Leyton Orient under-18s were on the end of a 7-2 thumping by Northampton Town on Saturday.

A goal in each half from Lawrence Hammond and Alex Solomon was all the young O’s could muster against a strong Cobblers side who showed their quality throughout.

Hammond created an early opening for Orient when a good first touch saw him escape Northampton’s centre-back, but a covering defender put in an excellent sliding challenge to avert the danger.

The home side then bounced back to take the lead as a curling effort from the edge of the post landed just inside the post high into the top corner.

Northampton doubled their advantage just before the 15-minute mark, but Hammond pulled one back almost immediately as he finished unconventionally from Antony Papadopoulos' corner.

Northampton restored their two-goal cushion when their attacker fired into the roof of the net from a deep cross and the hosts added a fourth before the break as a low effort whistled into the bottom corner past Byrne, and they needed only one minute of the second period to add their fifth of the afternoon, which came when their midfielder intercepted the ball, drove forward and fired into the top corner from 25-yards.

The Cobblers notched the next goal as a low cross into the area was hit first time into the bottom corner, but Byrne stopped them making it seven by keeping out a penalty.

Solomon then bagged a further consolation with 13 minutes remaining, but a looping Northampton free-kick floated all the way in late on to hand them the 7-2 win.