MATCH REPORT: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2-5 BREWERS (BSM TROPHY)

A five star performance saw the Brewers top group F in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, as they ran out 5-2 winners away at Northampton Town.

Goals from Nick Akoto, Dylan Williams, Charlie Webster, Ben Whitfield and Romelle Donovan helped the Brewers ease to victory, on a night where three players from the Academy also made their senior debuts.

Second year scholars Josh Taroni and Jack Newall, as well as Academy graduate Toby Oakes all came on as substitutes to make their senior bows.

Tom Hounsell made nine changes to the starting XI, with only Charlie Webster and Alex Bannon keeping their place in starting eleven from Saturday's home victory over Shrewsbury. There was also opportunity for academy scholars Jack Newall and Josh Taroni, who featured in the matchday squad for the first time on the bench.

The game started later than expected due to an issue with the floodlights and the hosts started the quicker out of the two sides, taking the lead just two minutes in when Neo Dobson got on the end of Martyn Waghorn's lofted pass to fire home past the onrushing Isted in the Albion goal. 

Albion's first big chance of the game arrived on the 10 minute mark when Rumarn Burrell's knock down for Ben Whitfield set the winger free to run down the left hand side, who's cross found Jack Cooper-Love, only for his effort to be denied by Cobbers' 'keeper Nik Tzanev, who tipped it over for a Burton corner.

The Brewers' persistence eventually paid off three minutes later when the two full backs combined as Nick Akoto was able to head home from Dylan Williams' cross. Just moments later, the ball fell to Charlie Webster at the edge of the 18-yard box, but the Brewers number eight was unable to find the target.

The chances kept coming for the Brewers, on 21 minutes Charlie Webster's corner forced the ball to bounce around in the box and fall to the feet of Rumarn Burrell, who's audacious overhead kick was lifted just over the bar. After a brief stint of chances from the hosts, the Brewers found themselves on the front foot once again when Rumarn Burrell and Jack Cooper-Love aimed goalwards, only for Tzenev, to match both of their efforts.

Just after the half hour mark, a clever bit of trickery from Whitfield drew a foul from Martyn Waghorn, who forced referee James Durkin to go to his pocket and award the first booking of the evening. Albion then took the lead on 36 minutes, when Udoka Godwin-Malifé's searching ball found Dylan Williams, who was able to slot the ball calmly into the bottom right hand corner. 

The Brewers weren't finished there, as in the 39th minute Romelle Donovan weaved his way to the edge of the box, managing to get a shot off. His deflected effort then fell to the feet of Whitfield, who was able to get to the byline and cut the ball back for Webster, who was able to convert and give Albion a two goal cushion going into the break.

HALF TIME: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1-3 BURTON ALBION

The Cobblers started the second half as they began the first when Martyn Waghorn headed home after 47 minutes to give the hosts hope, but the Brewers two goal advantage was quickly restored after 49 minutes when Webster's dummy was followed by a clever flick from Cooper-Love to find Donovan in the area, who's strike across goal went in off the post.

On the hour mark the Brewers made their first change of the evening, with Udoka Godwin-Malifé being replaced by Jack Newall for his professional debut.

The Brewers remained on top and were getting great joy playing in behind the Northampton backline, on 65 minutes Alex Bannon played a beautiful diagonal pass across to Whitfield, who's touch was just as good but his effort was just over the bar. Whitfield did get his just rewards a minute later however, when his edge of the box shot arrowed into the bottom left corner.

Whitfield's goal proved to be his last act of the evening, as he was replaced after 70 minutes by another Burton Albion debutant in Josh Taroni. Albion's third and final change of the evening came on the 78th minute when Academy graduate Toby Oakes replaced Nick Akoto.

Albion continued to control the game in its final moments, running out as 5-2 winners to secure qualification for the next round as group winners.

ALBION: Isted; Akoto (Oakes, 78), Godwin-Malifé (Newall, 60), Sraha, Williams; Bannon, Webster; Donovan, Whitfield (Taroni, 70), Cooper-Love; Burrell

Substitutes: Dudek, Watt, Orsi, Armer

GOALS: NORTHAMPTON TOWN - Dobson (2), Waghorn (47); ALBION - Akoto (13), Williams (36), Webster (39), Donovan (49), Whitfield (66)

Referee: James Durkin

Attendance: