Northampton Town Under 18s won 4-2 at home to Brentford in the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League Two on Saturday morning.
Harry Guess scored a brace whilst Joziah Barnett and Oliver Evans netted the young Cobblers’ other goals as they secured their first victory of the second stage of the season.
Coach Shane Goddard made one change to the side that lost away to Cambridge United last week, as Francesco Obiagwu replaced Archie Murray in the starting lineup.
Brentford took an early lead in horrendous weather conditions. Remy Bennison dribbled to the byline and his ball across the face of goal was turned in by the unfortunate Matthew Ireland.
The Cobblers equalised on the half-an-hour mark when Barnett shifted the ball out of his feet and fired home.
Harry Guess intercepted ‘keeper Reggie Rose’s loose pass, sprinted through on goal and was pulled down by a defender on the stroke of half-time. The midfielder stepped up to slot the resulting penalty down the middle and turn the scoreline around.
The hosts extended their advantage going into the final 20 minutes when substitute Evans dispossessed a defender, was played through by Neo Dobson and rolled the ball past the onrushing Rose.
Evans was also involved in his side’s fourth goal 10 minutes later. The striker pressed Rose and forced the ‘keeper into another loose pass, and Guess placed into the bottom corner to double his tally.
Brentford scored a late consolation when sub Emeka Peters headed a floated ball back across goal and into the far corner, but the Cobblers saw out the time that remained to secure all three points.
The youth team travel to Forest Green Rovers next week. Dobson scored a brace and Guess netted the young Cobblers’ other goal as they won 3-0 away to their opponents in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup southern section second round in August.
Cobblers: Marcus Bald, Josh Rayfield, Tom Cartwright, Kiantay Licorish-Mullings, Matthew Ireland, Joziah Barnett, James Owen, Harry Guess, Charlie Carroll, Francesco Obiagwu, Neo Dobson
Substitutes: Elliot Smith, Freddie Findlay, George Daldy, Archie Murray, Oliver Evans
