Bury vs Luton Town FC (2nd Dec 2018)

BURY 0 LUTON TOWN 1

The Hatters reached the third round of the Emirates FA Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sky Bet League Two outfit Bury at Gigg Lane this afternoon.

Harry Cornick grabbed the all-important goal just before half-time as he converted from James Collins' low cross, with Bury unable to find a reply in the second 45 minutes.

The Shakers from the first minute were slick in possession and created their first decent opportunity just 30 seconds in as Maynard drove an effort narrowly over Shea's bar as he managed to dart in from the left.

Glen Rea had a great opportunity to open the scoring seven minutes in as he got across his marker well and headed narrowly wide from James Justin's out-swinging corner, sending it wide to the left of Joe Murphy's goal.

Five minutes later the hosts saw James Shea deny them the lead when Byron Moore pulled the ball back from the by-line on the right, Maynard was there to side foot it low from close range, but Shea got down quickly to palm it away, before Bradley cleared.

Ryan Lowe's side continued to look dangerous and were desperately unlucky as Neil Danns was guilty of missing a gilt-edged opportunity. He was found by Chris Stokes on the edge of the box, he turned Bradley, leaving the defender on the ground, the Bury supporters were ready to celebrate as the former Bolton Wanderers man had the goal at his mercy, but he sent it wide to the left of Shea's goal from ten yards.

Town grew into the game after the half hour mark and Rea's lovely ping from the middle of the park found Stacey out on the right, he bolted past Stokes and got a shot away from a tight angle 15 yards out, but Murphy was able to palm it down and gather.

The deadlock was broken with three minutes of the first half to go when Lee played a delightful ball down the left for Collins, he found Cornick at the back stick and the ex-Bournemouth man made no mistake from five yards – poking in for his fifth goal of the season.

He should have doubled the lead and his tally for the afternoon in the first minute of injury time as the Hatters countered from a Bury corner, he played a one-two with Justin as they sprinted forward, but he shanked his effort from 15 yards well over.

The second half lacked the same flow as the first as Bury's energy waned slightly and the Town showed their League One quality.

Telford somehow spurned a great chance for Bury 73 minutes in as Maynard crossed in from the right, the substitute turned well, but got his boot well under the ball and hoofed it into the stand behind the Town's goal.

Collins missed an equally good chance just a minute later as Lee picked out Stacey on the right, he got in behind the Bury backline before crossing it low, Collins timed his run perfectly and did well to get a first-time effort away from all of seven yards but Murphy threw himself across to get his body in the way of the strike as the chance went begging.

The hosts poured forward late on in desperate search of an equaliser, but Nathan Jones' side were able to weather the storm.

The Town will be ball number 46 in the third-round draw tomorrow evening.

Bury: Murphy, Stokes (Miller 83), Thompson, O'Connell, Adams, Mayor, Moore (Telford 58), McFadzean, O'Shea, Danns © (Lavery 74), Maynard.

Subs not used: Moloney, Aimson, Dawson, Dagnall.

Town: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Justin, Rea ©, Mpanzu, Shinnie, Lee (Potts 83), Collins, Cornick (Hylton 87).

Subs not used: Stech, LuaLua, Jarvis, Jones, Sheehan.

Goal: Cornick 42

Yellows: Shinnie, Rea, Mpanzu, Bradley

Attendance: 2,977 Away: 549

NATHAN JONES ON THE 1-0 WIN OVER BURY

Hatters boss Nathan Jones praised his side's ability to win in a different way on Sunday afternoon, as they defeated Bury in the Emirates FA Cup second round.

Harry Cornick netted the only goal of the game as he converted from close range as he got on the end of James Collins' brilliant low cross, securing the Town's place in the third round draw.

Jones said: "It's a wonderful result, I thought it was a wonderful performance after the first 15 minutes where they came out of the traps. But once we stuck to the game-plan, I thought we were comfortable for most of the afternoon if I'm honest.

"You don't get to see us play like that very often where we sit back, be compact and then hit them on the counter attack as we know we have different facets, we know if we want to go to the next level, we're going to have to have that part of our game right at it and I thought we were excellent.

"For all the possession Bury had, we probably had the better chances and should have killed the game off earlier as we've had some wonderful chances on the counter attack. Realistically Sheasy's had one or two saves, they've missed their best chance in the first half where Danns missed and apart from that I thought it was a good cup tie, but I felt it was a reasonably comfortable afternoon."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl9-Je-mihA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXPCAtk5x80

Cornick strikes to send Hatters into round three

FA Cup second round: Bury 0 Luton Town 1

Harry Cornick's first half goal ensured Luton's name is in the hat for the FA Cup third round draw on Monday evening after a battling 1-0 win at League Two Bury this afternoon.

