Wolves impressive start to the season continued as the back-up boys took centre stage.

After the Premier League first string reeled off back-to-back wins, it was the turn of Wolves’ shadow squad to prove a point to manager Mick McCarthy last night.

And they took their chance emphatically as they exposed the 82-place gap between the sides to earn the manager his 100th win in charge and continue their 100 per cent start.

Just like the current seniors, there was much to enthuse over on a night of several firsts and, for the fans, a rapturously acclaimed return of the Liquidator before the start of each half.

Along with two goals for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and one each for Nenad Milijas and Sam Vokes in their first appearances of the season, there were debuts for Dorus De Vries and Jamie Reckord from the start.

Leigh Griffiths, David Davis and Anthony Forde had also made their bows by the end, on the club’s first competitive visit to the Sixfields Stadium.

But, in another game where there wasn’t a bad performance in gold and black, players such as full-backs Matt Doherty and Reckord suggested they could have bright futures, as McCarthy’s second choice emphatically sealed the club’s biggest win since the 5-0 FA Cup replay success over Doncaster in January.

What was, perhaps, most pleasing after so many forgettable cup performances in recent years was the ruthless professionalism and appetite the fringe players showed.

While McCarthy was delighted with the performance, if there was one area he was critical of it was the first-half finishing.

And this was where Wolves let their League Two opponents off the hook, as Ebanks-Blake had three other chances to score, including two one-on-ones, while the unmarked Vokes missed the easiest of the lot when heading over from point-blank range at 2-0.

Thankfully for Wolves, Ebanks-Blake broke the deadlock in the 31st minute in typical fashion, lashing home a left-foot drive after chesting down Kevin Foley’s inswinging cross from the left.

Milijas doubled their lead six minutes later with a curling free-kick from 25 yards that ripped into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Sam Walker rooted to the spot, after Adam Hammill was tripped by Arron Davies.

Northampton were just as wasteful in front of goal, with the bulky Adebayo Akinfenwa blazing over from four yards out.

Lewis Young – younger brother of Ashley – forced the only serious save from De Vries, who smothered his first-time shot at his near post just before the break.

Northampton did make the better start to the second-half. Young’s drilled effort prompted De Vries into a falling save, before Paul Turnbull was inches wide with another effort.

Michael Kightly then had Wolves’ first opening of the second period when he fired inches past the far post.

Wolves finally made it 3-0 13 minutes from time, when Ebanks-Blake headed home a cross from Kightly.

Vokes rounded off a highly-pleasing night in the 88th minute by crashing the ball into the top corner of the net from 15 yards, following a slick move involving Griffiths and Doherty.

By Tim Nash