Cobblers well beaten by Hatters after late goals

Cobblers signed off their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Luton Town on Saturday.

Town held their own for the first hour but came out second best after both teams made a flurry of substitutions as Cian Bolger's unfortunate own goal opened the floodgates.

Kazenga Lua-Lua's superb finish doubled the lead before a close-range strike by Martin Cranie made for a harsh final scoreline on the home side.

Despite the score, Keith Curle will be largely encouraged by what he saw from his side against their Championship visitors, at least prior to the hour-mark, but he knows more than anyone the need to strengthen up front.

Nicky Adams was again missing due to injury and Northampton were unable to create many clear chances without their creative fulcrum, something Curle will need to address ahead of his side's first competitive game next weekend.

An unnamed trialist led the line for a Cobblers team that resembled somewhere near the side likely to start their Carabao Cup tie with Cardiff City.

Jonathan Mitchell started in goal behind a back three of Luka Racic, Cian Bolger and Fraser Horsfall while trialist Ricky Korboa played in an advanced role behind Harry Smith and the mystery trialist.

Sam Hoskins was lively in the opening skirmishes and he twice went close to an early goal, first denied by James Shea and then seeing the ball hooked away from his toes at the last moment.

Joseph Mills, playing at left wing-back, drifted an effort wide after Shea was caught out while Bolger blocked Luke Berry's effort at the other end as Luton gradually began to show an attacking threat.

Sadly Town's unnamed trialist only lasted 15 minutes, at which point he was forced off with an ankle injury and replaced by Ryan Watson.

Cobblers were giving a good account of themselves against Championship opposition, but Luton turned the screw in the closing stages of the half as Racic defended well from Danny Hylton inside the box and then Harry Cornick smashed over.

The home side got into half-time on level terms and they carved out the game's best chance just a few minutes into the second 45 when Mills cleverly tricked his way into the box before shooting tamely at Shea.

But Luton took the lead in comical circumstances just after the hour-mark. Steve Arnold, on at the break, charged out of his goal to clear a long ball but his attempted clearance clattered straight into Bolger and rebounded back into the net.

And it was two with 13 minutes to go as Kazenga Lua-Lua raced onto a long ball and produced a superb finish over a stranded Arnold.

Cobblers finished the game with a very makeshift XI and it showed when Cranie made it three, left in acres of space to steer into the top corner.

Cobblers: Mitchell (Arnold 45), Racic (Martin 61), Bolger (c) (Ballinger 80), Horsfall (Johnston 84), Harriman, Mills (Marshall 69), Missilou (Warburton 69), Hoskins (Lines 61), Korboa (Roberts 73), Smith, Trialist (Watson 17)

Subs not used: Watson

Luton starting XI: Shea, Kioso, Pearson, Bradley, Beckwith, Rea, Mpanzu, Berry, Lee, Hylton, Cornick

Luton XI after 60 minutes: Shea, Jones, Galloway, Cranie, Bradley, Tunnicliffe, Shinnie, Clark, Moncur, LuaLua, Collins

Referee: Andy Woolmer