Cambridge United vs Luton Town FC (20th Sep 2014)

Report: Cambridge United 0-1 Luton Town

Mark Cullen’s goal 10 minutes from time helped the Hatters to their third win of the season and first at Cambridge in five years.

The striker notched his third goal of the season when following up his penalty that saw saved by home goalkeeper Chris Dunn.

The Hatters took advantage of their numerical advantage in the second period after home midfielder Tom Naylor, making his debut, was sent-off for a late challenge on Jim Stevenson.

Cambridge had the better of the first half, which saw them also strike the woodwork, but after the break it was a different story and the Town held on to record victory and third successive clean sheet.

It all started with three changes to the team that drew at York on Tuesday with skipper Stephen McNulty returning to a back three after his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday. He joined Stevenson and Alex Wall in the starting XI. Jake Howells, Andy Drury and Jonathan Smith all missed out.

Cambridge, managed by former Town boss Richard Money – who also made three changes – had the better of a very turgid opening 45 minutes.

Striker Tom Elliott had the first chance for the hosts when he headed over the crossbar in the fifth minute.

It wasn’t for another 13 minutes until the next chance, again for the U’s, when Kwesi Appiah showed great strength to lay the ball off to Ryan Donaldson but his first-time shot at the post rolled wide of the target.

As the Town struggled to create an opening in attack, United came close once more. Donaldson sped upfield after Wall’s airshot at the other end and his pass found Elliott whose 10-yard drive bounced off the outside of the post.

Curtley Williams limped off and was replaced by Drury on 27 minutes in a change that saw the Town revert to a 4-4-2 formation with Alex Lacey dropping to right-back. Moments later Mark Tyler was brave to snuff out Elliott’s attempted shot in the six yard box and then Luke Wilkinson nodded away the danger when Harrison Dunk crossed dangerously from the left.

As half-time approached, both sides exchanged poor efforts from free-kicks. Donaldson whacked over his for the hosts on 39 minutes, before Wall sent a tame effort low and well wide of the target for the Town at the other end in first half stoppage time.

Cambridge came close to breaking the deadlock just seconds after the restart when Tyler kept out Appiah’s snapshot from 12 yards.

To their credit, though, the Town had started the second half brighter and their cause was helped nine minutes into the second half when home debutant Naylor was shown a straight red card for a nasty challenge on Stevenson in the Hatters half.

The game, however, had little time to flow as both sides traded yellow cards, Wall was booked for a foul on Robbie Simpson before he was substituted on the hour and his replacement, Ross Lafayette, was cautioned with a minute of his introduction for a foul on home keeper Chris Dunn.

As the Town upped the ante they came mighty close to taking the lead on 66 minutes when Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu hit the crossbar with a crashing drive from the edge of the box.

In a complete contrast to the first half it was now all the Hatters with the ball and Luke Wilkinson spurned a good chance on 70 minutes when he headed over from six yards following Luke Guttridge’s cross.

A series of corners and free-kicks into the Cambridge area were cleared and United almost snatched a goal from nothing when Donaldson’s shot was charged down well by Wilkinson.

However, with 10 minutes left, the deadlock was finally broken. The Hatters cleared their lines well from a corner, Drury feeding Ruddock who raced upfield and burst into the penalty area. He took on Richard Tait but was hauled down and the assistant referee awarded the penalty. Cullen stepped up but saw his effort from 12 yards saved, but the striker was alive to the rebound and side-footed home into the net.

Guttridge was withdrawn for Matthew Robinson immediately after the goal and moments later Cambridge came close with Elliott and Greg Taylor just off target in their quest for a quickfire equaliser.

As time ticked down, the Town played keep-ball when they had possession whilst Cambridge’s high balls into the box in search of a late, late leveller where dealt with as the Hatters held on to secure their second win in three matches.

TOWN: Tyler; Williams (sub Drury 28), Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson, Lacey; Ruddock Mpanzu, Stevenson, Guttridge (sub Robinson 82); Wall (sub Lafayette 60), Cullen. Subs not used: Whalley, Doyle, Walker, Justham.

ATTENDANCE: 6,533, including a magnificent 2,050 backing the Hatters.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-cambridge-0-1-luton-1930842.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7pALm61lEI&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

Cullen proves the bane of Cambridge yet again by Mike Simmonds

League Two: Cambridge United 0 Luton Town 1

Hatters striker Mark Cullen proved to be the bane of Cambridge United for the second season running as Town recorded a 1-0 win this afternoon.

The forward, who scored Luton’s dramatic late leveller during last campaign’s 1-1 draw, popped up with the winner on 80 minutes this time around.

