Cobblers taught a lesson by classy Brighton U21s in EFL Trophy

Charlie Tasker’s header and a sweet finish from Kamarai Doyle swept Brighton into a two-goal lead after just 15 minutes, and then Mark O’Mohany put the result beyond doubt with a penalty early in the second half.

Town essentially fielded a second-string team and they were taught something of a footballing lesson by their young but supremely talented visitors.

As expected, Chris Hogg overhauled virtually his entire starting XI from the weekend, with just Jon Guthrie, Joe Wormleighton and Tyrese Fornah retaining their places. Sixteen-year-old academy left-back Bobby Ashton was one of the eight players to come in, and there were three 17-year-olds on the bench - midfielders Mateo Moon-Arnaez and Raf Olivetti and forward Taila Choya. They were joined by fit-again defender Conor McCarthy.

Sam Hoskins, on his first start of the season, forced Seagulls goalkeeper Steven Hall into a second-minute save with a low strike from the edge of the box, but Cobblers fell behind when Tasker was left unmarked to head in Shane Nti’s cross.

Town did not get their press right in the opening 15 minutes and as such Brighton played through them with ease, leading to a second goal courtesy of Doyle’s superb finish after Fornah failed to clear his lines.

Kamarai Swyer forced Hall to tip over in response but the away side’s technical quality allowed them to dominate the ball and largely keep Cobblers well away from their goal for the rest of the fist half.

The second half continued in a similar vein and Brighton had a third just seven minutes after the break when Jack Perkins gave away a clumsy penalty and O’Mahony made no mistake from 12 yards.

The away side’s play oozed with confidence and quality and they continued to toy with their hosts, who were having to do a lot of running and very little attacking.

Town’s best spell of the game came in the last 15 minutes as McCarthy, on at half-time, headed wide before Hall was at full stretch to keep out Hoskins’ low shot.

Hoskins went close again late on, shooting just wide on the turn, Harvey Saunders headed against the crossbar, and then Hall produced another smart save from Wormleighton as Cobblers’ search for a first goal of the season goes on.

Cobblers: Fitzsimons, Wormleighton, Guthrie (c) (McCarthy 45), Dyche, Ashton, Perkins, Fornah, Hoskins, Swyer, List, Saunders

Subs not used: Jeacock, Oliveti, Moon-Arnaez, Briggs, Warhurst, Choya

Brighton U21s: Hall, O’Mahony, Simmonds (c) (Ferdinand 71), Keogh (Outen 81), Robertson, Tasker, Barclay, Oriola (Shaw 71), Nti (Ibrahim 90), Doyle (Lane 81), Mackley

Subs not used: Silsby, Dike

Referee: Simon Mather

Attendance: 1,026

Brighton fans: 41