EFL TROPHY
Tuesday September 26th, 7.00pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Shaun McWilliams 22
Tyreece Simpson 24

CHELSEA UNDER 21S 2
Ronnie Stutter 11
Michael Golding 36

CHELSEA WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES

Attendance: 2,004 (155 away supporters)

Cobblers: Max Thompson, Harvey Lintott, Ryan Haynes (sub Matthew Ireland 73), Aaron McGowan, Josh Tomlinson, Manny Monthe, Peter Abimbola, Shaun McWilliams (sub Reuben Wyatt 46), Ben Fox (sub Jacob Scott 67), Tyreece Simpson (sub Neo Dobson 61), Jamari Hart
Subs not used: James Dadge, Leo Jenkins

Chelsea under 21s: Eddie Beach, Dylan Williams, Leo Casltedine, Jimmy-Jay Morgan (sub Zain Silcott-Duberry 88), Billy Gee, Brodi Hughes, Ronnie Stutter (sub Donnell McNeilly 83), Michael Golding (sub Tyrique George 66), Harrison Murray-Campbell, Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny (sub Sam Rak-Sakyi 83), Kiano Dyer
Subs not used: Max Merrick, Travis Akomeah, Harrison McMahon

Referee: David Rock

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Chelsea: Harrison Murray-Campbell (26)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Chelsea: none

Academy striker Jamari Hart made his full first team debut as Northampton Town took on Chelsea Under 21s at Sixfields in the EFL Trophy. Ryan Haynes and Ben Fox were also amongst the starters with Jon Brady naming a very youthful bench.

Tyreece Simpson headed over and Max Thompson turned behind a shot from Ronnie Stutter as the two sides traded early chances. Simpson then shot just wide following a fantastic 60-yard run but it was Chelsea who made the breakthrough on 11 minutes, Stutter opening the scoring with a fine finish.

A slick Cobblers move midway through the first half saw Shaun McWilliams tap home a Harvey Lintott cross to level the scores and it wasn’t long after that the Cobblers were in front, Tyreece Simpson finding the back of the net with a sweetly struck shot that beat Eddie Beach in the Chelsea goal.

Josh Tomlinson made a superbly timed tackle to deny goalscorer Stutter a chance to make it 2-2 and the Blues striker was also denied by a fantastic block from Manny Monthe. It was a warning sign for the Cobblers and Chelsea then did equalise thanks to a close range finish from Michael Golding.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan flashed a shot just wide in the last chance of an entertaining and open first half.

Reuben Wyatt replaced McWilliams in a pre-planned half-time change and with just over an hour played Tyreece Simpson made way for another academy player making his debut, Neo Dobson.

Dobson shot just wide with his first touch and Ben Fox drew a fairly comfortable save from Beach as the Cobblers looked to get themselves back in front.

16-year old Matthew Ireland became the latest debutant, replacing Ryan Haynes. Chelsea briefly thought they had re-taken the lead when Tyrique George had the ball in the back of the net but the off-side flag denied the Blues substitute.

Having seen Beach off his line, Wyatt tried an audacious effort from just inside the Chelsea half which had the Blues goalkeeper scrambling but he just about managed to get back in time to make the save.

Neither side could carve out a winner however and the game went to penalties, which the Chelsea youngsters won 4-3 to claim the extra point.

PENALTIES

Harvey Lintott – saved 0-0
Dylan Williams – scored 0-1
Reuben Wyatt – scored 1-1
Leo Casltedine – scored 1-2
Peter Abimbola – scored 2-2
Sam Rak-Sakyi – scored 2-3
Neo Dobson – scored 3-3
Tyrique George – scored 3-4
Manny Monthe – missed 3-4

Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4
CORNERS: (1) 8
FOULS: (3) 4
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

CHELSEA MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (7) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (3) 5
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 5