The Hatters Under-18s recovered from trailing at half-time to beat Mansfield 3-1 in the PDL Cup on Saturday morning.

In terrible conditions, the Town fell behind in the 13th minute when the visitors converted a chance at the near post.

Both sides then traded chances with Isiah Harvey and Jamie Odegah having the Hatters’ best opportunities before half-time.

However, the Town equalised 58 seconds into the second period when Archie Shepherd whipped in a free-kick towards Christian Chigozie and his header across goal was tapped home by Dylan Stitt from close range.

Level, the Hatters went in search of the lead and on 63 minutes it was 2-1 when Stitt and Shepherd combined for the former to finish well with a low drive from the edge of the box.

Now in front the Town opened up a two-goal cushion with 10 minutes left when Mansfield half-cleared a corner allowing Shepherd to stand up a cross for Finley Evans to nod home at the back post.

Chance for a fourth followed with Excel Ed-Okungbowa hitting the post and Shepherd coming close after a mazy run but it finished 3-1.

Boss Joe Deeney said: “We are delighted with the win but in the first half we didn’t handle the conditions and there was too much backwards and sideways play.

“However, for the second time in a week we came in at half-time behind and the lads reacted well to some constructive criticism.

“In the second half we were much better, with and without the ball, but I said to the players, we don’t want to continue this trait of having to up our game in the second half.

“However, it’s progress, it’s a victory and we looking forward to our next game against Cambridge.”

Town: Hockey, Roberts-Edema, Benagr, Passley-James, Chigozie, Kwame Anson, Harvey, Stitt, Ed-Okungbowa, Odegah, Shepherd.

Subs: Asamoah, Booth, Evans, Barnes, El Gourja.