A youthful Luton side surrendered a two-goal lead as they went down 4-2 to United Counties League Premier Division side St Neots.

At the impressively appointed Rowley Park, the visitors enjoyed the lion's share of early possession and, after a couple of early chances had gone to waste, took a deserved lead when Scott Sinclair finished clinically in the fifth minute.

The hosts looked understandably rusty with their main threat coming on the break, mainly via the left wing and Declan Rogers.

St Neots had their moments although Aaron Fletcher in the Luton goal had little of note to keep him occupied.

The movement of the Hatters, especially out wide, was fairly slick but too often the final ball proved to be a let down. Time and again space was created down the left by Jack Wood but the intended target was not found.

Midway through the half the advantage was doubled, Aidan Quinn beating the offside trap to finish handsomely past an exposed Ben Webster.

The encounter bore little resemblance to a pre-season stroll with plenty of tackles flying in.

St Neots kept the ball well in the centre of the field, Matt Bannister at the heart of the majority of their best moments, but with just one up front, their attacks floundered before they really threatened.

This changed after 33 minutes when the hosts, who had enjoyed a good five-minute spell, cut the deficit when Rogers' free-kick squirmed past Fletcher at the near post.

Seconds into the second period the scores were level.

A Barry Allbone through ball found Pete Okechukwu who, after a lucky bounce from the advancing substitute goalkeeper James Gilbert, was left with the simple task of finding an empty net.

With St Neots looking increasingly comfortable, the game had a much more balanced feel to it.

The Hatters did not have as much time on the ball and their passing began to suffer as a result.

Just before the hour a sloppy piece of play by Gilbert gave the impressive Rogers the chance to put the home side ahead and he made no mistake with a good finish.

A couple of petulant challenges betrayed Luton's inexperience as they began to chase the game which was now being controlled by St Neots.

The Hatters were looking ragged in possession, especially at the back, and the damage could have been worse if Kevin McElroy's effort had gone inside, rather than hit, the post.

A far post header and long-range effort went just over the visitors' bar and a goalmouth scramble was cleared as the one-way traffic continued.

Five minutes from time the result was settled.

A foul on James Hall saw a penalty awarded which, taken by McElroy, was well saved by Gilbert but the rebound was put away from close range.

There was only going to be one winner at this stage and, try as the Hatters did, that is how it turned out as St Neots hung on to their well-earned advantage to seal victory.

Hatters: Fletcher, Biggi, Howells, Barker, Cleaver, Hogarth, Nathaniel, Quinn, Sinclair, Wood, Owusu; subs: Deeney, Symons, Opsall, Flott, Gilbert, Saada.

Attendance: 521