U23 Report: Notts County 0-7 Saints

Four goals in the space of 15 first-half minutes gave Saints an imperious lead at the break, before Will Smallbone netted the pick of the bunch after the restart - a superb free-kick, struck with pace and precision in equal measure.

Both Smallbone and Tyreke Johnson went on to complete their hat-tricks in the second period, as Radhi Jaïdi's youngsters dominated throughout, and keeper Jack Rose was resigned to spectating.

The win puts Saints in a commanding position in their respective group stage table, with two wins and a draw to their name, ahead of next year's reverse fixtures.

Harry Hamblin fired the visitors into a deserved lead in the 23rd minute, striking a fierce low shot off the greasy surface, with enough vigour for it to comfortably beat Branislav Pindroch, and settle in the far corner.

Indeed, Saints had looked dangerous from the off, with Oriol Romeu testing the resolve of Pindroch with a looping header from a Smallbone corner, before Hamblin broke the deadlock.

And the floodgates opened thereafter.

Marcus Barnes was the creator of Saints' second, racing down the right wing, before squaring towards Johnson, who was presented with the easiest of finishes from all of four yards.

33 minutes had gone before the boys in blue and yellow had netted a hat-trick of first-half goals, this time scored by the influential Smallbone.

An architect of many an Under-23s goal this season, the teenager made a late third-man run from midfield, as his colleagues sliced through the Notts rearguard with ease, before cooly slotting underneath Pindroch.

Johnson added a fourth to round off a productive first 45 - again the beneficiary of goalmouth confusion, allowing for an easy point-blank finish in the 38th minute.

Two minutes after the restart, Smallbone whipped a well-struck free-kick over the wall, with enough dip for it to sneak under the bar, before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute.

Winger Johnson was again on target in-between Smallbone's second-half efforts, condemning Notts County to a seven goal thrashing, on a dreary day for the hosts in Ilkeston.