The Under-18s saw off Milton Keynes 5-1 at Ely Way in the Youth Alliance on Friday afternoon in their first match in almost a month.

The game was only three minutes old when an unfortunate collision saw Matthew Takawira need treatment and the game was stopped for over half-an-hour.

When play resumed, the Town led in the ninth minute when Zach Ioannides’ pass sent through Jamie Odegah on goal and the striker outmuscled his marker to lift home a finish and make it 1-0.

The Hatters extended their lead by scoring twice in a minute. On 15 minutes a Harry Fox corner was headed back across goal by Enoch Sampson and Dylan Stitt was free to nod home from close range.

Immediately from kick-off it was 3-0 when Lloyd Asamoah crossed for Archie Shepherd to volley home brilliantly.

In control going into the second half, the visitors had a chance to pull a goal back from the penalty spot but Oliver Pipa – making his first appearance in two years after returning from injury – dived to his left to keep out the effort from 12 yards.

The save invigorated the Hatters and on 70 minutes it was four and Stitt scored his second when meeting Odegah’s cross and lifted the ball past the Milton Keynes keeper.

And four minutes later it was 5-0 when Tate Xavier-Jones’ cross was headed home by Odegah.

The visitors converted a penalty late on to score a consolation but the Town were excellent value for victory to earn three important points in their quest for the Youth Alliance title.

Town: Pipa, Harvey, Fox, Chigozie, Emery, Kwame Anson, Ioannides, Stitt, Takawira, Asamoah, Shepherd.

Subs: Roberts-Edema, Hockey, Trustram, Xavier-Jones, Odegah.