RAMPANT Saints B secured qualification from their Premier League Cup group with a stylish 7-1 win after going behind to Colchester United.

Dave Horseman’s side have won all four of their group games so far with a positive goal difference of 16 and at most only one of the U’s and Everton could catch them.

It looked like it would be a difficult night at St Mary’s with a rotated team due to an upcoming FA Youth Cup game and first-team training duties.

They went behind to a poked finish from Bradley Ihionvien inside the first half-an-hour, but Sam Bellis equalised soon after with his first of a hat-trick.

Will Merry then put Saints ahead and his brace was the last of the seven that would come, but Bellis completed his hattrick with a spot-kick and finessed shot before half-time for a 4-1 lead.

Luke Pearce finished from a long drive forward by 41-year-old Willy Cabellero, who was starting in net 26 years senior to the likes of Jay Robinson.

Robinson – one of three B team debutants, alongside Tommy Dobson-Ventura and Alfie Prescott - showed age was no factor when he bagged the sixth.

Merry’s second rounded off another unbelievable night for Saints B, who are looking to compete on both league and cup front – currently sitting second in Premier League Division Two.

Saints B return to action on Saturday, December 10 (12PM), when they host the reverse fixture with Everton in the Premier League Cup, before travelling to Birmingham for the final match of the stage.

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