Hylton and Collins bag trebles as Hatters hammer nine past Berkhamsted

Strikers Danny Hylton and James Collins both hit hat-tricks as Luton Town put nine without reply past Berkhamsted in their opening pre-season friendly of the 2020-21 campaign this afternoon.

Boss Nathan Jones named a strong 11 for the opening 45 minutes against their Southern League opponents, with Simon Sluga in goal, behind a defence of Peter Kioso, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson and Corey Panther.

Ryan Tunnicliffe, Luke Berry, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Josh Neufville occupied the midfield positions, while Kazenga LuaLua and Hylton operated up front.

Early on, Hylton and LuaLua went close, before Luton opened the scoring when Neufville skipped past two players on the edge of the box and bent a lovely striker into the bottom corner.

Hylton then made it 2-0 on 16 minutes, after a flowing move involving Pearson, Mpanzu and Berry, before Bradley had Town's third, heading home Berry's cross.

With 40 minutes gone, Hylton had his second, confidently dispatching a penalty that he had won himself, while the forward had his hat-trick just before half time, converting Mpanzu's low cross from close range.

Jones then changed his entire team for the second period, with James Shea in goal, and a defence of Avan Jones, Martin Cranie, Glen Rea, plus Brendan Galloway, who was getting his first minutes since a nasty knee injury suffered against Brentford in October 2019.

On-loan Leeds midfielder Eunan O'Kane was also involved for his first Town action since a double leg break against Bristol Rovers in September 2018, while Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, Elliot Lee were involved, along with Collins and Harry Cornick.

Hatters wasted no time increasing their advantage, Moncur bursting into the box and slipping a low finish past home keeper Xavi, while Collins got his tally up and running, O'Kane slipping a wonderful pass inside the full back for Cornick to square for his strike partner.

Collins then had his second thanks to another Cornick assist, with the attacker wrapping up his hat-trick and Luton's scoring in the 84th minute, firing into an open goal.

Late on, Jones threw on youngsters Jake Peck, Sam Beckwith and 16-year-old Tyrelle Newton for O'Kane, Galloway and Lee to round off a highly satisfactory first afternoon back.

Town first half: Simon Sluga, Peter Kioso, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Corey Panter, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Luke Berry, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Josh Neufville, Kazenga LuaLua, Danny Hylton.

Town second half: James Shea, Avan Jones, Martin Cranie, Glen Rea, Brendan Galloway (Tyrelle Newton 85), Eunan O’Kane (Sam Beckwith 85), Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, Alliot Lee (Jake Peck 85), James Collins, Harry Cornick.