Northampton Town Football Club

A warm sunny afternoon at the PTS Academy Stadium saw the the Northampton Town Football and Education Programme side beat West Ham United 6-0 in their final game of the 2018/19 season.

It was the Cobblers who went closest to opening the scoring in the 4th minute when a diagonal ball picked out the run of Jack Stronge on the right side of the penalty area, but his audacious first-time effort dropped just wide of the far-post.

Northampton made their early dominance pay as Shaun Spencer converted from close range on 7 minutes after Ethan Johnston's pass fell for the winger inside the penalty area and he made no mistake with the finish. 

The Hammers almost forced an equaliser five minutes later as their pacey forward latched onto a long ball over the top but his touch around Reece McGlynn in the Cobblers net was too heavy and the ball ran wide for a goal kick. 

The lead was doubled on 23 minutes when Stronge broke forward from midfield where the ball fell for Michael Venezia inside the penalty area and he showed good composure to finish across the goalkeeper into the bottom far corner. 

The third goal came a minute later as the league's top goalscorer Ethan Johnston was alert to a cross from the Cobblers left and he was on hand to apply the finishing touch from close range.

West Ham had the chance to reply minutes before the break but a shot from the edge of the box was dragged wide as the half came to a close. 

It was 4-0 ten minutes into the second half, full-back William Bates was able to run onto his own through-ball, he then picked out Johnston who took advantage of the goalkeeper being out of position and finished into the net from 20 yards.

There was a chance on 54 minutes for the Hammers to reply, their striker got into a good position on the right side of the box but saw a powerful strike hit the side netting.

The chances kept coming and on the hour mark Johnston completed his hat-trick in superb fashion to make it 5-0. Spencer advanced well down the left-hand side before playing a dangerous ball across towards the six yard-box where the forward was on hand to neatly flick the ball first-time past the West Ham 'keeper and into the top corner of the net.

McGlynn was called into action as West Ham created a rare second-half chance, a free-kick from 22 yards was curling towards the bottom corner but the Football & Education Student of the Year was down quickly to his right to palm the ball behind for a corner.

Stronge was then unlucky not to double his tally on two occasions, he raced through one on one but the West Ham 'keeper stood up strong both times to deny the winger. 

McGylnn preserved his clean sheet with a smart save on 86 minutes after a West Ham forward broke towards the edge of the box but the 'keeper was down quickly to make a smart block with his feet.

Stronge was then denied by a superb block on the line from the West Ham defender before a last minute penalty gave Jack Gibson the chance to add the sixth goal in stoppage time to see out a convincing victory.

Northampton Town: Reece McGlynn, William Bates, Shaun Spencer, Kacper Basa, Finn O'Neill, Eric Ameyaw, Jake Stronge, James Hamill, Ethan Johnston, Michael Venezia, Ollie Pardoe.
Subs: Anu Alemanji, John Revell, Matt Lodge, George Inwood, Jack Gibson.