Northampton Town Under 18s came from behind to win 2-1 away to Leyton Orient in the EFL Youth Alliance League South East on Saturday.
Manager Jon Brady made four changes from the team that beat AFC Wimbledon 3-2 in their last fixture on 12th December.
Josh Flanagan, Dylan Hill, Tommy Curry and Jack Connor started in place of Josh Tomlinson, Ethan Lack, Kieran Watkins-Robinson and Lewis Gilbert on a cold and misty morning in the capital.
The Cobblers youngsters almost took an early lead. Goalkeeper Dylan Berry’s kick played Curry in behind, but the Orient number one came out to clear the ball on the edge of his area.
Miguel Ngwa’s low cross was sliced narrowly wide by an Orient defender after 20 minutes.
The hosts' first opportunity of the match came five minutes later, but Berry was quick off his line to smother the ball at the forward’s feet.
Orient opened the scoring in a scrappy first period on the half-hour mark when a free-kick from a dangerous area was struck into the far corner.
The young Cobblers started the second half on the front foot and equalised five minutes after the break when Josh Flanagan headed home a Curry corner from six yards.
Orient looked to retake the lead almost instantly. A forward was found in a good position and forced Berry into a smart save with a low shot.
After an hour, a fantastic Curry cross was cleared to Ngwa whose effort deflected just wide.
The visitors continued to press forward and ten minutes later Peter Abimbola miscued his close-range effort before Ngwa headed over from the resulting corner.
The turnaround was complete with ten minutes remaining. Substitute Lewis Gilbert hit the post from Courtney Lashley’s cutback, but Abimbola was on hand to convert the rebound.
The Cobblers youth team host Stevenage next Saturday.
Starting XI – Berry (GK); Bailey (C), Abimbola, Flanagan, Lashley; Cross, Scott, Hill (sub Tomlinson, HT); Ngwa, Connor (sub Gilbert, 79’), Curry. Unused sub – Woods (GK).
Goals – Flanagan (1-1, 50’), Abimbola (1-2, 81’).
Assists – Curry (1-1, 50’), Gilbert (1-2, 81’).
Yellow cards – Abimbola, Lashley (both fouls), Ngwa (encroaching).