Clark nets first ever hat-trick as Luton put six past Ipswich U21s

Jordan Clark scored the first hat-trick of his professional career, while Devante Cole, Joe Johnson and teenager Dawid Gawel all opened their accounts for the Hatters as Luton began their defence of the now-called Jersey Mike’s Subs Trophy with a comfortable 6-0 victory over Ipswich Town U21s at Kenilworth Road this evening.

Clark, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, was back in the side from the start for the first time since breaking his jaw against Notts County last month, one of six changes made by boss Jack Wilshere from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bradford City, which included Cole, who hadn’t begun a game since March, his only action so far this term coming during the Carabao Cup trip to Chelsea in August.

Youngster Zach Ioannides was handed his full debut, having played once in this competition last season, the trio joined by captain Kal Naismith, Johnson and Gideon Kodua, with Hakeem Odoffin dropping to the bench, joined by Teden Mengi for the first time this term, Callum Marshall, Kasey Palmer and Izzy Jones away on international duty, with George Johnston and Liam Walsh both rested.

Luton made a bright start, Emilio Lawrence getting the better of Leon Elliott and then nipping around another defender to shoot low, deflected behind for a corner that saw Naismith power his header over the top. The skipper then fizzed a cross in for Cole to miss the target with his towering header, as Town ensured the visitors were on level terms for just 18 minutes, Ipswich caught trying to play out from the back.

Johnson stepped in to win possession, as Kodua flicked it on for Clark who was able to advance into the box, open his body up and curl a quite sumptuous finish into the bottom corner for his first of the campaign. Ipswich almost responded within 60 seconds, Luca Fletcher outpacing Ioannides, James Shea coming off his line to make a vital block.

Town and Clark then had a second on 23 minutes, as Naismith sent the ball out wide and had one thought in his mind, pinging a cross into the box that was met by a sliding cushioned volley by the long-serving midfielder which beat Alex Noonan and nestled into the net. With the Hatters always looking in the ascendancy, as you would expect, Cole finally ended his lengthy drought at the 17th time of asking after 34 minutes.

It was all about the efforts of Lawrence to begin with, the Scotland U21 international twisting and turning his opponent in the area, firing in a fierce drive that Noonan parried, the forward stooping to head into the empty net from no more than a yard out, scoring his first goal for anyone since New Year’s Day.

Just before the break, Cole fancied a second, picking up possession and driving towards the box, lashing over the top on his left foot. Wilshere made one change at the interval, Odoffin coming on for Mads Andersen, as Town threatened a fourth early on, Ioannides’ cross cleared as far as Johnson who picked out Kodua, his first-time attempt drifting wide.

Having scored twice on three occasions previously, Clark then completed his treble on 51 minutes, Cole backtracked impressively to win possession, before Gore burst forward and threaded a perfectly weighted through ball to the midfielder who was able to calmly send Noonan the wrong way.

Naismith headed narrowly wide as the game became stretched due to the visitors understandably tiring, Odoffin motoring out of defence and finding Jake Richards whose reverse pass sent Clark into the box, picking out Cole, the forward denied by a superb goal-line block. Luton kept on going, Lawrence fizzing narrowly wide after cutting in to his right foot, Naismith’s 30-yard free kick parried by Noonan and evading any lurking Hatters.

The goals kept on coming, as with 73 minutes on the clock, Johnson was the latest to register his maiden strike, as Odoffin’s long ball forward caused huge panic in the visiting defence, and with keeper Noonan caught in no-man's land, the academy graduate was able to nip in and lob home.

Late on, two more youngsters were introduced off the bench, Jack Lorentzen-Jones and Gawel, as Lorentzen-Jones had a go from range, although put it too close to Noonan. The talented Gawel, who had over 50 goal contributions for the various age-groups last season, then gave a clear demonstration of his eye for a goal when taking Johnson’s pass in his stride and shooting low beyond Noonan to notch his first senior goal in the process, completing pretty much the perfect evening for the hosts.

Hatters: James Shea, Zach Ioannides (Harrison Ashby 66), Mads Andersen (Hakeem Odoffin 46), Kal Naismith ©, Joe Johnson, Dan Gore (Jack Lorentzen-Jones 79), Jordan Clark (Harry Fox 66), Jake Richards, Emilio Lawrence, Gideon Kodua, Devante Cole (Dawid Gawel 79). Subs not used: Josh Keeley, Teden Mengi.

Tractor Boys U21s: Alex Noonan, Azor Matusiwa (Shakil Nicolaou 46), Charlie Compton, Jacob Mazionis ©, Leon Elliott, Luca Fletcher (Jayden Adetiba 88), Josh Lewis, Jamie Mauge (Sid Eldred 70), Frankie Runham (Charlie Wood 61), Ryan Doherty, Oliver Wilkinson. Subs not used: Josh Bentley, Nelson Eze, Bobby Sains. Referee: Callum Walchester. Attendance: 2,009 (132 Tractor Boys).