Cobblers boss Curle delighted as young strikers get off the mark in Southampton rout

In boggy conditions at the PTS, Town were in rampant mood as Joseph Mills and Mark Marshall struck in the first-half before Benny Ashley-Seal's brace and a first club goal for academy striker Caleb Chukwuemeka sealed the win.

Cobblers, who named a much-changed side from the weekend, will now qualify for the second round of the competition if they beat Stevenage next month.

"It was a good night for us," said Curle. "I think this game came at the right time for us because we've got a few players coming back and they need the minutes.

"The MK Dons game earlier in the competition was at a time when we had a boatload of injures and then we picked up three more injuries during the game so it was a game that we didn't need at that particular time.

"But tonight it was excellent to get good minutes into the players.

The conditions were very difficult - it was boggy and heavy out there - but that meant it was a good physical test and I thought we acquitted ourselves well and both teams made it a decent spectacle."

Curle was also thrilled to see two of his young strikers net their first goals for the club.

"Centre-forwards like scoring goals," he added. "They want to score goals and they want to score in competitive games.

"I thought both of them looked bright and lively and it was excellent to get 90 minutes out of Benny and also give Caleb some more minutes as well. There's nothing better for them than to play and score goals."