In-form Town youth team settle for point
The Hatters Under-18s lost their 100 per cent start to the season on Saturday morning but remain unbeaten after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Gillingham at Ely Way.
In a scrappy affair the Town missed several good chances in the first half and were made to pay when the visitors went ahead just before the break.
A young Hatters line-up, which contained seven first year scholars, rallied after the restart and levelled with 25 minutes left to go when Kavan Cotter side-footed home from 15 yards into the bottom corner.
Both sides had chances to win the game and the Town were indebted to a number of fine saves from goalkeeper Liam Gooch to preserve a point.
Boss Paul Driver told lutontown.co.uk: “We started well and on another day we would have gone a couple of goals up. We didn’t – and that gave Gillingham confidence.
“We didn’t lose though, and there are plenty of positives. It was the first time we have come from behind this season and I think this is the kind of game in which the players will learn a lot.
“Having gone behind we had to be patient, and in the last 15 minutes we played with 10 men as one of the boys had to come off with a knock and we’d used all of our substitutes.”
The Hatters youngsters are next in action on Tuesday when they travel to Bristol Rovers in the League Cup.
Town U18: Gooch, Bean (sub Bakinson 49), McJannet, Musonda, Famewo, Justin, Cotter, Atkinson, Snelus, Hinds (sub Murray 49), Verney (sub Panesar 72). Subs not used: Lee, Petty.