Luton Town Football Club

Paul Driver’s Youth Team opened their EFL Youth Alliance campaign for the season with the comprehensive 10 -2 beating of Dagenham & Redbridge at the Redbridge Sports Centre on Saturday morning.

Freddie Hinds got things rolling as early as the fifth minute and then goals from Kavan Cotter, a Jack Snelus penalty and a further solo effort from Hinds meant the Hatters led by 4-0 by the 25th minute mark, and the game was effectively over as a contest.

Snelus netted a second penalty after 38 minutes and the hosts pulled one back from the spot themseleves on the stroke of half-time.

Dagenham made a number of changes at half-time but any chance of clawing their way back into the game were gone within the first five minutes of the second half, which saw the addition of three further goals.  

Hinds completed his hat-trick before being substituted and Geo Craig got a brace before also leaving the action.

Some sloppy play from the back allowed Dagenham to pull a goal back but Michael Shamalo, who had come on for Craig, netted two goals in the dying minutes to take his team's tally into double figures and complete a great start to the new season for the youngsters.

Driver told lutontown.co.uk: “This was an excellent way to start the season and I was particularly pleased with the professionalism and positive attitude shown by the senior boys in the group who have been involved in first team tours and friendlies.

“Some of the play was of a high standard and the work rates throughout were superb. It showed how hard the lads had worked in pre-season.

“We did get sloppy a couple of times and conceded two poor goals, and that was disappointing.  A lot of what we achieved last year was greatly aided by clean sheets and we need to get back to that as quickly as possible."