Cambridge United vs Luton Town FC (5th Sep 2015)

PUBLISHED 18:18 5th September 2015 Town record first League win of the campaign at the Abbey

CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 3 LUTON TOWN

The Hatters picked up their first League 2 win of the season with victory at 10-man Cambridge.

Luke Guttridge swept the Town ahead with a stunning lofted finish in the 21st minute, but the lead only lasted seven minutes when Leon Legge headed the hosts level.

The home side had missed a number of decent first half chances but the Hatters were handed a route into the game on 64 minutes when United midfielder Harrison Dunk was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Straight from the free-kick that led to the dismissal the Hatters took the lead when Luke Wilkinson nodded home Danny Green’s free-kick.

With their man advantage, the Town held the home side at bay and Green added a third goal with six minutes left to seal their first win in League 2 at the sixth attempt.

The Town began showing three changes to the side that beat Orient in the JPT in the week. Cameron McGeehan’s suspension by the Northern Ireland Football Association stood, so the midfielder was unable to feature against his former side. Guttridge kept his place in central midfield as a result.

It was the home side that came closest first, with Barry Corr heading wide a good chance from Mickey Demetriou’s cross – and that combination would prove to be a thorn in the Town’s side throughout the opening period.

Slowly the Hatters began to find their passing rhythm as they won a string of corners, but the home side should have taken the lead on 19 minutes when Dunk’s left-wing cross was nodded over from 10 yards by the unmarked Liam Hughes.

However, two minutes later, that miss came back to haunt the hosts as Guttridge put the Hatters ahead. Home goalkeeper Chris Dunn came out to the edge of the box and the Town midfielder spotted the home stopper in no man’s land to loft over a sublime finish into the top corner from 25 yards.

Buoyed by taking the lead, the Town now sensed a second and Olly Lee tested Dunn with a low shot from 20 yards that the home keeper kept out diving to his left.

It was Mark Tyler’s turn to make a good save on 26 minutes when the Town stopper did brilliantly to plunge down to his left to prevent a back-post Corr header from creeping into the bottom corner.

But two minutes later the home side were celebrating an equaliser when a long free-kick hung up into the penalty area was met by Legge who rose above everyone in the box to plant a firm header past Tyler.

Now it was United’s turn to push the Hatters back, and Corr saw a shot deflected shot bounce wide a minute later before captain Mark Roberts headed wide at the back post from the resultant corner.

Goalscorer Guttridge was doing his best to revive the Town’s passing game and he almost created a chance for Craig Mackail-Smith, only for the home defence to clear the danger.

As the break approached, the hosts’ pressure continued, only for the Town defence to hold firm. Scott Griffiths did well with one header in particular to flick the ball away from the head of Corr a minute before the interval.

After the break the Hatters upped the ante and after Josh McQuoid was fouled on the edge of the box, Green’s free-kick was deflected behind and, a minute later, on 54, Olly Lee clipped an audacious effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Back came Cambridge, and the Town needed a fine intervention from Griffiths again to snuff out the danger when the left-back got across a Ryan Donaldson cross to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

However, the Town got their noses in front for the second time with 25 minutes to play. United winger Dunk was shown a second yellow card for a needless handball down the Town’s right, and from the resultant free-kick swung in by Green, Wilkinson climbed highest to power a header past Dunn.

With a one goal and one man advantage the Town came close to making it 3-1 on 74 minutes when Green and Mackail-Smith combined to set-up Guttridge for a header that bounced just wide, and three minutes later Lee tried another spectacular drive, this time from 25 yards that Dunn has to turn over the crossbar acrobatically.

As Cambridge’s threat diminished, the Town took control and added a third goal with six minutes left. Guttridge and Mackail-Smith were the architects, playing a one-two with one another to eventually square to Green who composed himself in the penalty area to stroke home his second goal of the week.

As the minutes ticked down the Hatters were comfortable knowing it would take a miracle for the hosts to nab a point and the Town almost snatched a late fourth when Lee volleyed over injury time.

And that was that. A league victory at last. The word from the staff and players afterwards was about kicking on. The ball is rolling now. See you at Notts County next Saturday.

TOWN: Tyler; O'Donnell, Griffiths, Cuthbert, Wilkinson; Smith, Lee; Guttridge; Green, McQuoid; Mackail-Smith.

Subs not used: McNulty, Hall, Ruddock, Okuonghae, Williams, O'Brien, Justham.

