Northampton Town's youth team were in action at Sixfields on Thursday night as they took on Netherton United in the final of the Northamptonshire FA Under 18s Cup.

The Cobblers won the game 3-0 with a second-half brace from Mark Withers adding to an earlier goal from Tom McBride.

The first action of note came on 11 minutes when Netherton came close to opening the scoring on the counter-attack. Liam Ruddick just failed to connect with a Cobblers free-kick allowing Netherton to break but having been played in by Isaac Bennett, Dominic Jones rolled his shot wide of the far post.

Joe Benjamin had the Cobblers first effort on goal on 14 minutes but his shot from the edge of the area lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Tiago Rodrigues.

Dominic Jones broke into the area with a blistering run on 23 minutes but his shot from an acute angle was turned round the post by Cobblers keeper Paul Walker.

The Cobblers came very close to breaking the deadlock on 25 minutes when Michael Jacobs free-kick found Alex Konstantinou but his acrobatic effort came back off the cross bar before being cleared to safety.

With the Cobblers starting to up the pressure they took the lead on 29 minutes when a long diagonal ball from Odysseas Economides was headed home from six-yards by Tom McBride.

As the Cobblers continued to press Mark Withers had a chance to double their lead on 37 minutes but after a good turn in the area he put his shot over the bar. Tiago Rodrigues then did well to save an effort from Tom McGowan.

Joe Benjamin cut into the area on 43 minutes but his right-footed effort curled narrowly wide of the post. In first half stoppage time Michael Jacobs delivered another good set-piece into the area but Alex Konstantinou couldn't quite connect with the ball and the players left the field at half-time with the Cobblers one goal to the good.

Just after the re-start, a good move from the Cobblers culminated in Michael Jacobs firing wide from 8-yards. Netherton then made their first substitution on 51 minutes with Adam Scott replacing Lee Clementson.

Josh Urquhart had the ball in the back of the net on 65 minutes but his effort was ruled out for off side. Tom McGowan then blazed an effort over from 8-yards.

Joe Benjamin fired in a shot on 70 minutes but his fiercely struck effort from 20-yards was well saved by Rodrigues.

Netherton's first effort of the second half came on 75 minutes when a great ball over the top released Benjamin Cullen but his neatly struck volley went just wide.

Sean Parrish then made his first change with Greg Kaziboni coming on for Tom McGowan.

The Cobblers doubled their lead on 79 minutes when a corner from Michael Jacobs was headed home from six-yards by Mark Withers.

Withers nearly made it 3-0 on 83 minutes but Rodrigues did well to block his goal-bound effort. Both sides then made a change, Matthew Ivo replacing Isaac Bennett for Netherton and for the Cobblers Alex Konstantinou came off for George Dukes.

As the late flurry of substitutions continued, William Green came on for Joe Benjamin while Nathan Plant replaced Calum Atkinson.

Mark Withers then rounded off the scoring in injury time with a neat finish past Rodrigues.

Teams
Cobblers: Paul Walker, Liam Ruddick, Odysseas Economides (capt), Michael Jacobs, Josh Urquhart, Luke Cray, Alex Konstantinou (sub George Dukes 84), Tom McBride, Joe Benjamin (sub William Green 90), Mark Withers, Tom McGowan (sub Greg Kaziboni 76)
Subs not used: Jak Riley, Malachi Farquharson

Netherton: Tiago Rodrigues, Ashley Bone, Jonathan Holmes, Michael De-Cotis, Isaak Bennett (sub Matthew Ivo 83), Aidan Stanford (capt), Benjamin Cullen, Lee Clementson (sub Adam Scott 51), Calum Atkinson (sub Nathan Plant 90), Robert Dixon, Dominic Jones
Subs not used: Ravi Patel, Andrew King

Attendance: 261