The Hatters youth team were knocked out of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup at the first round stage as Cambridge United won 4-1 at Ely Way this afternoon.
Inigo Idiakez's side were defending the cup won last April when Wigan Athletic were beaten under the lights at Kenilworth Road.
But on a miserable afternoon at Ely Way, Cambridge - with whom the Town lads had drawn 1-1 away from home in the league on Saturday - ran out comfortable winners with Sam Bennett netting a hat-trick and Jake Battersby the other.
Ricco Grecco grabbed a late consolation for the Town, but by the time his 86th-minute effort from close range had found the back of the net, Cambridge were home and dry.
Bennett opened the scoring in the 32nd-minute, but the Hatters could - and should - have been level before half-time with Connor Tomlinson teeing up captain Drew Richardson for a drive from the edge of the box, before a flurry of chances came Tomlinson's way, one hitting the bar and another finding the target, only to be incorrectly ruled out for offside.
Cambridge took control with Bennett and Battersby striking within three minutes of the second half kicking off, before Bennett completed his treble with just under quarter-of-an-hour to go.
Tomlinson had continued to threaten for the Town and looked most likely to spark a comeback, but the only goal came when Josh Neufville tricked his way to the byline in the 86th minute, cutting back for Josh Boorn to shoot.
The substitute's scuffed effort found its way into the path of left-back Grecco, who found the bottom corner, but the Hatters' hopes of progression had long since passed.
TOWN: Parker, Jones, Wilson, Byron, Grecco, Beckwith (Boorn 52), Swindells, Newton (Eytle 43), Richardson, Tomlinson, Neufville. Subs: Horlick, Nicolson, Gibson
LT goal: Grecco 86
CU goals: Bennett 32, 47, 77, Battersby 48