AFC Wimbledon vs Luton Town FC (21st Feb 2015)

Full match report: AFC Wimbledon 3-2 Luton Town

The Hatters fell to an injury time defeat at AFC Wimbledon having earlier fought back from two goals down in a dramatic five-goal thriller at Kingsmeadow.

The Dons deservedly led thanks to goals from Alfie Potter and Dannie Bulman, and could have been further ahead after Elliot Justham and the post denied the home side.

But Jayden Stockley pulled one back for the Hatters shortly before half-time to reduce the deficit - and after the break the Town lay siege on the Dons’ goal.

Stockley was denied what looked a good penalty shout but debutant Elliot Lee, on-loan from West Ham, scored within four minutes of his introduction as a substitute with his first touch to bring the Town level.

But despite looking the more likely side to snatch the points, the hosts had other ideas and Hatters hearts were broken in the final minute of stoppage time when substitute David Connolly stole in to give Wimbledon all the points.

The Town began showing four changes to the side that lost at Mansfield on Tuesday with Justham given his first league start in Luton colours with Mark Tyler ruled out with a knee injury. Cameron McGeehan and Luke Guttridge started in midfield, whilst new loan signing Elliot Lee started on the bench.

The Dons, 13th in the table before the start of the play, began the better and came close to scoring twice inside the first 60 seconds. Justham needed to be alert after just 24 seconds when he kept out Potter’s curling shot before Jake Reeves shot wide moments later.

The Hatters responded well and McGeehan came close on seven minutes when his header from Andy Drury’s left-wing corner was cleared.

But the Dons were looking the more dangerous going forward and Justham made another good save to deny the home side on 12 minutes when a cross from the right was met by Bulman’s instinctive hooked effort.

The pressure from the Wombles continued and the Town were lucky not to be behind a minute later when Adebayo Akinfewna, unmarked in the penalty area, shot straight against the post having been found following a low right-wing cross. Thankfully, the striker could not adjust in time to follow up with the goal gaping.

However, the Town were not so lucky on 27 minutes when the Dons took the lead with Akinfenwa at the heart of it. The striker beat Alex Lacey in the air before being played through on goal by Craig Tanner. Justham did well to stand tall and parry Akinfewna’s shot but the loose ball dropped invitingly at the feet of Potter and he tapped home into an empty net.

The Hatters responded well to going behind with Guttridge pulling the strings, and the midfielder won a free-kick on the edge of the box that Andy Drury fired goalwards only for his powerful drive to be blocked bravely by the Wimbledon wall.

But the Town’s decent spell came to an abrupt end four minutes before half-time when the home side doubled their lead. The Hatters half-cleared a left-wing corner which fell at the feet to Bulman and he lashed home a well-hit effort from the edge of the area beyond Justham and into the roof of the net.

Two goals behind approaching the break, the Hatters were handed a life-line a minute before the interval. The Town worked the ball from the right, Guttridge’s shot was deflected onto the post and Stockley was the beneficiary to the rebound, side-footing home his second goal of the season.

With the deficit halved, the Hatters began the second period on the front foot. After Scott Griffiths headed over a left-wing corner on 47 minutes, Stockley then came mighty close to scoring an equaliser on two occasions. Firstly he stuck out a leg to guide Jonathan Smith’s shot into the arms of James Shea, before the home stopper then clung onto the striker’s looping deflected left-foot shot after great interplay between Drury and Griffiths down the left.

The Town were dominating as the hosts’ threat diminished, but after Guttridge shot wide on 61 minutes, Stockley was denied what seemed a cast-iron penalty when going down under pressure from Dave Winfield. The Hatters striker was booked for his troubles but it seemed a hugely harsh decision on the Hatters.

You could have been forgiven in believing that decision could knock the Town’s confidence but on 67 minutes, four minutes after his introduction, Lee drew the Hatters level with his first touch. Guttridge was again the engineer, threading a ball to the West Ham striker and he did the business with a super composed finish underneath the body of Shea. 2-2 and game on.

