Okenabirhie treble ends young Hatters’ cup dreams

It could have been very different if Town had taken their chances as they twice hit the post with a rousing performance at the start of the second half.

Zane Banton slipped Arel Amu through on four minutes but he sliced wastefully over before the powerful Jemale McKenzie-Lowe strode through but keeper Charlie Horlock saved with his legs and defender Rhodell Gordon blocked the follow-up.

A massively open and frenetic encounter saw Joseph N’Guessan’s dangerous cross cut out with Ben Barnes saving low down from Jhai Dhillon, before Amu had good claims for a penalty waved away on 16 minutes.

Banton’s fierce effort was beaten away by the keeper whie Jamie Carey-Morrell blasted a good chance over for Boro who snatched the lead on 26 minutes when Okenabirhie rifled home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.

Town’s Jordan Davis almost tricked his way through and a corner flashed across the hosts’ six-yard box as Town continued to press. At the other end Dujon Brandon sliced a good chance and Spencer McCall stroked straight at Barnes as Boro led 1-0 at the break.

Town twice hit the woodwork from one-on-one opportunities in the opening five minutes of the second half, Davis, pictured, seeing his shot strike the far post and Charlie Smith poking against the near.

An equaliser looked almost inevitable as McKenzie-Lowe flashed wide, Davis poked wide, Horlock saved bravely at the feet of Amu and the unmarked Zac Stephens headed a corner right at the keeper.

And Luton were caught with a sucker punch on 66 minutes as McCall slipped Okenabirhie through who applied a cool finish.

McKenzie-Lowe sent two good chances wide, while in between Barnes turned Okenabirhie’s effort past the post.

Smith thundered into the side netting with 13 minutes to go and Okenabirhie completed his hat-trick in the third minute of stoppage time when he had all the time in the world to blast home at the far post.

Trouble flared after the final whistle with a melee in the middle but was quickly controlled as Luton’s FA Youth Cup run came to a halt.

Boro: Charlie Horlock, Jamie Carey-Morrell, Harold Joseph (Marvel Ekpiteta 49), George Allen (C), Jhai Dhillon, Fejiri Okenabirhie (John Edwards 67), Ryan Towner, Rhodell Gordon, Spencer McCall, Brandon Dujon (Rheo Josephs 86), Joseph N’Guessan. Substitutes not used: Lou Porcelli, Jimmy Hartley.

Hatters: Ben Barnes, Brett Longden, Jerome Jibodu (C), Ian Rees (Luke Trotman 73), Zac Stephens, Tinashe Chabata, Jordan Davis, Charlie Smith, Jemale McKenzie-Lowe (Darill Ngwala 80), Zane Banton, Arel Amu. Substitutes not used: Josh Carpenter, Isaac Galliford, Leroy Maguraushe.

Bookings: Dujon 76. Referee: T Brookes. Assistant Referees: G Horsler and C Pullen. Attendance: 478.