Attenance: 6,298, including a magnificent 1,425

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-cambridge-1-3-town-2671413.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig4SSKspbHQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfdiTg0TW_I

League Town: Cambridge United 1 Luton Town 3

A ruthless second half performance saw Luton finally get their League Two season up and running with a clinical 3-1 win at Cambridge United this afternoon.

With the scores level on 64 minutes and the result very much in the balance, U’s had Harrison Dunk dismissed for a second yellow and Luton went on to take full and complete advantage thanks to goals from Luke Wilkinson and Danny Green sealing a first victory of the league campaign.

It was the second successive time referee Graham Salisbury had played such a major part in proceedings too as in this fixture last term, with the match goalless, he sent off Cambridge’s Tom Naylor, Luton going on to triumph 1-0.

Although the sending off was harsh on the hosts, there was little disputing Hatters were good value for their win afterwards, with striker Craig Mackail-Smith to the fore, the summer signing never allowing United’s defence an moments rest with an amazing display of work-rate.

Luton also cut out the supply line to the aerial threat of Barry Corr and Robbie Simpson effectively too as the pair had caused the visitors some moments of real panic during the first period.

Earlier, Hatters made three changes from Tuesday’s cup win over Leyton Orient as Mackail-Smith, Wilkinson and Josh McQuoid came in, with Scott Cuthbert fit enough to partner Wilkinson in the centre of defence and Luke Guttridge belatedly handed his first league action of the season.

The hosts had a marvellous chance inside the opening five minutes when fit-again leading scorer Corr headed Dunk’s teasing cross badly wide at the far post.

However, Luton soon became more of an attacking force, as defender Scott Griffiths, on his 100th appearance, found some space and his shot was deflected behind for a corner.

An incredibly crude shoulder charge by Olly Lee saw him walking a disciplinary tightrope, while the hosts should have taken the lead on 20 minutes when Dunk picked out Robbie Simpson with an inch-perfect cross.

Devoid of any Town markers, the striker almost tried to do too much, possibly with one eye on the Channel Five highlights this evening, sending an acrobatic diving header wide.

On 21 minutes, Hatters had the lead though with a goal out of the very, very top drawer by Guttridge.

Picking up a loose ball 40 yards from goal, he was nonchalance personified, producing an outrageous chip that was in from the moment it left his foot, beating the back-pedalling Dunn.

Lee then tried his luck from 25 yards, but this time Dunn was well placed to save.

However, the U’s heads’ didn’t drop and were quickly back in the ascendancy as Corr volleyed straight at Tyler, with the keeper also making an excellent stop from the United striker’s downward header, pawing it away.

Cambridge remained a threat every time the ball was sent into the box, as it was quickly, often and effectively, the forward pair of Corr and Simpson enjoying the better of things against Wilkinson and Cuthbert, so it was no surprise when the equaliser came on 28 minutes.

Donaldson swung over a deep free kick and this time centre half Leon Legge timed his run perfectly to power beyond Tyler.

Moments later, Mark Roberts was off target from a corner as U’s direct but effective style looked increasingly like it would pay dividends.

Luton did fashion another chance before the break as Guttridge dragged wide, while there was an angry and heated exchange between Cuthbert and Corr as the players left the field.

In the second period, Hatters, after a spell of aimlessly lumping the ball out of play, got it down and threatened a second as Green’s free kick was blocked behind, with the winger then shooting into the side-netting.

However, United broke with speed too, Donaldson denied by a brave block from Griffiths.

The turning point arrived after the hour as Dunk, already on a caution, was adjudged to have deliberately hand balled, so had to go.

From the free kick, Luton retook the lead as Green swung in the perfect delivery and Wilkinson was on hand to send his downward header through Dunn, to the delight of Hatters’ 1,425 travelling fans.

With a goal and man advantage, Luton always looked the more likely to net again, Guttridge’s instinctive header going wide and Lee’s blast flipped over by Dunn.

The third goal did come too in the closing stages as an intricate move on the left flank involving McQuoid and Mackail-Smith saw Green jink past his man and confidently slot into the bottom corner.

With Cambridge already reeling, that blow was one they couldn’t recover from as Hatters’ toasted an opening league win, but remain fully aware, it’s a result and performance from which they now must build on.

United: Chris Dunn, Greg Taylor, Mark Roberts (C), Leon Legge, Ryan Donaldson (Elliot Omozusi 90), Luke Berry, Barry Corr, Harrison Dunk, Robbie Simpson (Conor Newton 86), Liam Hughes (Jacob Blyth 86), Mickey Demetriou.

