Encouraging display for youngsters ahead of Youth Cup tie
A young Town development squad containing 11 players from the Under-18s went down to a narrow defeat at Gillingham on Wednesday afternoon.
The League 1 hosts went in front in a low key first 45 minutes in which the Hatters struggled to create a clear-cut chance.
However after half-time the Town went in search of an equaliser, testing the Gills goalkeeper on several occasions. Ryan Hall, Freddie Hinds, Alex Atkinson and Jake Howells all came close while Cameron McJannet almost spurned the Hatters’ best chance.
Despite pressing for a late leveller it never came as the Gills ran out 1-0 winners but academy and development manager Andy Awford was still pleased with the overall performance.
He told lutontown.co.uk: “In the first half we really didn’t play with any tempo and we were just playing within ourselves, it was very pedestrian. They took their chance and went in front.
“We had a chat at half-time and made some changes, and in the second half we were like a different team. We worked their goalkeeper a number of times but just couldn’t find what I thought would have been a deserved equaliser.
“I was pleased with the second half performance, though – this is another game which the young players can take a lot from.
“With the FA Youth Cup tie at Notts County next week it gives a number of the younger lads that little extra sharpness and minutes under their belts ahead of an important game.”
Town dev: Justham; O’Donnell, McJannet, Famewo, Musonda (sub McGhan-George 46); Justin (sub Bakinson 70), Parry, Howells, Hall; Hinds (sub Verney 60), Murray (sub Atkinson 46). Sub not used: Gooch.