Our youth team were knocked out of the Professional Development League Cup at the quarter-final stage as Luton Town edged a tight contest at Blundell Park.
Both teams battled well and played plenty of good football despite wet conditions, with rain falling throughout the evening.
One goal ultimately proved enough to settle the encounter in Luton’s favour, as Benny Benagr’s strike just before half-time sent the Hatters through to the last four.
The Young Mariners earned their place at this stage of the competition by beating Preston North End and Hull City to finish top of Group F, despite losing to Barnsley in the final round of fixtures.
Town were aiming to bounce back after suffering their first EFL Youth Alliance league defeat of the season last time out, with Bradford City ending an unbeaten run stretching back to August that had seen the Mariners go clear at the top of the league’s north east division.
Manager Neil Woods made two changes to his starting XI from the side that faced the Bantams at Brigg Town’s Hawthorns ground last Wednesday, with Seb Auton and Lennon Peterson coming in for Joe Roberts and Josh Edwards.
Luton secured their quarter-final spot by finishing top of Group D, which also featured Oxford United, Colchester United and Watford. Their previous outing was a 2-2 league draw with Bromley on Saturday, and they currently sit fourth in the Youth Alliance’s south east division.
FIRST HALF
An offside decision against Corey Foster on the left brought Town’s first attack of the evening to an end.
The hosts went close to taking the lead on five minutes when Kian Hawley surged through the middle and unleashed a low strike from 30 yards which hit the outside of the post.
Alex Graham calmly dealt with a low ball into the box from Luton striker David Gawel at the other end, before Harvey Booth found space on the right but could only send a powerful cross-shot wide from a narrow angle.
Good covering from Charlie Elliott stopped a dangerous-looking away attack on 12 minutes, before Tatenda Takawira won the game’s first corner for the visitors after a neat move at pace. Benagr’s delivery hit the side-netting.
Auton raced out of his penalty area to beat Gawel to a ball over the top and clear for a throw-in, then a foul on Benagr gave Luton a free kick in a dangerous position on the left. Graham rose highest to win the header and a deflection sent the ball behind for a goal kick.
Luton’s Rufus Barnes headed clear as Fortune Onoh shaped to shoot from 25 yards, while Graham later looked to pick out Booth at the far post but overhit his pass.
Onoh blocked a cross from the left for a corner on 26 minutes but again the visitors were unable to capitalise, with Ty Lesser’s near-post delivery finding the side-netting.
Booth had a golden opportunity to put Town ahead just before the half-hour mark when he ran onto an excellent ball from Elliott to go clear, but goalkeeper Charlie Booth did well to race off his line and block the winger’s effort for a corner, which Elliot Smith headed wide.
Elliott was involved again moments later, winning possession in defence and driving forward into the Luton half before looking for Booth once more, although this time the ball ran through safely to the keeper.
Town created another opening on 37 minutes as Foster won the ball on the left, but when he squared it for Smith inside the box, the striker was blocked.
Auton then got down smartly to stop a low 18-yard effort from Gawel, and another Luton corner failed to test the Mariners as it bounced off the near post and behind for a goal kick.
Both sides had created opportunities, but as the first half moved into stoppage time it was the visitors who struck. Benagr turned sharply inside the box to create space before placing a low finish beyond Auton and into the bottom corner.
No further chances followed before the interval, leaving Town with work to do after the break.
SECOND HALF
No changes were made at half-time and Luton nearly doubled their lead within 30 seconds when Takawira crossed for Benagr, who headed back across goal, but Gawel could not beat Auton from close range.
Town’s first opportunity of the second half arrived six minutes in when Peterson won possession and Hatton carried the move forward, but Booth was unable to control the midfielder’s delicate chip into the box.
Auton claimed a cross from Lesser at the second attempt, while Smith could not generate enough power on his header from a looping Mamudu Jalloh delivery to trouble the keeper.
Darius Neagu and Carlo Midwinter replaced Booth and Foster as Town made a double substitution on 57 minutes.
A Luton corner shortly afterwards led to another as a strike from inside the area was blocked, and this time Gawel was inches away from connecting with a header at the far post.
The visitors responded with a double change of their own just after the hour, introducing Darren Frimpong-Kwakye and Alvin Isufi for Benagr and Jerome Passley-James.
A Town corner moments later was punched clear by Booth and the ball fell to Peterson, whose powerful drive from the edge of the box was well saved.
Midwinter headed wide as the Young Mariners continued their search for an equaliser, before a fierce effort from Isufi was comfortably held by Auton.
Luton began to apply pressure again following a promising spell for the hosts, although Midwinter was denied by a strong challenge inside the box during Town’s latest attack.
Elliott fired over from distance on 72 minutes, then recovered to head clear at the other end before Nassim El-Gourja saw a deflected 25-yard effort loop over the bar for an away corner.
Peterson won a free kick in a shooting position on 78 minutes but Smith could not keep his effort down.
Charlie Carrick replaced Peterson a minute later, and when Hatton delivered a free kick from the right it was dealt with by the Luton defence before a quick break ended with Frimpong-Kwakye lifting a 20-yard strike over the bar.
Luton captain Harry Fox then made a vital interception to prevent Smith’s cross from reaching Midwinter at the far post as Town pushed forward.
Gawel missed the target from the edge of the area before another foul on Smith presented Hatton with a promising free kick, although nobody could apply the finishing touch.
Smith was unable to connect with another Hatton cross on 86 minutes, and the midfielder’s subsequent free kick was gathered by Booth.
Neagu saw a shot blocked after a low pull-back from Midwinter as time began to run out, and Town introduced an extra attacker in a bid to keep their cup hopes alive, with Ted Sharp replacing Jalloh on 90 minutes.
A Town corner was eventually cleared following a scramble inside the six-yard box as the game moved into stoppage time.
But when Neagu curled a late effort wide from the edge of the area, it proved to be the hosts’ final opportunity as Luton held on to progress to the semi-finals.
Town: Seb Auton, Fortune Onoh, Mamudu Jalloh (Ted Sharp, 90), Charlie Hatton, Charlie Elliott, Alex Graham, Harvey Booth (Darius Neagu, 57), Kian Hawley, Elliot Smith, Lennon Peterson (Charlie Carrick, 79), Corey Foster (Carlo Midwinter, 57)
Sub not used: Joe Roberts
UTM
