Albion start EFL Trophy campaign with 3-0 win over Northampton Town

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Charlie Tasker, Kamari Doyle and Mark O'Mahony on target at Sixfields in Group G opener.

2026-08-18T21:35+01:00

High fives for Charlie Tasker as Albion celebrate their early goal against Northampton Town. 📷Simon Roe

Albion’s men’s U-21s produced a highly watchable performance to run out comfortable 3-0 winners against Northampton Town at Sixfields in the first of their three EFL Trophy Southern Group G fixtures.

And it never looked like being anything other than a Seagulls' victory after Charlie Tasker found himself with time to direct a firm far-post header into the Cobblers' net after just eight minutes.

The cross to supply the chance came from Miah Oriola, whose movement and trickery down the Brighton left flank caused the hosts regular problems.

It was 2-0 Albion after quarter of an hour thanks to a finish of real quality from midfielder Kamari Doyle.

Spotting a half-cleared cross falling on the edge of the box sooner than others around him, he took one touch before exhibiting great technique to drill a bouncing ball home with authority inside Town's near post.

Scares were infrequent for Brighton's back-line for the vast majority of the game, although soon after Doyle's strike goalkeeper Steven Hall redeemed himself for an errant pass with a smart fingertip save from Kamarai Swyer's close-range header.

Charlie Tasker celebrates after putting Albion in front. 📷Simon Roe

Any hope Cobblers had of staging a revival was snuffed out seven minutes after the restart when centre-half Max Dyche clipped Josh Robertson just inside the box. Striker Mark O'Mahony stepped up and converted from the spot with little fuss.

It could have been four soon after, but Dyche did well to block Keogh's shot after an excellent interchange between him and attacking colleague Shane Nti.

Cobblers' best efforts at goal came as the game drew towards a close.

Thirteen minutes from time, Hall once again denied Hoskins. plunging sharply to his right with a strong one-handed save. Then arguably the Australian’s best stop came deep into injury-time, arcing back to push a Harvey Saunders' header away from under the crossbar, earning his side a welcome clean sheet.

Albion: Hall; Mackley, Barclay, Simmonds (c) (Ferdinand 71); Tasker, Doyle (Lane 81), Robertson, Keogh (Outen 81); Nti (Ibrahim 90+2), Oriola (Shaw 71); O'Mahony.

Subs not used: Silsby, Dike.