U18 REPORT: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 7-2 LEYTON ORIENT

Leyton Orient U18’s were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat as a clinical Northampton Town won Saturday’s game 7-2.

The O’s managed a goal in either half but the Cobblers were too strong throughout, comfortably claiming all three points.

Lawrence Hammond had an early opening for Orient. A good touch saw him escape the first centre-back on the edge of the area, but the covering defender made a vital sliding challenge to deny the forward a clean shot on goal, with the ball deflecting behind for a corner.

The hosts took the lead with their first effort of the day. A delightful effort from the edge of the box curled inside the post and into the top corner.

Northampton doubled their lead shortly before the 15-minute mark. A through ball cut open the defence and found a forward who beat Rhys Byrne to the ball, before lifting an effort over the onrushing ‘keeper.

Orient pulled one back instantly. Anthony Papadopoulos floated a corner into a dangerous area where Hammond met the ball and found the back of the net with an unconventional finish.

The goals kept coming as Northampton added another. A ball crossed from deep on the left flank found an attacker, who took one touch and fired high into the roof of the net.

Jordan Adeyemi almost bagged a second for Orient; driving at pace, the number 11 flicked the ball past the defender but fired over the cross bar from 15-yards.

Town had their fourth ten minutes from the half-time whistle. A low drive from the edge of the area whistled just out of reach of Rhys Byrne in the O’s net, as the home side took a 4-1 lead into the break.

The Cobblers started the second half exactly how they finished the first, needing just a minute to score their fifth goal. A midfielder intercepted the ball in the middle of the park before driving through the middle and taking aim from 25-yards finding the top corner of the net.

A Jeremie Sivi free-kick floated into the middle found Hammond, who did well to generate power into his header, but his goal bound effort was cleared away by a well-positioned defender.

The sixth goal was well taken by the opposition forward. A low delivery into the Orient box was hit first time by a burgundy shirt as the advantage stretched to five.

Soon after, the referee awarded a penalty against the O’s, though Byrne stepped up and made the save down to his left keeping the score at 6-1 for the time being.

Alex Solomon bagged another consolation for the O’s 13 minutes from time, placing the ball into the bottom corner after Finlay Lovett had pumped a good ball into the area, finding the defender at the back post.

The hosts would bag their final goal right at the death from a dead ball situation. A free-kick left-of-centre looped over the wall into the back of the net to complete the scoring, as the game finished 7-2 to Northampton.

Next Up: OCT 19 – STEVENAGE (A)

ORIENT:  Byrne, Marfo, Solomon, Francois-Vernal, Dunbar-Bonnie (Frempong 77”), McClenaghan, Papadopoulos (Ifeanyi 77’’), Sivi, Lovett, Adeyemi (Young 77’’), Hammond

GOALS: Hammond 16” Solomon 73”