For the second week running the Town Under-18s fought back from a losing position to earn victory as Joe Deeney’s side saw off Cambridge United in the Youth Alliance.

Despite starting the game well, the Hatters could not take their chances, and three minutes before the break, the U’s took the lead when the striker capitalised on a loose ball and drilled home.

After the interval, the Town upped the ante and two goals in the space of five minutes turned the game in their favour.

Firstly, on 53 minutes, Dylan Stitt fizzed in a cross and Tate Xavier-Jones had a simple tap-in from a yard out to equalise.

And just before the hour it was 2-1. Enoch Sampson’s ball down the left was held up well by Jamie Odegah and he unselfishly squared for Stitt to take a touch and fire home.

Cambridge pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages. Cai Hockey made a crucial save from a free-kick and the Hatters defended stoutly to earn a big three points.

A delighted Deeney said afterwards: “I was proud and pleased of how we stepped up and how much we defended the big moments.

“We showed guts, put bodies on the line and did the ugly side of the game really well.

“I was pleased with the desire we had to defend our box and perhaps six or seven weeks ago Cambridge might have equalised.

“I’m delighted how the boys worked together and added that clinical edge at the other end.”

Town: Hockey, Harvey, Benagr, Chigozie, Emery, Kwame Anson, Ioannides, Stitt, Odegah, Shepherd, Xavier-Jones

Subs: Roberts-Edema, Booth, Fox, Trustram, Takawira.