The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Elite squad won 1-0 at home to Volenti Academy (Coombe Wood School) in the National Football Youth League South Premier Division on Wednesday afternoon.
The first half was even with most of the play happening in midfield.
Rojus Kuzminskas took on an early shot and forced the ’keeper into a diving save whilst Daniel Collin-Kolawole had a deflected strike held before a second effort looped off target following another block.
At the other end, an attacker dragged the best chance of the opening period across the face of goal and Kyran Yeomans pushed away a placed attempt from the edge of the area.
The Cobblers almost opened the scoring within 15 seconds of the restart as Collin-Kolawole cut the ball back and Kuzminskas was denied by a defender from close range with the ’keeper beaten.
The hosts did take the lead on the hour mark when Collin-Kolawole played the ball over the top of the defence and Kyle Stratford capitalised on a mistake to pass into the empty net.
The Cobblers created multiple opportunities in the next 10 minutes as they looked to double their advantage. The clearest came from the penalty spot, Romeo Ingman drawing a trip in the box and stepping-up to take the resulting penalty. His low spot-kick was beaten away by the ’keeper, and Kuzminskas sent the rebound wide of the far post from a tight angle.
Ingman was involved again late on, running onto Jack Culwick’s flick-on and having a powerful drive saved at the near post.
Volenti Academy threatened from a number of set-pieces in the closing stages, but the Cobblers held on to secure a deserved three points.
Cobblers: Kyran Yeomans, Leon Considine, Kyle Stratford, Mackay Dewar, Louey Franks, Jack Culwick, Mmenim Ekop, Romeo Ingman, Rojus Kuzminskas, Gabriel Badero, Daniel Collin-Kolawole
Substitutes: Oskar Gajewski, Jahmai Akande, Dean Strachan, Giancarlo Mercuri, Jay Hudson