Hat-trick for Smith as Cobblers put five past youth team in practise match

Harry Smith scored a hat-trick against the youth team.

Striker Harry Smith bagged himself a first-half hat-trick as Cobblers beat the club's youth team 5-0 in a practise match at a rain-soaked PTS Academy Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Cobblers starting XI featured new signings Fraser Horsfall and Christopher Missilou, plus youngsters Morgan Roberts and Jacob Ballinger who played in the two wing-back positions.

Three trialists were also involved - one at centre-back, one in midfield and another up front - but it was a familiar face who handed Town an early lead when Smith found the bottom corner with a cool finish on nine minutes.

One of the trio of trialists added a second two minutes later, emphatically thumping into the top corner from a long ball, before Ballinger's delicious cross was headed home by Smith midway through the first-half.

Smith completed his hat-trick five minutes shy of half-time with another header, guiding Chris Lines' corner beyond young goalkeeper Dylan Berry.

It was all change at the break as Cobblers swapped five of their starting XI, with Jonathan Mitchell and Ethan Johnston among those to emerge for the second-half.

Smith missed a great chance to take his tally to four when nodding over the crossbar before Matty Warburton's low shot was deflected wide.

The youth side, who played with 12 players, created a couple of chances either side of half-time but failed to convert either, although Caleb Chukwuemeka continued to pose a real threat up front.

They were nearly further behind moments later but Johnston couldn't quite finish off a lovely flowing move between him and Warburton.

Joseph Mills, Sam Hoskins and Marsk Marshall were introduced on the hour-mark but Town still couldn't extend their lead with Warburton striking the base of the post after being teed up by Smith.

Mitchell made a good double save with 20 minutes to go while Mills showed flashes of what he'll bring to the Cobblers with several superb crosses that went to waste.

Berry saved well from Warburton but Cobblers eventually had their fifth goal when Roberts' terrific cross was met by Marshall's superb first-time volley later on.

Roberts should have had another assist with virtually the final kick of the game, however Warburton could only find the goalkeeper from his low cross.

Cobblers first-half XI: Arnold (Mitchell 45), Horsfall (Mills 60), Martin (Hoskins 60), Trialist, Roberts (Harriman 45), Ballinger (Johnston 45), Missilou (Warburton 45), Lines (Watson 45), Trialist (Marshall 60), Smith (Roberts 75), Trialist

Youth team, starting 12: Dylan Berry, Richie Bailey, Tommy Curry, Josh Flanagan, Max Dyche, Courtney Lashley, Peter Abimbola, Tom Scott, Ewan Clark, Liam Cross, Lewis Gilbert, Caleb Chukwuemeka