Alfreton Town vs Luton Town FC (7th Dec 2013)

Hatters move to within a point at the top with five star showing

Alfreton 0 Town 5 Gray 10, 14, Benson 13, Guttridge 18, Lawless 67

The Hatters produced a stunning performance to equal their biggest victory away from Kenilworth Road as they put five past Alfreton and extend their unbeaten league run to 14 games.

The Town scored four times in a superb nine-minute spell in the first half with two goals from Andre Gray and one each from Paul Benson and Luke Guttridge.

After such an amazing first half the second was never going to live up to expectation but the Hatters remained disciplined and, after keeping Alfreton at bay, Alex Lawless scored midway through the second period to complete the rout and move the Town to within a point of leaders Cambridge.

The Hatters’ super afternoon all started with John Still making 10 changes to the side that saw off Staines in the Trophy in midweek with Pelly Rudddock Mpanzu retaining his place in central midfield. Defender Alfie Mawson made his debut at the heart of the Hatters defence.

And their stunning first half display started with a number of decent chances in the first five minutes with Benson heading a Ronnie Henry cross over the bar before Guttridge skied Gray’s cut-back on six minutes.

The Hatters were dominating the opening stages and they deservedly took the lead on 10 minutes with a lovely goal. Guttridge was the creator, bursting forward from the left flank to thread a perfect pass through to Gray and his finish exhumed confidence, a low shot that flew past Ross Atkins.

It was a really eye-catching goal and it got better for the Hatters two minutes later when Benson doubled the lead. This time Gray and Guttridge combined to feed Benson and the former Dagenham striker clipped a wonderfully cool finish over the advance Atkins for his seventh goal of the campaign.

Having failed to score in two previous visits (three if you count a friendly) at the Impact Arena, incredibly the Hatters made it 3-0 on 14 minutes as Gray got his second. It was another move of fantastic quality with Benson and Guttridge again involved: this time Benson squaring to his strike partner to tap home inside the six yard box for his 12th goal in 11 starts.

The Town looked dangerous every time they attack and, almost unbelievably, it was 4-0 on 18 minutes as the Hatters’ purple patch in front of goal continued. Gray’s high ball into the air was controlled by Guttridge and the midfielder rounded Atkins and – somehow – finished from the narrowest of angles. It was his seventh goal of the season and the Town’s fourth goal in just nine incredible minutes.

Four goals down, home boss Nicky Law introduced centre-half Darran Kempson for winger Alistair Taylor and the change had the desired effect as the hosts tightened up.

Mark Tyler, who showed his delight every time the Town had scored, made his first save of the game 23 minutes in, keeping out Daniel Meadow’s daisycutter from the edge of the box.

But the Hatters continued to press for a fifth. Gray spurned a chance for his hat-trick on 29 minutes when he nodded straight at Atkins following Guttridge’s left-wing cross and a header from Lawless flashed across the face of goal six minutes later following Henry’s centre – and that was the end of a breathless first 45 minutes.

After the break Alfreton rallied but failed to test Tyler. Henry blocked a goal-bound free-kick from Bradley Wood on 55 minutes and after weathering that storm the Town made it five on 67 minutes. Alfreton failed to clear their lines and Gray picked their pocket, and his flick through released Lawless and he did the rest, finding the corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Benson and Guttridge almost got on the end of a right-wing raid from Ruddock Mpanzu moments later as the Town hunted a sixth.

It was ole stuff from the Town in the closing stages. Despite efforts from Gray and Lawless the Town couldn’t add to their tally but quite frankly, nobody in the Hatters ranks cared much – the job was done and the win moved the Hatters to within a point of the leaders.

Town: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, Mawson (sub Davis 46), McNulty; Smith, Guttridge, Ruddock Mpanzu, Lawless; Gray, Benson. Subs not used: Howells, Whalley, Robinson, Justham.

Attendance: 1,279 including 649 backing the Town.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/alfreton-gallery-0712-1221364.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PCi12eOeyA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157638473721823/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O6XxqoZO9s

Manager hails away day triumph

John Still refused to get carried away despite the 5-0 win at Alfreton which saw the Town close the gap at the top of the Skrill Premier to one point.

“It’s just a small part on a long road though, I’m very pleased, I might not sound it but I am,” said the manager after two goals from Andre Gray and one each from Paul Benson, Luke Guttridge and Alex Lawless gave the Hatters a record-equalling victory away from Kenilworth Road.

“All over the pitch we were first class. For a performance we couldn’t have asked for more.

