Northampton Town Under 18s lost 3-0 at home to Bristol Rovers in the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League Two on Saturday morning.
The young Cobblers suffered a defeat in their opening fixture of the second stage of the season.
The visitors almost took the lead early on as Taelan Savage headed Charlie White’s cross towards the top corner, and Marcus Bald reacted quickly to tip the ball past the post.
The ‘keeper began the move that resulted in an opportunity at the other end shortly afterwards. Neo Dobson capitalised on Brooklyn Leipus’ slip, drove at goal and forced Mattius Korswagen into a save at the near post.
Harry Guess dispossessed a defender with Korswagen out of his goal on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, but Dobson was unable to reach his square pass.
Bristol Rovers ended the first half on top, Bald pushing Kofi Shaw’s strike from the edge of the box wide before the Gas captain clipped the ball over the top of the defence to Oscar Bridgman, who sent his half-volley across the face of goal.
The visitors regained control after a scrappy opening 15 minutes of the second period, Bald making a low save to deny Will Turner’s stab after the substitute let the ball run across his body and into the area.
Bristol Rovers broke the deadlock a few minutes later when the ball ran free to Shaw at the near post, and he placed home from close range.
The visitors skipper played in a low cross which Savage finished in the middle to double his side’s advantage going into the final 10.
Shaw added his second and his team’s third goal to secure all three points late on. He controlled the ball in the box and sliced his shot, but still managed to find the back of the net.
The youth team travel to Gillingham in their second Merit League fixture on Tuesday afternoon.
The match was originally scheduled for the opening weekend of the second stage of the campaign, but it was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Cobblers: Marcus Bald, Josh Rayfield, Jacob Scott, Jozef Baxter, Tom Cartwright, Reuben Wyatt, George Daldy, James Owen, Harry Guess, Neo Dobson, Charlie Carroll
Substitutes: Elliot Smith, Archie Murray, Joziah Barnett, Oliver Evans, Franceso Obiagwu
