Town youths crash to Orient defeat

LUTON Town’s U18s were unable to build on their recent good run of results as they lost 3-0 to Leyton Orient in the second round of the Youth Alliance Cup at Ely Way on Saturday.

Despite an even start to the match, Orient were two goals up within the first 20 minutes.

Firstly, Brett Longden put the ball into his own net as he came under pressure from a corner and then a 20-yard strike beat Barnes as the visitors doubled their lead.

In-between those two goals, the Hatters were unlucky not to draw level when Nick Burtenshaw’s shot from 20 yards cannoned back off the post and Jake Woolley was adjudged to be offside as he looked to pounce on the rebound.

The game continued to be an even affair with the Hatters playing some neat football and Orient looking strong at set pieces.

Zak Stephens replaced Ben Ekins at half time, while Driver also introduced Arel Amu and Mason Blake midway through the second half in a bid to freshen things up and take the tie to penalties.

However, Orient sealed victory from a corner that gave Barnes no chance.

Hatters: Barnes, Longden, Jibodu, Burtenshaw, Ferguson, Ekins (Stephens 46), McAdams, Nash, Woolley, Smith (Blake 64), Davis (Amu 64). Substitutes not used: Reading, Rees.

To read youth team manager Paul Driver’s thoughts on the game, see the Luton News / Dunstable Gazette on sale today.