Subs not used: Jordan Slew, Sam Beasant, Josh Coulson, George Taft.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Stephen O’Donnell, Scott Griffiths, Scott Cuthbert (C), Luke Wilkinson, Danny Green, Olly Lee, Jonathan Smith, Luke Guttridge, Josh McQuoid, Craig Mackail-Smith.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Ryan Hall, Steve McNulty, Magnus Okuonghae, Curtley Williams, Mark O’Brien, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Referee: Graham Salisbury.

Booked: Lee 12, Dunk 41.

Sent off: Dunk 64.

Attendance: 6,298 (1,425 Hatters).

Hatters MOM: Craig Mackail-Smith. Deserved a goal for his endless running. Unbelievable work-rate..

Cambridge United 1 Luton Town 3

Three goals, three points and League Two victory at long, long last – this may have just been the Luton we were promised in pre-season.

The Hatters have been due some luck this term and a red card for Cambridge's Harrison Dunk turned the contest in Town's favour, not that John Still agreed. The manager called the dismissal "poor" and said: "I don't think it was game changer. We've played in a really strong atmosphere away from home and in my opinion I think we've controlled the game against a good side."

But immediately after the hosts were reduced to ten men Luke Wilkinson scored to make it 2-1 and Danny Green added his second in successive games to wrap up the points. It's a result and a performance that could change everything to Town this term.

"A small step on a long road" was how Still rightly described it but they broke the spell of those last-minute blunders and bar Leon Legge's equaliser they were immense at the back under the physical threat of Cambridge's aerial game plan – their only tactic.

Craig Mackail-Smith may not have scored but the striker really helped Town drive home their advantage while Luke Guttridge again raised questions about his omission from the first five league games.

The playmaker was the star turn in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over Leyton Orient and at the Abbey Stadium he followed that up with a goal of the season contender from 40-yards to opening the scoring.

The U's restored parity seven minutes later through Legge – a header, naturally – but that was Luton's only indiscretion.

By law of averages one of Cambridge's relentless crosses had to go in as they set their stall out early and almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute but Wilkinson did enough to put off Barry Corr at the back post and the striker headed Dunk's cross wide of the back post.

Moments after Cambridge squandered a gilt-edged chance, when an unmarked Robbie Simpson sent a flying header wide, Town punished them in the most spectacular of fashions.

Former U's man Guttridge saw Chris Dunn off his line and from lobbed the keeper from the neighbouring postcode. His nonchalance in doing so making it even more mystifying that this was his first Football League appearance of the campaign. He must keep his shirt.

That moment of magic aside, the Hatters had maintained much possession with no penetration and then had to battle with the hosts' direct, aerial bombardments, which was the source of frequent panic in Luton's penalty box. Though the ever dangerous Corr saw Mark Tyler instinctively stoop low to keep out his header, the goalie had no chance seconds later when Legge nodded a bullet past him to equalise. Luton's lead had lasted just seven minutes.

Town survived until the break but there was a multi-player scuffle by the dugouts as they left the pitch, with Scott Cuthbert and Corr the main protagonists and at each other's throats all the way from the halfway line to the tunnel despite a talking to by referee Graham Salisbury.

There was less of the heated stuff immediately after the restart but a niggly first half had virtually ensured this game had a red card in it.

Hatters fans will be more than happy to see referee Graham Salisbury take charge of their contests again after he dismissed Cambridge's Tom Naylor in the same fixture last term. When it came in the 64th minute of this match it was rather innocuous with Dunk dismissed for a hand ball and second yellow card.

But it proved a crucial as from the resulting free-kick Green – who had earlier struck the side netting – found Wilkinson and the centre back powered home a header, delivering a dose of Cambridge's own medicine for his second of the season.

Spearheaded by the ever-ready running of Mackail-Smith, Luton turned on the style and wrapped up their first three points seven minutes from time as they played passes tauntingly around the Cambridge players in the penalty box before Green was able to pick his spot and slide in form 10 yards.

Cambridge: Dunn, Taylor, Roberts, Legge, Donaldson (Omozusi, 92), Berry, Corr, Dunk, Simpson (Newton, 86), Hughes (Blyth, 86), Demetriou

Unused subs: Slew, Beasant, Coulson, Taft

Luton: Tyler, O'Donnell, Smith, Cuthbert, Green, Griffiths, Lee, Guttridge, Mackail-Smith, McQuoid, Wilkinson

Unused subs: McNulty, Hall, Justham, Ruddock Mpanzu, Okuonghae, Williams, O'Brien

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 6,298 (1,425)