The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Development squad won 2-1 against Stoke City in the Community and Education Football Alliance League Central Two at Sixfields Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cobblers took an early lead as Harry Cowley played a one-two with Leo Wiles and poked into the bottom corner.
Giancarlo Mercuri had two opportunities to double the hosts’ advantage 10 minutes in. The midfielder’s strike from Jack Anderton-Gill’s cutback was beaten away by the ‘keeper before he fired over from Wiles’ low ball to the edge of the box.
Stoke equalised against the run of play on the half-an-hour mark when a midfielder found the top corner from long range on the turn.
The Cobblers came inches from restoring their lead before the break. Wiles found Cowley who hit the post from a tight angle, and captain Ollie Galbraith’s first-time follow-up flew wide.
They did get back in front 10 minutes into the second period when Cowley diverted Joel Adjekum’s cross towards goal, the ’keeper spilled the ball and the striker turned home from close range to double his tally.
Cowley was in for his hat-trick heading into the final 20 minutes as he beat the offside trap and ran onto Mercuri’s through ball, but the ’keeper made a one-on-one save to deny him.
Substitute Billy Panter almost made an instant impact when Wiles picked him out with a left-wing cross, but the ’keeper-turned striker headed over the bar.
Panter was involved again late on as his low shot was denied by the ’keeper’s legs and his second attempt from close range was blocked by a defender.
Despite not being able to extend their lead in the time that remained, the Development squad earned a relatively comfortable victory.
Cobblers: Oskar Gajewski, Joel Adjekum, Reece Lineham, Zack Kirk-Bates, Jack Anderton-Gill, Jay Hudson, Ollie Galbraith, Giancarlo Mercuri, Abdul Maxammed, Harry Cowley, Leo Wiles
Substitutes: Jonny Vallance, Tom Lewis, Nialls Gilmour, Billy Panter, Will Mattison
