While the Town's first team were beating Histon in the Blue Square Premier last night, a young Luton side progressed to the final of the Bedfordshire Under-18 Floodlit Cup with a 2-1 victory over Stotfold.

Fielding a team made up of five under 15s, five under 16s and one under 17 players, the Hatters dominated possession throughout the game against a team who are unbeaten so far in their league.

Despite the age and size difference between the two teams, the Town's passing and movement was of the highest level and this made the game very one-sided.

Early chances fell to Moses Kaddu and Liam Toomey, who was making his comeback game after three months out with a broken wrist.

Despite the domination, the Hatters' midfielders were failing to penetrate the Stotfold defence but Cauley Woodrow, Michael Cain and Alasan Ann came close with long-range efforts with the best chance falling to Woodrow whose header from a Cain set-piece was cleared off-the-line.

The message at half-time was clear: start at a high-tempo, and be cleverer in the final third.

Luton started the second period well, Kaddu and Cain came close, before clever movement between Cain and Toomey set up Woodrow to volley home the opening goal.

The Town doubled the lead soon after when Woodrow picked the ball up on the edge of the area and drove home.

Just as Luton looked in complete control, naïve defending from Newman Carney and Jerome Jibodu meant that Luton conceded a cheap free-kick on the edge of the area. Everyone in the crowd was amazed when the free-kick was driven into the wall and the referee awarded a penalty for hand-ball.

The penalty was scored and all of a sudden Stotfold had their tails up with 10 minutes left on the clock.

The young Luton defence had to deal with a series of set-pieces and looked to have ridden the storm when Jibodu again conceded a set-piece on the edge of the area.

Luckily for the Hatters the chance was spurned and Luton hung on to put the team into the final against Leighton Town.

Youth Team Coach Martin Prickett said afterwards: "I thought our performance was excellent, especially in our ability to keep possession and to match the physical presence of Stotfold.

"I was particularly pleased for future scholars Michael Cain and Cauley Woodrow who were outstanding in the centre of midfield.

"It is very important we play our Under 15s and 16s in this competition as it puts them in the environment where results matter and starts to teach them the uglier side of the game which prepares them for Under 18 football.

"We will continue to field a young side as it will test them mentally with the stress of being in a final as well as technically and physically."

A similarly delighted Under-16 Coach Jon De Souza added: "This was our best performance since we played Arsenal during pre-season.

"The midfield were magnificent throughout but we need to offer better angles of support in and around the area to break teams down so we can turn possession into chances.

"This was a great lesson for the defence in what is needed to win a game, and they will have learnt from the mistakes that let Stotfold back into the game."