The Hatters got their totesport.com Combination campaign off to the perfect start by coming from a goal down to win 3-1 at Southend United.

Alan Neilson's side went a goal down on 20 minutes but gradually got a foot-hold into the game it came as no surprise when trialist Leon Simpson netted the equaliser three minutes before the break when tapping home Taiwo Atieno's cut-back.

Further good football in the second period from the Town eventually led to them taking the lead for the first time on 55 minutes.

Atieno won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and, from the resulting set-piece whipped in dangerously by Adam Watkins, a Southend man headed into his own net under pressure from a plethora of Town attackers.

With confidence flowing, the Hatters made the game safe in injury time when Atieno reacted quickest in the penalty area after he had originally seen his header from a Watkins corner blocked.

First Team Development Manager Neilson said: "It is always very pleasing to win your opening fixture and the style in which we did was excellent. To bounce back after going a goal down showed tremendous character especially from this group of players.

"We had a number of trialists and young players coming up against a number of seasonal pros in the Southend side which bodes well.

"Adam Watkins had a very good game whilst Tai was a real handful."

Team: Kidd, Williams (Tavernier), Stimpson, Asafu-Adjaye, O'Donnell (Carney), Watkins, Poku, Grocott (Burns), Walker, Simpson, Atieno.

Subs not used: Patrick, Dasilva.