Northampton Town Under 18s secured their first win of the EFL Youth Alliance League South East season with a 2-0 success at home to Cambridge United on Saturday morning.
Kai O’Keeffe and Harry Guess scored the young Cobblers’ goals as they inflicted a third consecutive league defeat on their opponents.
Both sides cancelled each other out in a goalless first half.
Cambridge created more chances than the Cobblers in this opening period, as Faruq Usman headed over, George Edwards blazed off target and James Dadge saved from Mo Habib and George Scales.
The first sight of goal for the hosts came shortly before the half-an-hour mark, Rico Duggan finding a few yards of space on the edge of the area and firing just over.
The visitors threatened once more before the break, Dadge denying Scales again as the ball fell to the full-back at the far post for a second time.
Northampton improved in the second half and largely controlled proceedings.
The second period almost got off to the worst possible start for them though, as they lost the ball at the restart and needed Dadge to push Glenn McConnell’s scuffed shot wide.
But they were ahead within five minutes, half-time substitute O’Keeffe making an instant impact as he cut inside and smashed into the roof of the net.
The forward almost doubled his tally within two minutes but his low drive was saved by Cambridge goalkeeper Tom Finch. Duggan sent a rasping half-volley narrowly over from the resulting corner.
A long ball from Dadge played O’Keeffe in again after the hour, but this time he shot across goal and inches wide.
The Cobblers continued to push for a second goal, Fin Amidi and Duggan both having efforts from promising positions stopped by Cambridge captain Finch.
Their pressure finally told as they added a second with a quarter-of-an-hour to go, Guess breaking through and calmly slotting into the bottom corner to secure the youth team’s first three points of the season.
They travel to Southend United in a fortnight.
Cobblers: James Dadge, Brad Smith-Howes, Leo Jenkins, Josh Tomlinson, Ayo Lekuti, Dylan Hill, Harry Guess (sub Reece Irwin 87), Reuben Wyatt (sub Josh Rayfield 90), Rico Duggan, Fin Amidi (sub Neo Dobson 78), Jamari Hart (sub Kai O’Keeffe 46)
Sub not used: Marcus Bald