Hatters ease through to second round proper
Boston United Under-18s 0
Town Under-18s 4
Banton 15, McKenzie-Lowe 20, Amu 28, Galliford 35
The Hatters Under-18s booked their place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a comfortable victory at Boston United on Wednesday evening.
The Town were a goal up inside 15 minutes when Zane Banton fired home from close range.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Jemale McKenzie-Lowe found the net from 10 yards to double the Hatters’ lead.
On 28 minutes Arel Amu’s cross-cum-shot fooled the Boston goalkeeper and the Hatters found themselves 3-0 before the half-hour mark.
And the Hatters’ dominant first half display was capped by a fantastic team goal finished by midfielder Isaac Galliford on 35 minutes.
The Town continued to press for more goals in the second half but failed to find a fifth and, with time ticking down, Boston were reduced to 10 men when Miles Lynch was sent-off for a dangerous tackle on Tinashe Chabata with four minutes left.
That was the last action as the Town comfortably booked a second round tie away to Gateshead in a fortnight’s time.
A delighted Driver told lutontown.co.uk: "Between the 10th and 40th minutes was the best we'd played all season. We took our chances when we did and we could have scored more goals in the second half.
"We hit the woodwork two or three times but the positives are there for all to see. We did what you have to do at an away cup tie really well. We told the players not to start sluggish, to keep the ball, get an early touch for confidence, and to just play. When we didn't have the ball we had to work hard and that's what the boys did.
"After four goals in the first half Boston changed things around in the second, and went man-for-man but we did the right thing: kept the ball and didn't do anything silly.
"Gateshead will be tough. I watched them win on penalties at Tranmere where they did really well. They scored in the final minute of the game and last minute of extra-time. I like that in a team, they never gave up. It'll be like playing a Football League club - they are that good."
Town U18s: Barnes, Trotman (sub Perry 79), Hawkes, Rees, Chabata, Tamplin, Amu, Smith, Galliford (sub Ngwala 70), McKenzie-Lowe (sub Amadi 79), Banton. Subs not used: Tayali, King.