Rob Gould started his managerial career with the Northamptonshire FA in fine style as his team convincingly beat Huntingdonshire 4-1 in difficult conditions at Yaxley FC.  Gould had made a number of changes to the squad and it appeared to do the trick, bringing an immediate change in fortune after two previous defeats against Shropshire and Bedfordshire.

The first chance of the game fell to Huntingdonshire on 6 minutes when they failed to tap home a cross at the far post, putting the ball over the bar instead of a simple tap into the open goal. Alex Vitue was called into action several times in the opening 25 minutes as Huntingdonshire were in control. However the tide turned and a succession of Northamptonshire corners caused real problems to the Hunts defence. The deadlock was broken on 36 minutes when Harry Beckley put away an easy chance after Hunts failed to clear their lines.  Northants finished the half on top but could not add to their score.

In the 49th minute, Callem Peach was put through by Beckley and he delicately chipped the ball over Ryan Venters in the Hunts goal, and into the net to give Northants a 2-0 cushion.  Alex Vitue immediately preserved the lead with an excellent save a minute later. Northamptonshire were well in control and seemed to have mastered the difficult conditions better than Hunts. They extended their lead on 63 minutes when Dan London produced a fine diving header which gave the Hunts defenders no chance.  Hunts pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when Vitue could do nothing about a 30 yard thunderbolt from Alex Weston.  The County boys completed a fine afternoon in the 4th minute of injury time when Luke Stevens drove the ball under Venters to make the final score 4-1.

Rob Gould will take heart from this performance as he goes into the next match against Birmingham on Saturday 16th February.

Northamptonshire FA
1. Alex Vitue   AFC Rushden & Diamonds
2. Aiden Brandshaw Thrapston Town
3. Liam Bond  AFC Rushden & Diamonds
4. Ant Wiley  Wellingbrorough Whitworths
5. Dan London  Northampton Spencer
6. Jake Caton  Cogenhoe United
7. Harry Beckley  Northampton SPA/Salisbury City
8. David Goodman Thrapston Town
9. Silva Obeng  Cogenhoe United
10. Callem Peach  Northampton Spencer
11. Luke Emery  Cogenhoe United

Substitutes
13. Jamie McAlindon  Football CV
14. Brett Akenton  Northampton Spencer
15.  Luke Stevens  Thrapston Town
16. Taylor Orosz  Daventry Town

For more information on the Northamponshire Representative Team click here.