Hatters U18s battle back to claim Daggers victory

A spectacular overhead kick from Ian Rees and a late winner from Arel Amu kept up the Hatters’ chances of qualifying from the group stage of the competition.

He said: “The biggest plus of the game was the performances of the first-years.

“With an important FA Youth Cup tie coming up, and witnessing their performances in training in recent weeks, we decided to give all of them a start and I was delighted with their attitude and application – and to come from a goal behind to win away from home shows terrific character.

“A number of the players were involved in the first team training sessions this week and the feedback we received from the management was positive so it’s been a good week.”

Charlie Smith went close with a number of first half efforts, but the Daggers took the lead when the Luton failed to clear a free-kick.

The Daggers only really threatened at set-pieces and Town levelled through Rees’ acrobatic bicycle kick on the stroke of half-time.

It was all the Luton after the break, with the hosts rarely troubling keeper Craig King.

Rees and Amu both threatened for the Hatters, with the latter having a shot tipped wide by the Dagenham keeper.

Half time substitute Isaac Galliford saw his shot bounce off both the bar and then the post, before Luton won it with two minutes to go when Amu finished well.

The U18s are in action at Kenilworth Road against Leighton Town in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday night, kick-off 7.30pm.

Hatters: King, Hawkes, Perry, Tamplin, Chabata, Amu, Rees, Smith (Allman 65), Ngwala (Galliford 46), Banton, Tayali (sub Amadi 67). Substitutes not used: Barnes, Crilley.