Northampton Town Under 18s won 2-0 away to Mickleover in the FA Youth Cup first round proper on Thursday evening.
Harry Guess and James Owen scored the young Cobblers’ goals as they progressed to the second round.
Coach Shane Goddard made two changes to the side that lost at home to Cambridge United in the EFL Youth Alliance South East on Saturday, as Josh Tomlinson and Guess replaced Charlie Carroll and Aleks Jevterevs in the starting line up.
The visitors dominated the first half and almost opened the scoring inside three minutes when Reuben Wyatt’s volley from the edge of the box was tipped wide.
They threatened again on the quarter-of-an-hour mark as a header from an initial short corner was denied by a combination of the ‘keeper and the crossbar.
The Cobblers made the breakthrough shortly afterwards, Wyatt driving forward and playing in Guess who finished calmly.
They continued to create chances midway through the first period, as Josh Rayfield and Tom Cartwright linked-up leading to a low shot that went wide from the latter and Wyatt fired off target from long range.
The midfielder was involved as his side doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break, squaring for Owen who found the back of the net via the ‘keeper and the post.
The Cobblers maintained control in the opening stages of the second half, forcing a number of half-chances and coming close to a third goal when Jamari Hart closed down the ‘keeper and the ball deflected narrowly wide on the hour.
Mickleover had their first sustained spell of pressure as they searched for a way back into the tie going into the final 25 minutes, but Marcus Bald remained largely untroubled in the visitors’ goal.
Guess nearly doubled his tally and sealed the Cobblers’ place in the next round late on when his effort from substitute Jevterevs’ cutback flew inches over the bar.
The youth team managed the little time that remained effectively to maintain their two-goal advantage until the final whistle.
They return to league action a week on Saturday when they travel to Gillingham.
Cobblers: Marcus Bald, Tom Cartwright, Josh Tomlinson, Leo Jenkins, Matty Ireland, Josh Rayfield, Reuben Wyatt, Jacob Scott, James Owen, Harry Guess, Jamari Hart
Substitutes: Elliot Smith, Kiantay Licorish-Mullings, Freddie Findlay, Archie Murray, Charlie Carroll, Joziah Barnett, Aleks Jevterevs
Photos: Clive Stapleton Photography