Jack Connor (pictured) scored a hat-trick as Northampton Town Under 18s won 3-1 at home to Leyton Orient Under 18s in their opening EFL Youth Alliance League South East fixture on Saturday.

The young Cobblers took the lead after 20 minutes when Connor nodded in from Miguel Ngwa’s whipped cross.

Connor doubled his tally five minutes later, heading home after the goalkeeper pushed out Kieran Watkins-Robinson’s corner.

The O’s pulled a goal back before half time when an attacker carried the ball into the area and squeezed a close range shot past James Dadge.

The Cobblers youngsters controlled the second half, and on the hour mark, captain Peter Abimbola found Dylan Hill, who hit the bar from 25 yards.

Ngwa fired over from the edge of the box after Brad Smith-Howes won the ball and played him through with 10 minutes remaining.

The three points were sealed late on when substitute Tommy Curry ran down the left and was denied by the goalkeeper, allowing Connor to convert the rebound and complete his hat-trick.

The youth team host Sutton United Under 18s next week.

Starting XI - Dadge (GK); Smith-Howes, Irwin, Tomlinson, Lashley (sub Lekuti, 69 mins); Lack (sub Curry, 40 mins), Hill, Abimbola (C); Watkins-Robinson (sub Duggan, 88 mins), Connor (sub O’Keeffe, 88 mins), Ngwa. Unused sub - Cook (GK).

Goals - Connor (1-0, 20 mins), Connor (2-0, 26 mins), Connor (3-1, 86 mins).

Assists - Ngwa (1-0, 20 mins), Watkins-Robinson (2-0, 26 mins), Curry (3-1, 86 mins).

Bookings - Irwin, Lack, Lekuti (all fouls).