Under-18s put the boot into Cobblers
The Hatters’ Under-18s won their third game in succession on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Northampton Town at Moulton College.
With Brett Longden injured and Kyle Davison unavailable, Jerome Jibodu returned to the squad and Under-16s centre back Zac Jules got his first chance to show coach Paul Driver how far his game has progressed in the season so far.
The Town started the game well and were two up within the first 12 minutes. Firstly, Jibodu got the ball on the edge of the box following a corner and his cross/shot looped over the home Keeper and into the corner of the net. A few minutes later, Jules won a strong header to find Jemale McKenzie-Lowe and the striker linked up with his partner, Zane Banton for the latter to hold his nerve and place the ball past the keeper.
There were plenty of chances to extend the lead in a positive showing during the remainder of the half. From a Charlie Smith corner, the Hatters hit the bar twice and Arel Amu had two good chances to extend the lead but the Keeper made good saves to restrict the lead to 2-0 at the break.
With the next goal being vital, the Hatters again started the half well and extended their lead within the first 90 seconds. Tinashe Chabata won an important header and found Ian Rees. The midfielder linked with McKenzie-Lowe and Banton and they found Amu in space in the box and the winger made no mistake this time to put the Hatters three goals to the good.
Northampton continued to work hard to get back into the game and their best chance came when their striker got in behind the Hatters defence but Ben Barnes made an excellent save to maintain the advantage.
Daril Ngwala and Tuki Tayali replaced Leeroy Maguaraushe and McKenzie-Lowe as the game entered the final 15 minutes and the Hatters were able to control the last period of the game to record their second consecutiive clean sheet.
A delighted Driver told lutontown.co.uk: "It's been a very good week for us after two excellent performances, today and against Peterborough; and we’ve kept two clean sheets.
“We started well, maintained the pressure and closed the game out well. For his first game, Zac Jules was outstanding and gives us something to seriously consider going forward and Tuki (Tayali) came on for his first game too and did exactly what was asked of him."
Town: Barnes, Burtenshaw, Jibodu, Rees, Jules, Chabata, Amu, Smith (sub Trottman), McKenzie-Lowe (sub Tayali), Banton, Maguraushe (sub Ngwala). Subs not used: Carpenter (GK), Pittfield.