An Alvin Isufi first-half strike wasn’t enough to secure the points on the road as our U18s suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cambridge United at St. Ives.

Isufi, scoring his first goal of the season, gave the Hatters the lead just before the half hour mark when he received the ball out wide of the penalty area before applying the finish to open the scoring.

Despite an excellent opening period, it would be the home side that would go into the break with the advantage, with their first goal coming as a result of some rather slack defending from Town.

With Cambridge managing to keep the ball alive at the byline, the defenders failed to take their chances to clear the ball to safety which allowed the pressing Cambridge attack to clip the ball to the back-post for an effective but avoidable equaliser.

In a matter of minutes from the home sides leveller, a late breakaway into the Towns penalty area resulted in a spot-kick after the referee adjudged there to be a foul, despite heavy protests from the defence.

With the penalty converted and the half-time whistle just seconds later, the Hatters found themselves with an uphill struggle in the second half, though did find fresh impetus with the introductions of winger Tatenda Takawira and midfielder Harrison Dunn.

Unfortunately Town could not make the most of the chances that fell their way deep into the second half, with the best opportunity also being the last of the game, prolific academy striker Dawid Gawel spurning the chance to draw level after a perfectly placed cross found the feet of the forward who couldn’t get enough of a touch to put the ball into the net.

While league form has taken a slight dip in recent weeks, the young Hatters can be incredibly proud of their cup competition performances. Semi-finals in the PDL Cup 17s and 18s against Stockport County and Swansea City respectively, and an Area Final against AFC Wimbledon to look forward to in the coming months.

TOWN: Booth, Kwame Anson, Evans, Barnes, Roberts-Edema, El Gourja (sub Dunn 66’), Isufi (sub Passley-James 87’), Lesser (sub Knote-Reed 66’), Ed-Okungbowa (sub Takawira 52’), Frimpong Kwakye, Gawel

Subs not used: Chigozie

Report by: Liam Wilmot