Luton Town crushed Cambridge United 7-0 in League Two
THE brothers Lee outshone hat-trick hero Danny Hylton as Luton achieved a seven-goal state of football nirvana that shook Cambridge to the core.
In any other match, Town’s top scorer would have grabbed all the plaudits for a perfect trio, but then it’s not every day that two siblings start their first ever Football League match together and mark them with some netbusters.
Their Newcastle legend dad, Rob Lee, picked the wrong day to watch England rugby at Twickenham instead.
His youngest, Elliot, smacked a brace of belters – one at the death in each half – that would have been goal of the day contenders most afternoons, but the striker’s older sibling Olly had already scored a season’s best entry from 70 yards.
The midfielder lobbed keeper David Forde from his own half, bettering Xabi Alonso’s infamous FA Cup long-ranger from virtually the same spot for Liverpool in 2006.
Town manager Nathan Jones said of the strikes: “The second [Olly Lee] goal was from a different planet, so was the fourth and the seventh.”
Luton initially had to be patient but after Dan Potts gave the Hatters a 24th-minute lead from close range – and then had a quick-fire brace chalked off for offside – they went on the rampage.
Once Olly Lee had got on the scoresheet, Hylton slid in before setting up Elliot Lee for a sumptuous top-corner volley to make it 4-0 at half-time.
Town’s last three came in a splurge from the 81st minute when Hylton stabbed in Elliot Lee’s back-heel flick, the creator then finding the top corner again with an Exocet missile.
And by pressing Cambridge until the very end, with Hylton heading home in injury time, Luton set a new record by becoming the only team in Football League history to score seven or more on three occasions before Christmas.
“Seven is beyond our wildest dreams; to do it three times in a season,” said Jones. “Not many do that at any level. Not even Barca do seven three times a season. I’m very proud of my players, but we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground.
“From start to finish they were brilliant, considering the opposition because they're a good side, they don't concede many goals and the manner of the performance, the manner of the win, I couldn't be anything other than very, very happy.
“Defensively we were sound, but going forward, wow, there was some unbelievable stuff at times.”
Cambridge boss Shaun Derry said: “I thought it was disgusting if I’m honest.
“As soon as the first goal went in and you want to try to get a footprint on the game, it was a disastrous performance.
“I feel really embarrassed and I’m sure that every fan that has paid to come and watch us out there is going home feeling angry, embarrassed and aggrieved, because I certainly am.”