There was an element of fortune involved as after Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu won a penalty, Cullen saw his tame effort saved by Chris Dunn, before slotting the rebound into an empty net.

Victory was just about deserved for the visitors for their second half display, as they took advantage of Tom Naylor’s red card just before the hour mark.

Hatters boss John Still had made three changes, with Alex Wall in for his first start of the season, while captain Steve McNulty returned after his partner gave birth to a baby girl during the week.

Midfielder Jim Stevenson was back, as Andy Drury dropped to the bench, while Jonathan Smith, Paul Connolly, Jake Howells and Luke Rooney were all injured.

McNulty looked slightly off the pace to begin with as one sloppy ball across his area was pounced upon by Ryan Donaldson, but from the corner, Tom Elliott directed a header wide.

United fashioned the first real chance on 18 minutes as Kwesi Appiah got the better of Luke Wilkinson and saw his cross volleyed narrowly wide by Ryan Donaldson.

Cambridge then came close after Wall tried a frankly ridiculous acrobatic volley from 25 yards, only to end up losing possession to Donaldson.

The U’s winger ran half the length of the pitch, before teeing up Elliott, whose drive cannoned off the outside of post and bar with Tyler screaming for offside.

Curtley Williams, who had been a doubt going into the game with his ankle injury, then came off after 28 minute, as he was clearly struggling, with Drury on.

Tyler had to bravely come out at to save at the feet of Elliott, as Luton couldn’t put any meaningful moves of an attacking nature together, with home keeper Chris Dunn barely called into action.

Wall then summed up the instantly forgettable first half when he dragged a free kick disappointingly wide from a good position.

After the break, the game livened up immediately, as Cambridge almost broke the deadlock within seconds, Appiah twisting in the area and Tyler palming his effort away.

Cambridge were then reduced to 10 men after a shocking two-footed challenge by debutant Naylor on Stevenson, leaving referee Graham Salisbury with little option but to show a red card.

United tried to even up the numbers immediately, Richard Tait throwing himself to the floor after Wall’s tackle, with the Hatters man cautioned.

Wall almost forced an error from Dunn, whose clearance rebounded off a defender and flashed just wide before he made way for Ross Lafayette.

The sub almost made an immediate impact, beaten to the ball by Dunn and picking up a harsh booking for his efforts.

With an extra man, Town now had the bit between their teeth as Guttridge shot over, while Drury’s effort was deflected into the side-netting.

From the corner, Hatters were incredibly unlucky not to take the lead as the ball reached Ruddock Mpanzu and his thunderous blockbuster smashed against the bar.

Town threatened again as Guttridge dinked a cross over and Wilkinson rose highest, only to nod narrowly wide.

Cambridge barely functioned as an attacking force after the red card, but did go close when Elliot’s header was punched away by Tyler.

From the breakaway though, Drury found Ruddock Mpanzu and the midfielder burst powerfully into the box where he was felled by Tait, with the linesman eventually giving the penalty.

Cullen stepped up and although Dunn made a comfortable save from his tame spotkick, the rebound fortunately dropped straight at his feet, to net his third of the campaign.

Lafayette should have had a second spot kick moments later when he was clipped in the area, while Ruddock Mpanzu was at the fore for Town.

The midfielder showed stunning reserves of energy to lead Town’s attacks with a number of lung-bursting runs, while also getting back to make an excellent covering tackle at full stretch as the U’s looked for a leveller.

Cambridge almost nicked a point late on when former Town man Greg Taylor volleyed wide, but it was Hatters who were left celebrating as they made it three games unbeaten, plus a third successive clean sheet.

United: Chris Dunn, Richard Tait, Greg Taylor, Josh Coulson, Ryan Donaldson, Tom Elliott, Harrison Dunk (Issaga Diallo 73), Robbie Simpson (Liam Hurst 77), Michael Nelson (C), Kwesi Appiah, Tom Naylor.

Subs not used: Will Norris, Matteo Lanzoni, Harry Lennon, Bobby-Joe Taylor, Ryan Bird.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Alex Lacey, Steve McNulty, Luke Wilkinson, Curtley Williams (Andy Drury 28), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Jim Stevenson, Luke Guttridge (Matt Robinson 82), Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen, Alex Wall (Ross Lafayette 60).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Shaun Whalley, Nathan Doyle, Charlie Walker.

Referee: Graham Salisbury.

Booked: Simpson 37, Stevenson 47, Lafayette 60, Donaldson 64.

Sent off: Naylor 55.

Attendance: 6,533 (Luton 2,050).

Hatters MOM: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu - United couldn’t deal with his power in the second period.