Banton brace helps youngsters progress
Town Under-18s 3
Banton 56, 62, McKenzie-Lowe 79
Leighton Town Under-18s 0
Three second half goals ensured the Hatters’ Under-18s progressed to the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup thanks to a win over Leighton Town at Kenilworth Road.
A brace from Zane Banton and a fine strike from Jemale McKenzie-Lowe finally broke Leighton’s resistance.
Visiting goalkeeper Tom Cauldron kept the Town at bay with a string of fine saves in the first half, and it wasn’t until 56 minutes that Banton put the hosts ahead when he rifled home from six yards after Leighton had initially blocked shots from Charlie Smith and Arel Amu.
Six minutes later Banton struck again, this time taking Isaac Galliford’s deft flick in his stride before cutting inside and firing into the roof of the net.
Cauldron continued to thwart the Hatters, but with 11 minutes left McKenzie-Lowe, who had been frustrated all evening by the visiting goalkeeper, got on the scoresheet when drilling home from just inside the penalty area following Banton’s pass.
Paul Driver’s side will face a trip to either Pegasus Juniors or Boston United in the first round. That tie takes place on Wednesday evening.
Town: Barnes, Hawkes, Perry, Rees, Tamplin, Chabata, Banton, Smith (sub Allman 83), Amu, McKenzie-Lowe (sub Tayali 87), Galliford (sub Ngwala 69).
Subs not used: Amadi, King.
Attendance: 148.
For a run-down of how it happened, follow the Under-18s academy Twitter feed.