Hatters knocked out of the FA Youth Cup after penalty defeat to Hammers

Luton Town U18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by West Ham United U18s at Kenilworth Road last night, suffering a cruel defeat on penalties.

After 120 minutes of the third round tie had seen the two teams level at 3-3, it was the Hammers, a Category One side, who held their nerve.

The visitors had made a blistering start and took the lead with their first attack inside two minutes, Kai Corbett's free kick headed home by Kamarai Simon-Swyer.

Luton almost hit back immediately, Ben Stevens crossing for Coree Wilson, but his powerful header cannoned off the crossbar.

Dan Walden's side were 2-0 down though as Jayden Fevrier struck a superb free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.

The Hatters quickly recovered, Wilson’s close range effort blocked into the path of Tyrelle Newton, who blasted into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

Town then equalised in magnificent fashion seven minutes before half-time as Stevens hammered home a brilliant effort off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-2.

In the second period, keeper Jameson Horlick did well to keep the scores level just after the hour mark after he denied Corbett three times.

The game then went into extra-time, with United back in front just two minutes in, Favrier beating Horlick for his second of the game.

It was 3-3 though when Josiah Ramsay struck a fierce effort goalwards that Kirsztian Hegyi could only stop with his chest, and Stevens converted the rebound.

Luton thought they had snatched the win in the closing stages as substitute Tra Lucas’ headed goalwards, but Hegyi somehow managed to save low down.

In the shoot-out, Hegyi was to be the hero, saving from Callum Nicolson and Ed McJannet, as the young Hatters bowed out 4-2 on penalties.

Town: Horlick, Halsey, Francis, Ramsay, Swan (Tompkins 74); Pettit (C), Stevens, Newton (Lucas 68); Nicolson, McJannet, Wilson (Allen 68).

Subs not used: Bentley, Wedd, Corbit.

West Ham: Hegyi, Thomas, Adebayo (C), Baptiste, Forbes, Potts (Earthy 114), Woods, Perkins (Mubama 67); Fevrier, Corbett (Kileba 109), Swyer.

Subs not used: Sanneh, Adu, Evans, Coddington.