Premier League hopefuls Luton Town beat near neighbours Hitchin Town 3-0 in front of 2,213 fans on Friday evening.

Nathan Jones' Championship side eased past the Canaries to start their raft of pre-season friendlies with a victory.

In a low key opener, in what was both teams' first friendly of the 2022-23 season, former West Ham youngster Dan Potts fired home in the 26th minute to put Luton 1-0 ahead.

In front of a sell-out Top Field crowd on a sunny summer's evening in North Herts, 35-year-old Cameron Jerome doubled the Hatters lead moments before the interval.

Mark Burke's side battled gamely, never ceding an inch to their renowned visitors who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last term.

Luton's new signing from Stoke City, Alfie Doughty played the first 45 minutes, alongside trialist Baba Fernandes, who is without a club after leaving top flight new boys Nottingham Forest this summer.

Charlie Horlock captained the Canaries following the departure of former leader Dan Webb who bowed out at the end of last season after 400 games in yellow and green.

The game was played in a convivial atmosphere off the field, with many in the crowd having sampled the delights of the Hitchin Cider and Cheese Festival that was being held at the Canary Club before, during and after the game.

Cauley Woodrow made it 3-0 ten minutes after the interval following a shot that struck Horlock's left hand post.

A raft of substitutions lowered the tempo as both sides used the match to get vital minutes in their legs at the start of pre-season.

However, there was still time for Canaries substitute Tiernan Parker to save a late Luton penalty.

Hitchin host League Two North Herts neighbours' Stevenage on Tuesday (July 5) including the return of former Canary Kane Smith, prior to a short trip to Letchworth to play Garden City Eagles 48 hours later on Thursday (July 7).

Last season's Championship play-off semi-finalists Luton start their season against Jerome's former club Birmingham City on Saturday, July 30, when they host the Blues at Kenilworth Road.

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