Rangers settled quicker but it was County who created the first opportunity after five minutes when Danny Whitehead broke down the left. He pulled his cross behind Cameron Darkwah but the ball fell perfectly for John Disney who saw his 20 yard drive deflected for a corner.
Stung into action Rangers took the lead when Max Ehmer glanced Michael Doughty's free kick past Ian Ormson after 8 minutes.
A minute later Sean Williams curled a free kick just over as the young Hatters tried to get back on level terms.
Williams started a promising move on 13 minutes that created half a chance for Whitehead but the schoolboy was quickly crowded out by the Rangers defence.
Sloppy defending then allowed Christian Nanetti to get a shot away which Williams blocked at the expense of a corner. When the ball came in Danny Fitzsimons planted a free header over the bar.
County were back on level terms after 27 minutes. Cameron Darkwah released Danny Rowe (see pic) who clipped the ball past Jamie Butler in the home goal and Fitzsimons, trying to clear, hammered the ball into his own net.
Three minutes later the young Hatters were in front following the move of the match. Sam Hare played a reverse pass inside the fullback to Louis Barnes who crossed to Darkwah who finished superbly with his side foot.
Rangers responded on 32 minutes with a surging run from the pacy Nanetti which ended with a shot that was just off target.
And Rangers came even closer two minutes later when Bruno Andrade hit a brilliant 25-yard volley that crashed against the post with Ormson rooted to the spot.
Rangers almost equalised with a carbon copy of their goal. This time Taylor Parmenter glanced Doughty's free kick just wide.
Two minutes before the break Ormson somehow clawed away Ehmer's header after the Hatters failed to clear a corner.
Craig Madden made a change at half time with Craig Roberts replacing Williams.
Three minutes after the break County made it 3-1 after another magnificent move. Darkwah found Rowe who got to the bye line before pulling the ball back to Steve Murty who finished clinically.
A minute later Ormson made a magnificent save to turn Doughty's drive round the post.
Rangers pulled one back on 52 miunutes when Andrade blasted the ball high ito the net from 10 yards.
County suffered a real set back on 57 minutes when Darkwah collected his second yellow card in as many minutes for not retreating from a Rangers free kick, leaving his teammates to play out the game with ten men.
The dangerous Andrade showed his skill again when he juggled the ball on the edge of the box before volleying just wide on 62 minutes.
Rangers were back on level terms on 67 minutes when Danny Fernandez scored from the spot after Murty brought down Sam Bewick.
Madden responded by bringing on Tom Fisher in place of Whitehead.
The home team took the lead on 79 minutes in controversial fashion. Sam Barnes was led off the pitch following treatment, clearly unhappy with a challenge, and, whilst he was waiting for permission to come back on, the nine men conceded when Fernandez bundled in a cross from the right.
The young Hatters came close to scoring on 82 when Murty set up Fisher who saw his close-range shot deflected for a corner.
Rangers should have made it five in stoppage time when Nanetti rounded Ormson but shot wide with the gaol at his mercy.
County pressed right to the end but a flurry of three corners in the dying minutes couldn't produce an equaliser and, after losing last season's final, the young Rangers' players were ecstatic to hear the final whistle.
County: Ormson; Disney, S Barnes, Lee, L Barnes; Murty, Williams (Roberts 45), Hare, Rowe (Wilson 87); Whitehead (Fisher 67), Darkwah.
Unused subs: Dyson, Parisi.
