Hatters U18s prove too strong for Stevenage

For the second week running, Hatters were forced to switch venues due to Ely Way being unplayable as they travelled to Stevenage’s new facility at Bragbury End.

Tinashe Chabata and Jerome Jibodu were both fit to start the game in the centre of the defence, while U16 Lee Hawkes came into the side at left back, with Brett Longden moving to his familiar right back role.

On an excellent surface, Stevenage’s best chance came as they stole possession from Town’s backline, but didn’t unduly bother keeper Ben Barnes.

Town came close when Leeroy Maguarauhe fed Zane Banton but his square ball to Amu was cut out.

Luton opened the scoring on 36 minutes though with Banton finding Maguaraushe inside the box and the winger found Amu who made no mistake, firing into the corner of the net.

It was almost 2-0 before the break as McKenzie-Lowe’s shot was blocked by the keeper.

After the break, Hatters continued in the ascendency and doubled the lead when a precise Charlie Smith free kick was volleyed home by McKenzie-Lowe.

Further chances were crafted throughout the half and the Hatters were denied by the woodwork on three occasions.

Firstly, a flowing move ended with Longden bursting into the box and he fired against the woodwork, Smith’s free kick hit the inside of the post, before McKenzie-Lowe also saw his shot hit cannon against the same post.

Stevenage came close late on, but Chabata got in an important block to maintain the two goal cushion.

U18s boss Paul Driver said: “I thought we did well. The decent surface helped us play a bit more football than we’ve been able to do recently and we continued the excellent work from the second half last week at Orient.

“As a team, we are learning how to defend better and that was our third clean sheet in the last five games which is also encouraging.

“We looked much more assured at the back with Jerome (Jibodu) and Tinashe in there who were both excellent and having Brett getting forward from full back makes us better going forward.

“With a bit more luck, we could have won by more as we created some good chances in the second half.”

Hatters: Barnes, Longden, Hawkes, Rees, Chabata, Jibodu, Amu, Smith, McKenzie-Lowe (Tayali 87), Banton, Maguraushe (Trottman 78).

Subs not used. Carpenter, Galliford, Pittfield.

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