AFC Dunstable 5
Butler 27, Bishop 50, Christie 75, 84 (pen), Wills
Town development 7
Banton 30, 36, 70, McKenzie-Lowe 31, 65, 67, Viana 80
Hat-tricks from Zane Banton and Jemale McKenzie-Lowe helped the development squad to victory over AFC Dunstable in a 12-goal thriller in the Beds Senior Cup first round.
The Town fell behind on 27 minutes when a deflected Craig Butler strike beat Ben Barnes to give the hosts the lead.
However, on the half-hour mark, the Hatters were level when Banton showed fine close control to slalom through the OD’s defence and finish.
A minute later the Town got their noses in front when a wonderful long pass from Charlie Smith found McKenzie-Lowe and the young striker fired home.
On 36 minutes the Hatters made it 3-1 when Banton’s shot from 15 yards was spilled into the back of the net by Dunstable keeper Ryan Darby.
Five minutes after the restart the OD’s reduced the deficit when James Bishop headed past Barnes from inside the six yard box following a left-wing raid, and a minute, later BJ Christie should have created a chance for 3-3 when he raced through but failed to square to an unmarked team-mate for a tap-in.
McKenzie-Lowe should have made it 4-2 on 63 minutes when he side-footed a David Viana pass wide of the target, but two minutes later the youth team forward did find the net when he poked home after taking another defence-splitting pass from Smith.
On 67 minutes it was 5-2 to the Town when Brett Longden’s right-wing cross was turned home from close range by McKenzie-Lowe for his hat-trick, and three minutes later Banton grabbed his treble when nutmegging the goalkeeper after taking Matt Robinson’s clever pass.
The goals continued to flow. On 75 minutes it was 6-3 when Christie pulled another goal back for the home side but the Town restored their four-goal cushion 10 minutes from time when Viana fired home into the bottom corner.
But Dunstable weren’t done yet and two goals in the final six minutes – from Christie, from the spot, and Hayden Wills – gave the Hatters some nervy last few moments before Hakan Hayrettin’s side could finally record a victory and with it lift the David Preece memorial trophy and book their place in the next round.
Town dev squad: Barnes; Longden, Stephens (sub Chabata), Makuado, O’Donnell (sub Amu); Viana, Taiwo (sub Rees 88), Robinson, Smith; Banton, McKenzie-Lowe. Subs not used: Trotman, King.