Calum McFarlane named a particularly young side at Sixfields Stadium, with Under-18s Olutayo Subuloye in defence, Kobe Barbour on the wing and Chizaram Ezenwata leading the line.

Schoolboy Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli also started in midfield, with fellow Under-18s Hudson Sands, Sol Gordon, Mathis Eboue and schoolboy Isaac Badu named on the bench.

It was a challenging first half against senior opposition. Kamarai Swyer opened the scoring before Michael Jacobs doubled the lead with a curling strike. Before the break, Northampton were awarded a penalty after Elliot List was brought down in the area, which he converted to leave the Blues behind at half-time.

The young side continued to battle in the second half, showing spirit throughout, but the experience of the senior opposition proved decisive, and the match ended 3-0.

The Blues started brightly at Sixfields, with Leo Cardoso heavily involved in the early stages. Northampton threatened inside 10 minutes when Jack Vale broke into the box, but Subuloye stayed tight to block his effort.

Chelsea responded well, with Jesse Derry showing clever footwork before laying the ball off to Cardoso, whose strike from inside the area was comfortably held by Ross Fitzsimons. The hosts went close again through Joe Wormleighton, but Ted Curd reacted sharply to make the save.

The hosts then took control. Jacobs drove forward and found Swyer, who swept a low finish into the corner to make it 1-0. Curd denied Terry Taylor with a strong stop shortly after, but Jacobs doubled the lead with a curling effort that bounced into the bottom corner.

We thought we had pulled one back when Derry switched play to the skillful Barbour, who delivered a cross for Ezenwata to tap in, only for the flag to be raised for offside.

Northampton extended their lead from the spot after Curd brought down List, whose footwork had drawn the foul, with List stepping up to convert and make it 3-0.

The Blues continued to push before the break, with Derry forcing a strong save from Fitzsimons and Barbour going close with a chipped effort, as Chelsea went into half-time three goals down, but with a chance to regroup for the second period.

The second half began at the same pace, with the hosts creating the first opening. Substitute Cameron McGeehan connected with a cross inside the area, but his effort flew wide.

McFarlane then turned to his bench, introducing attacking options Gordon, Frankie Runham and Eboue for their first Under-21s appearances of the season, while midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi returned to add experience to the side.

The Blues began to grow into the half following the changes. Eboue pressed high and played a clever through-ball to Runham, whose low strike was heading for goal before Fitzsimons reacted quickly to push it away.

Shortly after, Kian Best swung in a dangerous corner, and Kaiden Wilson rose highest in a crowded penalty area, but his header drifted narrowly wide as we pushed to reduce the deficit approaching the 75th minute.

In the closing stages, captain Harrison McMahon was replaced by schoolboy and Under-21s debutant Badu, giving him a first taste of action at this level.

In stoppage time, Northampton thought they had added a fourth when Sam Hoskins finished from Dean Campbell's pass, but the linesman’s flag ruled the effort out for offside, and the match ended 3-0 to the League One side.

What's next

Chelsea’s next EFL Vertu Trophy fixture is against Walsall on Tuesday 28 October 2025 at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, with kick-off at 7pm.

Before then, we are back in action on Saturday morning in the Premier League 2, when we host Stoke City at Kingsmeadow. Kick-off is at 11am and tickets are still available for this fixture.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Ted Curd; Richard Olise, Olutayo Subuloye, Kaiden Wilson, Kian Best; Harrison McMahon (c) (Isaac Badu 87), Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli (Samuel Rak-Sakyi 62), Leo Cardoso (Mathis Eboue 62); Kobe Barbour (Sol Gordon 55), Chizaram Ezenwata, Jesse Derry (Frankie Runham 55)
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Justin Osagie

Northampton Town: Ross Fitzsimons, Jack Burroughs, Jordan Willis (c), Elliot List (Jack Perkins h-t), Kamarai Swyer (Max Dyche 78), Tyrese Fornah (Dean Campbell h-t), Joe Wormleighton, Michael Jacobs, Michael Forbes, Terry Taylor (Cameron McGeehan h-t), Jack Vale (Sam Hoskins 61)
Unused subs: Conor McCarthy, Theo Avery
Scorers: Swyer 19, Jacobs 23, List pen 28