The Hatters could count themselves somewhat fortunate to be on level terms in the first half, with Bury having the better of the opening 20 minutes, but after hanging in there, once Cornick put them in front, they produced a fine defensive display to stifle their usually freescoring hosts.

Luton went as strong as they could for the game, naming an unchanged side for the fifth match running, although Kazenga LuaLua was back on the bench after missing the last two matches.

The hosts showed first, in-form Nicky Maynard finding space and with one thing in mind, fired narrowly over the bar from 20 yards.

Luton's best opportunity came on nine minutes, James Justin's corner met by Glen Rea, his glancing header not missing by much.

Maynard had a glorious opportunity shortly afterwards, as Byron Moore reached the byline and pulled it back to the striker just six yards out, his weak attempt well saved by James Shea.

The Luton stopper should have been picking the ball out of the net on 18 minutes though, Neil Danns dumping Sonny Bradley on his backside with a lovely turn in the area, dragged badly wide with just Shea to beat.

Maynard sent an ambitious curler off target, while Town finally got a grip on proceedings and stopped Bury's supply-line to Maynard and Moore.

It worked a treat too as with the Hatters starting to pick up possession in advanced areas, they took the lead in the 42nd minute, courtesy of a lovely team goal started by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

He moved the ball on to Elliot Lee, in turn finding James Collins who had peeled away to the left of the area, executing a perfect low cross for Cornick to tap home for his second goal in as many games.

The scorer should have put Luton 2-0 up on the stroke of half time, when Hatters broke from a Bury corner.

Played by James Justin, he was faced with Joe Murphy, but with Lee screaming for a cut back, went for goal himself and ended up skying wildly over the top, to the frustration of his team-mates.

After the break, Andrwe Shinnie fired into the stands, before on 55 minutes, Cornick almost doubled the lead when the architect Lee picked out Jack Stacey's overlapping run, but under pressure from two defenders, his effort was easy for Murphy.

Cornick continued to cause the hosts trouble, keeper Murphy just beating him to Mpanzu's marginally overhit through ball.

The Shakers remained patient in their attempts to break down Luton's back-line and should have done with 18 minutes to go, Adams finding Maynard whose low ball saw sub Dominic Telford fire over the bar from no more than eight yards.

Town themselves should then have put the tie beyond doubt moments later, as Stacey's run was picked out perfectly, his delivery met by Collins from seven yards, Murphy making an excellent stop with his legs.

Adam Thompson looped a header on to the roof of the net, while Callum McFadzean's blast from the angle was straight at Shea as the Hatters shut up shop effectively, preventing the hosts, who had netted 22 goals during November, any real opportunity of forcing a replay.

Shakers: Joe Murphy, Chris Stokes (Tom Miller 83), Adam Thompson, Eoghan O'Connell, Nicky Adams, Danny Mayor, Byron Moore (Dominic Telford 58), Callum McFadzean, Jay O'Shea, Neil Danns (C Caolan Lavery 74), Nicky Maynard.

Subs not used: Scott Moloney, Will Aimson, Stephen Dawson, Chris Dagnall.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Glen Rea (C), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee (dan Potts 83), James Collins, Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 87).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Alan Sheehan, Lloyd Jones, Aaron Jarvis, Kazenga LuaLua.

Booked: Shinnie 19, Rea 48, Mpanzu 55, Bradley 82.

Referee: Thomas Bramall. Attendance: 2,977 (549 Luton).

Jones praises Town's gameplan as they edge out Shakers

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt his side showed a different side to their game as they won 1-0 at Bury in the FA Cup this afternoon.

Town scored the only goal of the game through Harry Cornick on 42 minutes, before having to withstand plenty of pressure from the hosts.

Despite dominating possession at times, Town keeper James Shea didn’t have an awful lot to do after the break though, as a pleased Jones said: “It’s a wonderful result, a wonderful performance after the first 15 minutes where they came out of the traps.

“Once we stuck to the gameplan, I thought we were comfortable for most of the afternoon if I’m honest.

“You don’t get to see us play like that very often when we sit back, be compact and then hit team on the counter attack as we know we have different facets.

“We know if we want to go to the next level, we’re going to have to have that part of our game right at it and I thought we were excellent.

“For all the possession Bury had, we probably had the better chances and should have killed it off earlier as we’ve had some wonderful chances on the counter attack.

“Sheasy's had one or two saves, they’ve had their best chance in the first half and apart from that I thought it was a good cup tie, but I felt reasonably comfortable.”