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Daggers through Hatters' hearts
Poor defending costs Town youngsters dear
Luton Town U18s' topsy turvy season continued with a 4-3 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday morning.
Manager Martin Prickett said: "I'm bitterly disappointed after today's game.
"We did not defend well and in the first half we were too tippy tappy in possession.
"We killed any chance of winning today by the way we defended so no matter how much you create going forward if you can't defend properly you are always up against it.
"We had a young side out today and at times it showed in their naive decisions in possession, we must learn to move the ball quicker and threaten in behind teams."
Town started the brighter of the two teams, but despite their pressure they failed to threaten.
As Dagenham grew into the game they started to look the more dangerous and it was no surprise that they took the lead.
A low driven cross from the left was spilled by Lewis Kidd and was easily turned home.
Things got worse for Luton moments later when a ball played into a channel was latched on to by a Daggers forward, who outpaced Fabio Bufano and, although Kidd made a good save, the rebound was tapped home with ease.
Unfortunate to be two-down Town battled back.
JJ O'Donnell was unlucky to see his drive come back off the crossbar, while Mason Blake should have done better from his one-on-one chance.
Town, though, did manage to claw one goal back before half time when O'Donnell's shot was charged down only for it to fall to Alasan Ann to fire home.
Luton were unlucky not to be level at the break after an O'Donnell's shot once again hit the crossbar and Ann fired home only to be ruled out for offside.
Dagenham took control with two quick goals at the start of the second half, although Janoi Donacien and Bufano could both have done better.
Despite having the stuffing knocked out of them, Town kept going.
Bufano shot wide when he should have scored, but Town did pull a goal back when Jean-Philip Yamfam powered through and finished well one-against-one after good work by O'Donnell.
Now in the ascendancy, Luton got another when Ryan Dasilva slid a ball through to O'Donnell, whose pull-back found Jack Wood and he bobbled his effort home.
In the dying moments O'Donnell stood up a cross and the Daggers keeper tipped the ball on to the crossbar.
The rebound was blocked, another effort hit the bar and Yamfam was just unable to hook the ball home.
Hatters squad: Kidd, James, Bufano, Donacien, Carney, Dasilva, Blake, Wood, O'Connell, Harriott, Ann, Tavernier, Yamfam, Lacey, Patrick, Woodrow, Toomey.
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Weather for Luton
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
