Max Dyche scored a brace as Northampton Town U18s secured a second consecutive 3-0 win on Saturday morning at home to Gillingham.
Peter Abimbola scored the Cobblers’ other goal, and they secured their third clean sheet in four thanks to Dylan Berry’s late penalty save.
It didn’t take long for the game’s first goal, as Dyche picked up the ball at the back post and curled a wonderful effort into the far corner four minutes in.
The lead was doubled three minutes later when Peter Abimbola rose highest to head home from a Tommy Curry corner.
The Cobblers created more chances to increase their lead in the next fifteen minutes. First, Lewis Gilbert dragged a volley wide from the edge of the area, before Abimbola had a strong shot palmed over.
The Gills grew into the game as the half went on, and Dylan Berry tipped a curled effort wide just before the break to maintain his side’s two-goal advantage.
Straight from kick-off in the second half, the ball rebounded to Jack Connor who was denied from close range by the keeper.
Soon after, the Gills half-volleyed over as they looked to get back into the game, but the contest was effectively over on 67 minutes.
A driven Liam Cross corner beat everyone and was turned in at the back post by Dyche for his second and his team’s third.
Cross carried the ball forward a few minutes later but fired over from 18 yards.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Gills won a penalty when a forward beat his man to the ball and was tripped. However, Berry dived to his left and parried the spot kick wide of the post to maintain his clean sheet.
Gilbert had two late chances to add to the margin of victory, but he curled over before another effort was blocked on the line.
The Cobblers travel to AFC Wimbledon next week, hoping to continue their good form.
Lineup - Berry (GK); Lack (sub Bailey, 49 mins), Tomlinson, Dyche, Flanagan; Cross, Scott (C), Abimbola (sub Hill, 88 mins); Gilbert (sub Ngwa, 86 mins), Connor (sub Panter, 78 mins), Curry (sub Lashley, 86 mins).
Goals - Dyche (1-0, 4 mins), Abimbola (2-0, 7 mins), Dyche (3-0, 67 mins).