Level, the Hatters now went in search of a winner but in truth the home side upped the ante after the equaliser and Justham had to be alert on 73 minutes to tip over a goal-bound free-kick from Sean Rigg.

In a frantic final few moments both sides went for a third goal and the home side were denied by Justham again when substitute Adebayo Azeez raced through on goal as the Dons broke on the counter.

And that seemed as though that would be the final chance – until the Dons won it with the final kick. The Town failed to deal with a long ball into the penalty area, allowing Connolly to nip in, round Justham and slot home into the unguarded net to undo all the Town’s early good work. And that was that. Gutting.

TOWN: Justham; Harriman, Griffiths, Lacey, Franks; Smith, McGeehan, Drury (sub Lee), Oduwa (Lawless), Guttridge; Stockley (sub Wall).

Subs not used: Gooch, Howells, Parry, Whalley.

Attendance: 4,050, including 829 from the Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-uIg3CTxt0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StdrlX1-Xjg

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/match-gallery-afc-wimbledon-3-2-luton-town-2286392.aspx

Luton Town suffered late, late heartache as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at AFC Wimbledon this afternoon.

It had looked like the Hatters would leave Kingsmeadow with a valiant point, after battling back from 2-0 down thanks to goals from Jayden Stockley and debutant Elliot Lee.

But in a frantic finale, Dons substitute David Connolly nipped in to round keeper Elliot Justham and slot into the empty net.

Defeat was incredibly harsh on Luton as they showed fantastic fighting spirit to level after a poor first half, but

The visitors had a number of changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Mansfield on Tuesday night, the most surprising one in goal with Justham handed his league debut, as Mark Tyler’s run of 79 successive league games was ended by a knee injury, as he missed his first game since April 18, 2013.

Luke Guttridge was handed his first start since the 1-0 defeat at Burton on November 22, while midfielder Cameron McGeehan came in for his second debut, Nathan Oduwa was recalled and West Ham loanee Lee on the bench after signing on Thursday.

Striker Mark Cullen missed out after it was revealed afterwards he has asked to leave Luton, while Matt Robinson was dropped and Jake Howells amongst the substitutes.

Justham was called into action after just 24 seconds as Alfie Potter was afforded time and space to turn, the keeper diving to his left to cling on, while Craig Tanner nodded off target from a good position.

Town started to get back into the game as Oduwa’s run and shot deflected behind.

Justham had to stay alert to get an important glove on Dannie Bulman’s clever overhead volley on 11 minutes, flicking it behind for a corner.

Hatters then had a massive let off when Franks’ poor clearance was seized on by Barry Fuller, who crossed for Akinfenwa, but eight yards out, he fired against the post, with the rebound deflecting off the imposing striker and fortunately behind.

A well-worked corner then saw Sean Rigg’s low side-foot saved by a combination of Justham and the woodwork.

The hosts took the lead on 27 minutes though when Akinfenwa somehow pulled a long ball down and found Tanner, who teed up his striker partner.

Justham made a brilliant stop from Akinfenwa’s side-footer, but the rebound was tucked in by Tanner.

Luton tried to mount an immediate fight back, Oduwa breaking at pace and finding Stockley, who got the ball stuck under his feet as the chance went begging.

Rigg blazed over, while Guttridge thought he had a penalty when upended by Dave Winfield.

Akinfenwa then did superbly again, nonchalantly rolling in Jake Reeves, who really should have tested Justham, dragging off target.

However, with both Alex Lacey and Franks struggling against the nous and physicality of Akinfenwa, the Dons moved 2-0 in front on 42 minutes when a corner was punched clear by Justham, but straight to Bulman just outside the area.

With no Luton players converging, he took aim from 25 yards, absolutely hammering the ball into the top corner for a wonderful finish.

Out of nothing, Hatters were back in the game though as Guttridge found some space in the area and his shot was deflected on to the post, with Stockley turning the rebound over the line.

In the second period, Scott Griffiths headed Drury’s corner over the top, before Stockley had two chances to double his tally.

First, the striker stretched to poke straight at James Shea, while a marvellous run by Griffiths saw him find Stockley, whose effort deflected into Shea’s grateful hands.

