Luton Town’s excellent run this season continued as they made it 16 games unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Colchester United in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
The Hatters already had one foot in the second round by half-time after goals from Freddie Hinds, Alex Atkinson and an own goal from Joe Tennent.
FA Youth Cup
First round proper
Luton Town 3-1 Colchester United
Bury 4-1 AFC Fylde
Monday 3 November 2015
And while Louis Dunne got the visitors on the scoresheet shortly before the hour mark, there was to be further joy for Colchester.
It was the visitors, who play a level above the Hatters as a Category 2 academy side, who had actually enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but keeper Liam Gooch was in good form in the Luton goal.
The hosts then grew in confidence and Atkinson played in Hinds to open the scoring on 20 minutes.
A swift counter-attack just past the half-hour mark ended with Colchester centre-half diverting the ball into his own net and five minutes before half-time Atkinson swept home from six yards to make it 3-0.
Hinds then rattled the woodwork after the break before Dunne made it 3-1 on 59 minutes but Luton held on to set up a second round tie against either Leyton Orient or Hornchurch.
Meanwhile, Bury marched into the next round of the competition as they hammered AFC Fylde 4-1.
Raquarn Crosdale handed Bury an early lead but the goal was quickly ruled out on 24 minutes as James Ashworth set up Michael Cummins to run through and level.
Two minutes after the break and Bury retook the lead as Nathan Turner was afforded time and space to round the goalkeeper and score.
After an even contest the game swung Bury’s way on 54 minutes as George Miller headed home to make the score 3-1 and effectively end AFC Fylde’s hopes in this year’s competition.
Turner scored a late fourth for Bury in stoppage time following a clever pass from Miller to put late gloss on an impressive showing.
Elsewhere, goals from Tyler Blake, Cain Smith and Alistair Smith ensured Mansfield progressed to the second round of the competition at the expense of Cambridge City, while Stevenage defeated Aveley 3-0.
