Town youngsters see off Didcot under the Kenilworth Road floodlights
Town U18 4 (Galliford 13, Atkinson 22, Tayali 26, Allman 31)Didcot U18s 1 (Noble 81)
Four first half goals from four different players helped the Hatters Under-18s progress to the second round of the FA Youth Cup following victory over Didcot Town.
The Town took the lead on 13 minutes when Isaac Galliford smashed home from a direct free-kick in the penalty area after the visiting goalkeeper picked up a backpass.
The Hatters doubled their lead nine minutes later when Alex Atkinson seized on a loose Didcot pass to stride forward and finish with aplomb from the edge of the penalty area.
Four minutes later two became three when Galliford showed great tenacity to beat his man down the left, race into the area and put the ball on a plate for Tuki Tayali who slotted home.
Before Didcot could recover it was 4-0 on 31 minutes when the lively Osamu Allman swept home an assured finish from the left-hand edge of the six-yard box.
Chances continue to fall the Town’s way before the break and indeed after the half-time whistle.
Tayali and Galliford both went close to making it 5-0, only to be denied by Didcot goalkeeper Beckham Janes.
But the last word went to Didcot when, with nine minutes left, striker Charlie Noble struck the goal of the game with a fine volley from just inside the penalty area following a right-wing cross.
The victory meant a place in the second round which gives Paul Driver’s side a trip to Oxford City in two weeks' time.
Full report and reaction in Saturday’s programme.
Town: King, Perry, Hawkes, Musonda, Justin, Bakinson, Atkinson, Galliford (sub Cotter 73), Allman (sub McJannett 73), Amadi (sub Craig 59), Tayali. Subs not used: Gooch, Snelus.
Attendance: 254