Youths are too hot for the Hatters

Posh under 18 manager Matthew Etherington was thrilled as his side marched into the third round of the FA Youth Cup with a handsome 3-0 win over Luton at the ABAX Stadium.

Oli Shackleton shot Posh in front in the first-half before Luton centre-back Duquane Wilson-Braithwaite put through his own net 10 minutes after the break. Mikkel Fosu completed the scoring late in the game to leave Etherington, who reached the semi-finals with Posh in 1997, beaming.

“We got on the ball and expressed ourselves,” Etherington said. “The tempo was good and we played out well from the back. It was just a brilliant night’s work and we are not done yet. It’s great to reach the third round, but we aim to go even further.”

Posh had lost 5-1 to Luton in a Youth Alliance League game last weekend, but they were much improved on Tuesday night in front of a healthy crowd in excess of 400.

Posh controlled the game from kick-off and delivered a performance which impressed the watching club hierarchy.

“I was very impressed,” first-team manager Steve Evans stated. “Considering we lost so heavily to the same side at the weekend it was quite a turnaround.

“We were comfortable throughout the game so Matthew and his players can be very pleased with their night’s work.”

Posh fielded two members of their under 16 side. Flynn Clarke and Ricky Jade-Jones both started and the latter was named man-of-the-match.

Harrison Burrows, who Evans wanted to field in the last League One match of last season at Portsmouth, was also back in action after injury, but was overshadowed by hard-working striker Shackleton and midfield playmaker Jack Gurney who delivered some excellent set-pieces..

Posh have a league game at Gillingham this Saturday.

Etherington: “It was just a brilliant night’s work.”