Northampton Town ran out 4-2 winners against Solihull Moors in a club friendly on Friday night, a result that came after a competitive opening spell from the hosts. The match, played under the Club Friendlies banner, saw both sides test themselves ahead of the new campaign. Solihull started with purpose, while Northampton showed the composure to respond when needed.
By then, the visitors had already been on the back foot. C. Green gave Solihull the lead in the fourth minute, a quick strike that caught Northampton off guard. M. Warhurst doubled the advantage before half-time at the 31st minute, and it looked as though Solihull might control the tempo. To be fair, Northampton pulled one back through C. Evans just before the interval, but the deficit remained firm.
The second half belonged to the visitors. E. List converted a penalty in the 50th minute to level matters, and here's the thing — Northampton did not look back. S. Hoskins and J. Wakeling struck in quick succession at 65 and 67 minutes respectively, turning a tight contest into a comfortable victory. Solihull had dug in for the first 45, but by then the match had slipped away from them.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Northampton Town held 58 per cent possession and registered 123 attacks compared to 107 from the hosts. They won 10 corners to 2, which suggests they dominated wide areas and kept the ball in Solihull's half. Solihull picked up one yellow card while the visitors remained clean, a small detail that hints at where the pressure fell.
Recent form provides context for both sides. Solihull had won three of their last five friendlies, including a 3-0 victory over Hereford, before this defeat. Northampton showed resilience in their opening fixtures, drawing with Cambridge United and Coventry City while picking up wins against Southend. The loss to Leicester City remains a reminder of the step up in quality they face.
The result leaves Northampton in a positive position heading into the season. A four-goal haul from three different scorers suggests attacking depth, and the defensive structure held firm after the penalty. Solihull will take the positive start but will be disappointed not to hold on. The friendly season continues for both clubs.
