The Blues reserves fell to a 2-1 defeat to Luton Town at a frozen Playford Road on Tuesday afternoon. Colin Healy put Chris Kiwomya's side ahead at the break before second half strikes from Alex Lawless and Jason Walker gave the Hatters all three points.
The game, which was officially an away fixture for Town after it was moved from Barton Rovers’ ground last week, saw the Blues field 19-year-old Tottenham and one-time Town academy schoolboy Calum Butcher at right-back.
Butcher may have come to the attention of the Town coaching staff when he lined-up against Town in a behind-closed-doors friendly defeat to Spurs in late November.
A strong Luton side included new loan signings Craig Hinton, Alex Lawless and Jason Walker, whilst Colin Healy, Damien Delaney and Luca Civelli provided the experience for Town.
Irish youngster Ronan Murray had the game's first chance when a long ball from Tom Eastman put him one-on-one with Luton keeper Lewis Kidd, but the Irish U19 international blazed his shot wildly over the bar.
Town were playing lots of neat football, without really creating too many chances but they took the lead just before the half-hour mark. Reggie Lambe was fouled 25 yards from goal and before the Luton defence or goalkeeper had time to organise themselves, Colin Healy curled the ball into the far corner of the net.
Murray was cautioned a minute later for attempting a Maradona-esque effort at goal from a cross before Luton saw their first real effort on goal drift wide; Dan Walker failing to trouble Arran Lee-Barrett in the Town goal.
Luton’s Jordan Patrick hit his dangerous effort across Town’s goalmouth before Lambe cut in from the right and saw his left-footed effort deflect over the bar for a corner.
Town were then given the opportunity to double their advantage when Tom Eastman was blatantly hauled back from a corner by Jason Walker and referee Burt pointed to the spot. However, Murray’s penalty was comfortably saved by Kidd down to his left and Healy’s follow-up effort flew over the bar.
In front of a watching Roy Keane, sporting a woolly hat and gloves, Town started the second half slowly and within a minute of the restart, the visitors had equalised. Pavel Besta played the ball through the middle of the Town defence and Alex Lawless toe-poked the ball past the advancing Lee-Barrett to level the scores.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead ten minutes later when Dan Walker rounded Lee-Barrett and placed the ball into the empty net, but the whistle had already gone for an earlier foul on Shane O’Connor.
Conor Hourihane saw his long-range effort deflected over the bar on the hour before Luton finally did take the lead two minutes later when Besta slid in a cross from the left that Jason Walker coolly finished from six yards out.
Luton’s number nine came close again minutes later when he was inches away from latching onto a cross from Dan Walker, prior to Calum Butcher seeing his 20-yard volley deflect around the post.
Town seemed to let their heads go down for a while before mounting a late surge for an equaliser, Billy Clark’s ball in from the left nearly being tucked away by Butcher at the far post and sub Josh Carson very nearly connecting with O’Connor’s cross.
However, the Blues couldn’t find the net and had to settle for a disappointing defeat. Healy had a solid game in midfield but Civelli again had a quiet afternoon, with his crosses all too often failing to find their targets in the box.
Trialist Butcher was quite impressive. Quick and attacking, the Tottenham youngster used the ball well and wasn't afraid to get forward.
Damien Delaney didn't have the best of games, up against Luton striker Jason Walker, who was a real handful in the second half.
Reserves: Lee-Barrett, Butcher, O’Connor, Hourihane, Delaney, Eastman, Lambe (Carson 72), Clark, Murray, Healy (Griffiths 80) and Civelli. Unused: Cawley, McLoughlin and Dunbar.
Report: James Ager.