**The Hatters’ run in the Premier League Cup was ended after a last-16 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Loughborough University.**
Despite a bright beginning, the Town fell behind on 39 minutes when Forest skipper Kyle McAdam headed home from close range.
Alex Lawless’ side came close to equalising at the start of the second half but fell further behind when Kristian Fletcher fired home seven minutes after the restart to end the Town’s hopes of a quarter-final place in only their second appearance in the competition.
The Town, who gave starts to Joe Johnson and Reuell Walters in defence, started on the front foot and came close to taking the lead as early as the sixth minute. Great strength down the right flank from Jamie Odegah created a chance for Josh Phillips and his deflected, spinning shot was clawed away by Forest goalkeeper George Murray-Jones.
Two minutes later, the Hatters created another chance. This time Jack Lorentzen-Jones’ shot was blocked by a Forest defender from the edge of the box.
Lorentzen-Jones then tested Murray-Jones again moments later with a firm drive from the edge of the penalty area as the Town continued to press.
That man Lorentzen-Jones continued to be the Hatters’ main source of chances and the midfielder was inches away from giving the Town the lead on 28 minutes when his free-kick was deflected narrowly behind.
But the Town’s hopes of a half-time advantage were dashed six minutes before the break when Forest took the lead with their first chance of the night. A high left-wing corner was headed goalwards by Ben Hammond and from close range Forest skipper McAdam stooped to nod past Liam Coyne.
Behind the Hatters almost fell 2-0 down two minutes later only for a superb last-ditch challenge from Walters denied Fletcher from six yards.
The Town started the second half on the front foot and twice came close to restoring parity in the early moments after the restart. Firstly Taylan Harris’ shot was deflected wide and from the resultant corner, Dominic Martins flashed a shot over the bar at the near post.
Still the chances came and on 51 minutes Phillips cut inside from the left to send a dangerous curling shot goalwards from the edge of the box that Murray-Jones got down to stop.
However, just like in the first half, the Town were left to rue those missed chances as, on 52 minutes, Forest doubled their lead when Fletcher finished well with a well-hit shot from just inside the penalty area.
On 62 minutes the Hatters then had to thank an acrobatic save from Coyne to prevent Jack Nadin from giving Forest a three-goal lead after his fierce shot from 20 yards.
Lawless introduced Tate Xavier-Jones on 65 minutes as the Town looked to cut the deficit but the Hatters, despite their best efforts, could not create a meaningful chance.
Forest almost sealed victory on 77 minutes when McAdam swept a shot from close range high and wide following a right-wing cross and Ben Hammonds headed over with four minutes left.
It was left to Lorentzen-Jones to have the game’s final chance – shooting high over the bar in the final minute – but, despite defeat, the young Hatters can take solace from an excellent run in the competition which included two fine wins over Brighton in the group stage.
Town: Coyne, Giwa, Phillips, Bateson, Johnson, Walters, Lorentzen-Jones, Martins (sub Benagr 75), Odegah, Stitt (sub Xavier-Jones 65), Harris (sub Ioannides 75).
Subs not used: Blackledge, Kwame Anson.