A Rufus Barnes wonder-strike rescued a point for the Hatters as our U18s battled back to draw 2-2 with Bromley at The Brache.

It was a fast start for Town as prolific striker Dawid Gawel opened the scoring inside ten minutes, rising highest from a superbly delivered corner to power his header beyond the opposition goalkeeper.

The visitors struggled to get into the game with chances coming at a premium, though a fine save from stopper Charlie Booth helped keep the young side ahead as he pushed an effort past the post in the 19th minute.

Unfortunately, despite the Hatters dominating possession and keeping the Bromley threat to a minimum, the lead could not be preserved until the break and the away side levelled with just three minutes of the first half to play as a Bromley strike was judged to have crossed the line by the officials.

Following the goal, Bromley continued to push deep into injury time and could have taken the lead had it not been for another heroic save from Booth, almost replicating his first by getting down again to deny the visitors with another save just seconds from the half time whistle.

The second half started much like the first, with Town pressing well and taking control of the game without managing to make the most of the ball. It proved costly as Bromley took a late lead, the attacker getting away from the Town defence before firing a superb effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

All hope seemed lost for the Hatters until a lofted ball from substitute Lloyd Asamoah-Junior into the away box managed to find Excel Ed-Okungbowa, the striker touching the ball to Barnes who took an ambitious swing which sent his effort into the top corner and secured a point for the Hatters late into the game.

TOWN: Booth, Kwame Anson, Evans, Barnes, Roberts-Edema (Asamoah Junior), Passley-James, Isufi (Lesser), El Gourja (Knote-Reed), Frimpong-Kwakye (Ed-Okungbowa), Gawel, Takawira

Subs not used: Flynn

Report by: Liam Wilmot