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Luton Town 1 (1) Manchester United XI 2 (2)

A phenomenal opening by Premiership giants Manchester United completely blew the Hatters away at Kenilworth Road tonight.

United's talented youngsters, who mixed great physical ability with fantastic technical acumen, started at an incredible pace that Luton were just unable to live with.

But after the lively Febian Brandy and Tom Cleverley, via the penalty-spot, had put the visitors 2-0 within 10 minutes, the Hatters were more than a match for their illustrious visitors.

Asa Hall pulled a goal back with a predatory close range strike and, although the Town went close on several more occasions, they were unable to find an equaliser.

The Hatters lined up in their new easyJet-sponsored kit for the visit of a youthful Manchester United XI tonight and named a near-enough first choice XI, packed with experience, but despite their bright orange shirts, it was the visiting Red Devils that made a blinding start.

It took United just 43 seconds to take the lead, Brandy racing on to a great through ball and outpacing the Hatters defence before slipping the ball under the helpless Mark Tyler.

And it didn't take long for the visitors to double their lead as they ran Luton ragged. Another good ball was played into the impressive Brandy in the box and, although George Pilkington seemed to get plenty of the ball, referee Pat Miller thought otherwise and gave United a penalty for the centre-half's challenge from behind.

Cleverley stepped up to the spot and calmly stroked home the ninth-minute penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.

Shell-shocked and struggling to impose themselves on the game, Town almost pulled a goal back on 11 minutes. Pilkinton's curling cross picked out Asa Hall at the near post, but his flicked header dipped just over the bar with Ron Robert Zieler.

However, Hall got his reward moments later. Kevin Nicholls' near-post corner was flicked goalwards by Tom Craddock, only for Zieler to make a smart diving stop.

The ball fell to Andy Burgess who drove an effort across the face of goal on 15 minutes and Hall was on hand to poke the ball home from just a couple of yards out.

Action was coming thick and fast as both teams played the game at a pulsating pace. Keith Keane almost gifted Man U a goal on 25 minutes when he allowed himself to be robbed on the edge of the box by Joe Dudgeon, but Tyler got down and saved well.

And Tyler came to Town's rescue again seconds later when David Gray was allowed space on the left and drilled a dangerous cross into the box and the Luton keeper pulled off a great point-blank save to turn Brandy effort over the bar.

Liam Hatch and Craddock then combined, but the swift striker's effort was easily saved after taking a heavy deflection.

A flowing Luton move should have brought them back to parity on 34 minutes. Keane instigated it with a great challenge and simple pass to Hatch. The striker then found Nicholls, whose first time ball sent Craddock clear. The Middlesbrough man then cleverly stepped inside Danny Simpson, but could only blast straight at Zieler when he really should have done better.

More good football from the Town opened United up again soon after, but Hatch could only head Burgess' far post cross over the bar.

United almost grabbed a third on the stroke of half time when Ritchie De Laet burst down the left and pulled the ball back for Gray, but his effort was deflected just wide, while Magnus Eikrem sent another effort just wide.

Former Peterborough team-mates Hatch and Adam Newton combined well early in the second half, but the in-form winger could only curl an effort over the bar.

Luton were then lucky not to give away a second penalty, which looked far more legitimate than the first. Eikrem ran positively into the box, but as he tumbled under substitute Alan White's tackle, Miller waved the United man back on to his feet.

Nicholls' tame free-kick was easily saved just after the hour, while United went close again on 68 minutes. Eikrem's through-ball set Sam Hewson away and, having stepped inside White, only another smart Tyler stop denied him a goal.

The second half was played at a far slower place and, with Town employing a 5-4-1 formation, they lost much of their forward thrust.

Substitute Jake Howells brought a decent stop out of Zieler while Kevin Gallen had an effort well blocked.

More Luton pressure almost led to an equialiser, but one effort bounced off Zieler's legs and another raced just wide.

Town wasted a free-kick in a great position on the edge of the area late on when Burgess thumped an effort straight at the Man U wall.

A wondrous attempt by Burgess then almost levelled the score with three minutes left. The skillful midfielder spied Zieler off his line and his effort from well inside his own half fizzed just wide with the Man U keeper beaten.

Burgess then thumped the side netting from an acute angle late on as Man U held on for victory.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Keith Keane (Adam Watkins 88), Shane Blackett, Asa Hall (Callum Reynolds 46), Ian Roper (Alan White 46), George Pilkington, Adam Newton (Claude Gnakpa 80), Kevin Nicholls (C, Kevin Gallen 64) Liam Hatch (Jake Howells 64), Tom Craddock, Andy Burgess. Substitutes not used: David Wilkinson, Rossi Jarvis.

Red Devils: Ron Robert Zieler, Danny Simpson, Oliver Gill (Reece Brown 63), James Chester (C Scott Wootton 64) Ritchie De Laet, David Gray, Magnus Eikrem, Sam Hewson (Scott Moffatt 83), Febian Brandy (Cameron Stewart 46), Tom Cleverley, Joe Dudgeon (Tom Heaton 74). Substitutes not used: Nicky Ajose.

Referee: Pat Miller.

Assistant referees: Paul Forrester and Darren Flanagan.

Fourth official: Tim Donnellan.

Star Hatter: Andy Burgess. Started slowly, but grew into the game and became more dangerous as the night wore on.

Attendance: 7,480 (761 Manchester United).