In-form Hatters U18s ease to comfortable Barnet victory

Luton Town U18 v Corby Town U18. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 42.

Three goals early in the second half helped Luton Town’s U18s come back from a goal down to beat Barnet 4-1 at The Hive in the Youth Alliance on Saturday.

It was Luton’s fifth win in six league matches this season as they moved into second place behind unbeaten Colchester United.

Boss Paul Driver said: “After a sluggish start, we were excellent all round today and fully deserved the win.

“Ian Rees led from the front and was superb in midfield and Jemale McKenzie-Lowe was more of a threat up top day.

“We just need to focus and be a bit more consistent in the quality and tempo of our play as we look build on the brilliant start we have made in the league and Youth Cup campaigns.”

Isaac Galliford replaced Charlie Smith from the side that had beaten Corby Town 5-1 in FA Youth Cup during midweek, as he played in midfield alongside Rees.

The hosts had by far the better of the opening 25 minutes, scoring in the ninth minute and forcing a smart low save by Ben Barnes on 20 minutes as the Hatters struggled to get going.

Luton started to create some half-chances as the half wore on, but trailed 1-0 at the break.

A five-minute blitz at the start of the second half saw the Hatters score three headers and have another goal disallowed as the game was turned on its head.

Galliford pulled the scores level with a close range header from a rebound off a Zane Banton effort.

Harry Tamplin then headed home from a corner and, having had a header disallowed for offside, Daril Ngwala got on the end of an Arel Amu cross to further extend the lead.

McKenzie-Lowe had a header disallowed in the 65th minute as the Hatters controlled the game as Barnet were reduced to a couple of speculative long range efforts.

And the final goal arrived in the last minute when Galliford was upended in the box and Ngwala converted the spot-kick for his third goal in three games.

Hatters Barnes, Crilley, Hawkes, Rees (C), Chabata, Tamplin, Amu, Galliford, McKenzie-Lowe, Banton (Tayali 82), Ngwala. Substitutes not used: King, Allman, Amadi, Perry.