Hatters kids are becoming men

THE future is looking extremely bright for Luton as they reached the FA Trophy second round with a 2-1 replay win at Welling United on Tuesday night,writes Mike Simmonds.

As he had done for the first game, manager Richard Money named a very youthful starting XI, only this time he included teenagers Newman Carney, Cauley Woodrow, Jordan Patrick, Lewis Kidd and Christian Tavernier on the bench.

Carney and Woodrow came on for their debuts in the second half, while the club’s youngest ever player Patrick took to the field for his third appearance.

A delighted Money said: “There were a lot of positives. I think everyone should realise how many U19s were on the pitch at the end along with two 16-year-olds.

“It’s nothing to do with taking the competition lightly or taking Welling lightly, we genuinely want to have a look at them at this level and see how quickly they can grow up as one or two of them will strive and one or two of them will shrink.”

Town looked to have much more purpose about their play once the changes were made with all three of the youngsters catching the eye.

Money continued: “In the first half, we looked a bit like boys.

“I said to them at half time, there’s a time where you’ve got to grow up and maybe tonight is the time.

“But I have to say in the second half we went even younger and played a lot better.

“I thought young Newman Carney at left back was terrific.

“I thought Cauley Woodrow, who is still a schoolboy, and I shouldn’t say too much because there’s a lot of clubs looking at him, was outstanding when he came on the pitch.

“Jordan Patrick wins a very important header for Jason Walker’s goal and if you add Alex Lacey who is only 17 to that, Godfrey Poku who is still only 19, Dan Walker who is still only 19, JJ O’Donnell who is only 19, it’s a real good effort by the team.

“If you give them (Welling) their five points back, they’re top of the league below us.

“This is not an easy place to come even if I brought the full first team.”

Hatters’ reward for the late victory sealed by goals in the last 10 minutes by Jason Walker and Alex Lawless was a £5,000 prize and a home tie with Zamaretto Southern League Central Division strugglers Uxbridge.

Money added: “In the second round we can play the kids again, why not?

“People at the club will know that I’m a very big champion of young players and I’m very anxious and keen to give them an opportunity.

“Make no mistake we’re really happy to get through. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if we hadn’t, but we’re happy to get through.

“Now we’ve got another home tie and you get through a couple of rounds and suddenly the competition seems a bit more important maybe.”