Town U18s fell to a tough 2-0 defeat against Northampton as goals from Harry Stephenson and Cooper Clark ensured the Hatters would end 2025 with back-to-back defeats.

In a difficult first-half, Northampton dominated from the off, taking the lead in the 22nd minute when Stephenson was slid through beyond the Hatters defenders to slot a cool finish past Charlie Booth in the Town net.

The Town found difficulty in trying to build any kind of momentum, with chances limited and shots on target rare, as they failed to threaten Northampton goalkeeper Jamie Morrison for much of the game.

Shortly before half-time, Northampton doubled their lead when Cooper Clark capitalised on weak Town defending following a set-piece. The defender lingered in the box as the Hatters failed to clear the danger effectively, with Clark getting on the end of the next delivery to finish well.

In the second half, Town missed a crucial opportunity to get back into the game when good work by substitute Darren Frimpong-Kwakye allowed the wide player to get free of his opposing full-back before firing an excellent cross to the back post, with Archie Shepherd diverting his header narrowly wide.

As time got away from the Hatters, chances were few and far between as a mixture of poor passing and efficient Northampton defending managed to stifle any positive momentum.

The last chance of the game fell to the Town in the 75th minute as another substitute, Tatenda Takawira, managed to put in a good cross from the left that found striker Excel Ed-Okungbowa with space in the box, though the striker’s effort was straight at the Northampton goalkeeper.

The U18s are next in action after the Christmas break, when Stevenage visit The Brache on Saturday January 3rd.

TOWN: Booth, Norton, Barnes, Joy, Roberts-Edema, Shepherd, Isufi, Passley-James, Asamoah-Junior, Ed-Okungbowa, Gawel

Report by: Liam Wilmot