“You can only control the controllables, we can only go out and play, we can’t worry about Cambridge or anyone else.

“We can’t affect other people. If we play well every week and compete ever week, I’ll know we’ve have done everything we can do.

“I’m never one to overkill anything. Fortunately our finishing was first class and it was a good day for us.”

Five star Hatters blitz Reds

Alfreton Town 0 Luton Town 5

A stunning eight minute goal spree saw Hatters equal their biggest margin of victory away from home at Alfreton Town this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

Strikes from Andre Gray (10), Paul Benson (13), Gray again (14) and Luke Guttridge (18), meant Luton simply obliterated their shell-shocked opponents inside the opening 20 minutes with an awesome display of clinical finishing.

Alex Lawless added another just after the hour mark as Town closed the gap on leaders Cambridge to a point and also drew level on goal difference.

Hatters had made two changes to the team who had won 3-0 against Southport as Alex Lacey and Andy Parry both missed out by injury, with Alfie Mawson coming in for his Town debut alongside Steve McNulty, and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu began in midfield.

The visitors, who had never scored here in their previous two visits to the Impact Arena, started impressively as Gray scissor-kicked over.

Luton then created two further presentable chances with Benson nodding Ronnie Henry’s cross on to the roof of the net and Guttridge skying Gray’s cross from a decent position too.

An open game saw the Reds enjoy two opportunities through Paul Clayton and Alastair Taylor as well, but depite the open nature of the early exchanges, there was no indication of the goal glut that was to come.

On 10 minutes, Town had the lead with a beautiful goal as Guttridge took charge inside his own half and with the outside of his foot, sent Gray clean through.

Town’s in-form striker took one touch and as keeper Ross Atkins advanced, he rifled the ball into the corner.

One then immediately became two as Gray touched to Guttridge and he put Benson through, who coolly waited for Atkins to commit himself and then delicately dinked the ball into the net.

Hatters were now rampant and third arrived as a lovely team move involving Scott Griffiths and Guttridge once more saw Benson released and his inch perfect cross was tapped home by Gray.

Luton fans were in dreamland on 17 minutes when Gray knocked the ball over the top, Guttridge flicked past Atkins and from the tightest of angles, slid the ball into the empty net.

A bewildered Alfreton boss Nicky Law made a change on just 20 minutes, sacrificing winger Alastair Taylor for club captain and centre half Darran Kempson.

The hosts were still creating chances of their own too as Clayton fired over, John McGrath drove wide and Daniel Meadows’ shot was easy for Mark Tyler.

Gray almost had a hat-trick inside 30 minutes as he met Guttridge’s cross and headed straight at the keeper, while Lawless glanced Henry’s whipped cross inches wide of the far post.

Mawson had to come off for Town during the break as on-loan Port Vale defender Joe Davis came on in his place.

In the second period, Hatters seemed to start sitting back slightly as John Akinde headed off target, while Meadows fired wastefully over from distance.

Just as the heavens opened, John Still’s side looked like they had weathered the storm on the pitch too as Benson lined up a shot that was charged down.

After going almost an hour without a goal, the fifth was finally in Alfreton’s net on 66 minutes when Lawless nicked the ball in midfield and was sent away by a lovely flick from Gray.

Town’s Welsh midfielder had no problems in racing through and easily beating Atkins for his second of the season.

If they weren’t enjoying the game before then, Town’s supporters were soon treated to a period of ole football, with Hatters keeping possession almost at will.

Gray tried to get his second hat-trick in Luton colours, but fired well wide and Lawless saw his drive deflected wide.

It mattered not though as Town stopped at five and sent a serious message out to their fellow title challengers that they mean business.

Reds: Ross Atkins, Bradley Wood, Connor Franklin, Chris Westwood (C), Michael Wylde, Tom Shaw (Daniel Wishart 72), Paul Clayton (Samuel Akinde 59), Daniel Meadows, Alastair Taylor (Darran Kempston 46), John McGrath, John Akinde.

Subs not used: Jonathan Hooper.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ronnie Henry, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty, Alfie Mawson (Joe Davis 46), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Alex Lawless, Jonathan Smith, Luke Guttridge, Paul Benson, Andre Gray.

Subs not used: Jake Howells, Elliot Justham, Shaun Whalley, Matt Robinson.

Booked: Wylde 34, Clayton 42, McGrath 62.

Referee: Simon Bennett. Assistant referees: Michael Harvey, Dumitru-Ravel Cheoslaua.

Attendance: 1,279 (649 Luton).