Another win for the unbeaten Town youth team
Striker Freddie Hinds’ first-half goal was enough for the Town Under-18s to book their place in the third round of the FA Youth Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Leyton Orient.
The frontman was set-up by Kavan Cotter and coolly finished to net his 11th goal of the season just after the half-hour mark to set the young Hatters up for a third round meeting with Notts County or Rochdale – and extend their remarkable unbeaten record this season to 18 games.
Orient pushed the Town all the way in search of an equaliser but the Hatters defence held firm to record an 11th clean sheet of the campaign.
The Hatters could have won by greater margin but Jack Snelus sent a decent chance wide of the target midway through the second period.
And, although the home side threatened a late leveller in the closing stages, it never materialised and the young Town side could celebrate yet another victory and a place in the third round next month.
Delighted Under-18s boss Paul Driver said: “It was a game limited on chances – the kind of match you think ‘one goal will win this’ and thankfully Freddie’s scored it for us.
“Both sides cancelled each other out, we knew it would be tough, but while they came on strong at the end, Liam Gooch hasn’t had a real save to make.
“Defensively we were excellent and Frankie and Akin at centre-half were immense – they headed everything all night.
“It was a typical away cup win, and I’m very pleased. It’s the sort of result and performance you want to see from your players – they dug in and showed real resolve.
“There’s no way you can recreate this kind of experience: away from home in an FA Youth Cup tie at the opponent’s main ground under floodlights. To come away with a win and another clean sheet is testament to the boys’ hard work.”
Town: Gooch, Justin, McJannet (sub Bean 85), Famewo, Musonda; Snelus, Atkinson, McGhan-George, Cotter; Hinds (sub Bakinson 85), Murray (sub Verney 75).
Subs not used: Jones, Read.
Attendance: 337.