Just after the hour, Luton thought they had a clear penalty when Winfield lost possession and scythed down Stockley in the area.

Somehow, referee Frederick Graham bafflingly saw it as a dive by the Luton striker though and booked him for simulation, in what can only be described as a disgraceful decision.

The travesty of justice seemed to suck the life out of Town’s attacking intent for a while, as Alex Lawless and Lee were brought on for Oduwa and Drury.

However, Luton were then back in after 67 minutes as AFC’s defenders got in a terrible mix up and Guttridge was on it in a flash, sliding in Lee, who with his first touch in a Luton shirt, slid his shot under Shea with a seriously cool finish.

With Town netting two on their travels for the first time since October 18, it looked like the Hatters would go on to win it, only for AFC to wrest the initiative back once more.

Potter shot over and then Sean Rigg tested Justham, the keeper flipping his free kick over the top.

Chances came and went at both ends in the closing stages, Lawless blasting over, before Dons’ sub Adebayo Azeez raced clear only for Justham to make a marvellous low stop.

However, Luton’s impressive reserve keeper was then let down by his defence as they were caught by a long ball forward, allowing Connolly to nip in and score a heartbreaking winner.

Dons: James Shea, Barry Fuller, (C), Callum Kennedy, Jake Reeves, Adedeji Oshilaja, Dave Winfield, Sean Rigg (Tom Beere 75), Dannie Bulman, Craig Tanner (Adebayo Azeez 80), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Alfie Potter.

Subs not used: Joe McDonnell, Jack Smith, George Francomb, Adebayo Azeez, Tom Beere, David Connolly.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths, Alex Lacey, Fraser Franks, Andy Drury (Alex Lawless 64), Cameron McGeehan, Jonathan Smith (C), Nathan Oduwa (Elliot Lee 64), Luke Guttridge, Jayden Stockley (Alex Wall 86).

Subs not used: Liam Gooch, Jake Howells, Andy Parry, Shaun Whalley.

Referee: Frederick Graham.

Booked: Oshilaja 45, Drury 55, Stockley 64, Lee 89.

Attendance: 4,050 (Luton 829).

Hatters MOM: Luke Guttridge. Ran the show second half and hopefully he’s back to stay.

Still critical of Town’s defending during Dons defeat

Hatters boss John Still was highly critical of his side’s defensive display during their 3-2 defeat at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Luton, who were without the suspended centre half pairing of Luke Wilkinson and Steve McNulty, fell 2-0 behind in the first half after an Adebayo Akinfenwa-inspired Dons were good value for their lead.

The Hatters then hit back to level at 2-2, before they were caught out once more by a long ball over the top in injury time, with sub David Connolly netting a cruel winner.

Still said: “First half I didn’t think our back people coped, I didn’t think they coped at all, which was disappointing because they played together at Mansfield.

“Second half, they coped fantastic, absolutely fantastic, but made a mistake at the end, one punt down the middle, and that’s not good enough.

“I don’t want to do these players a disservice, because they battled hard at Mansfield and battled hard here.

“But it’s about being the best and for some of the boys who have come in, it was their opportunity to say I’m going to stay in the team. That’s how I felt and what I wanted them to do, it was their chance to nail a place.”

“We don’t concede goals, or we haven’t since I’ve been here, and we shouldn’t concede three goals, simple as that, we should never concede the last goal.”

Still was disappointed with certain individuals for not carrying out the roles that had been worked on in training either, as for Dons’ second, no-one picked up midfielder Dannie Bulman, who rifled into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The boss continued: “People have responsibilities, there should be someone on the edge of the box, we do it non-stop every week, so that’s the disappointing thing. I’ve got to look at now what I can do to rectify the situation which has seen us concede more goals than we should. We’ve had changes all season, people have to step up to the plate.”

“I’m not pointing fingers at any individuals but I have to look at some of the players who have come in to replace the people that perhaps would have been playing.

“We have to play with more discipline. It’s disappointing as we’ve worked so hard to get back, but there’s nothing we can do about that now, we have to get back in and work hard on Monday.”