Mengi and Baptiste back in action while Town U18s earn FA Youth Cup win

Duo Shandon Baptiste and Teden Mengi both got valuable minutes for the Hatters when they featured in the U21s’ New Wave Championship 4-2 victory over Southend United on Tuesday afternoon.

Baptiste, who had been on the bench for the first team in their FA Cup first round clash against Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, although didn’t get on to the pitch, had a hand in the opening goal, finding Archie Shepherd on the right hand side of the box, as the midfielder whipped a delivery across the area for Nick Alves to tap home at the far post.

With 12 minutes gone, Shepherd was on the scoresheet himself after an excellent run from winger Kyron Roberts-Edema on the right, as he fired into the net, while a third soon arrived, when Alves saw his cross headed out to Sam Hincapie-Alfonso, who steadied himself and arrowed his shot in off the post.

Mengi, who hasn’t played for the Hatters since February after injuring his hamstring, had been recalled to the match-day squad against Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers recently, came off at half time for Darren Frimpong-Kwakye. He was soon followed by Baptiste, the ex-Brentford player getting another hour under his belt, having also had the first half in the New Wave Championship match against MK Dons a week ago, with Tate Xavier-Jones on in his place..

A mistake at the back post saw recent addition Garry Gibbs through one-on-one as the keeper saved it well, the forward battling back to smash into the net. Southend then scored twice late on, but Luton, who also had academy graduate Harry Fox in the side, picked up another three points in the

Hatters U21s: Charlie Booth, David Chigozie, Dempsey Crace (Alfie Sharp 78), Teden Mengi (Darren Frimpong-Kwakye 46), Nick Alves, Kyron Roberts-Edema, Harry Fox, Shandon Baptiste (Tate Xavier-Jones 60), Archie Shepherd, Sam Hincape-Alfonso, Garry Gibbs.

» Luton Town U18s reached the third round of the FA Youth Cup after a 1-0 victory over Gillingham at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.

The first real chance of the game saw Dawid Gawel, who had been on the bench for the FA Cup first round contest against Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, see his volley from the edge of the box saved by Benji Spencer. Midfielder Nassim El Gourja then opened the scoring after a neat move beginning with goalkeeper Riley Flynn saw Luke McCulloch find Gawel, who pulled the ball back to El Gourja and he curled his effort from the edge of the box beyond Spencer.

Ty Lesser was unlucky not to double the Hatters lead seconds when his 25-yard blast turned over by Spencer. After the break, Town had two more opportunities to make the game safe, David Chigozie testing Spencer from the edge of the box before Lesser teed up Gawel, who sent a dipping attempt just over.

It was far from plain sailing for the Hatters, as midway through the second half, Sullivan Booth was narrowly wide for the Gills, but Luton soon looked to extend their lead, Blake Norton finding Gawel, who chopped inside his man and just missed the back of the net. Flynn then made a fine save after a counter-attack from the visitors, also keeping out Jack Kingston's deflected shot, as the Hatters went through to the third round draw.

Hatters U18s: Riley Flynn, Kyrese Richards, Ben Norford, Luke McCulloch, David Chigozie, Blake Norton (Tatenda Takawira 82), Jerome Passley-James, Luca Knote-Reed, Nassim El Gourja (Harrison Dunn 82), Ty Lesser, Dawid Gawel. Subs not used: Muir, Femi Fatogun, Corey Burton-Green, Excel Ed-Okungbowa, Josiah Akinfenwa.