Minton. 109 mins.
Gary Hart (Albion) comes on for Jamie Moralee. 110 mins. Stuart Storer
playing wide.
Two successive corners for the Albion, taken by Jeff Minton. 112 mins.
Michael Warner (Northampton) replaces Ally Gibb.
Gary Hart (Albion) tumbles in the opponents penalty box.
Stuart Storer (Albion) crosses but there is no Albion striker to convert.
Albion lack the invention to trouble the Northampton defence. 115 mins.
(5 mins to go).
Gary Hart (Albion) gets his shirt tugged. Jeff Minton free kick 2 yards
outside the box fails to trouble the visitors.
Gary Hart (Albion) fouled two yards outside the box. Graeme Atkinson
dipping free kick tipped over the bar (1 minute to go).
Mark Walton (Albion keeper) comes up for two successive corners.
ET FT: 1-1
Manager Brian Horton says he is not happy with
the performances so far this season. "We must be more resolute in defence
and stop giving away daft goals."
Gary Hobson, the Albion Captain misses the match through a back injury.
His first team partner Ross Johnson is also out with a hamstring injury.
Stuart Storer is nursing a sore ankle and may not be able to complete a
full game.
Northampton Town are a Division 2 team.
Albion usually play their home midweek games on Tuesday, but Gillingham
entertained Southend United yesterday at the Priestfield Stadium.
Away goals count is scores are equal after extra time. Golden goal
rule no longer applies in extra time. If scores and away goals are
equal after extra time, the tie will be decided on penalty kicks.
Forecast: 0-0
I anticipate this will be a test of how Albion will fare this season. If they get outplayed, I suspect that the whole season will be a desperate struggle.
Postscript: Home 2 draws. Away 2 defeats.
Personal thoughts: I hope this 5-3-2 system does not become more than a temporary measure. 4-4-2 is a much superior system. However, such a system does not suit playing Peter Smith at full-back, nor does it seem to suit the mistake-ridden defence.
Disappointing defeat, as there was always a possibility of being drawn away to a club in the south with a decent Stadium. Or to play Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, with big names like Sol Campbell, who look beatable by any team (losing 1-3 at Wimbledon on the opening day of the season). But, in other respects, the team needs to drastically improve to be worth watching and give any half-way decent team a game. This does not seem likely until Albion move make to Brighton.
Albion
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