Carlisle United vs Luton Town FC (9th Aug 2014)

Carlisle United 0-1 Luton Town Cullen 30

The Hatters began life back in the Football League with a determined 1-0 victory at Carlisle United thanks to Mark Cullen’s first half goal.

The Town striker was on the end of Jake Howells’ cross following a fine move, to give the Hatters a half-time advantage.

Carlisle upped the ante in the second half in which the Hatters resilience shone through as they kept out a barrage of pressure and shots from the home side and in the end the hosts had no answer as the Town held out to record all three points.

The Hatters began with two debutantes in the starting XI, both in defence, in the shape of Luke Wilkinson – at centre-half alongside new captain Stephen McNulty – and, at right-back, Paul Connolly.

And the Hatters, on their return to the Football League, began well as the home faithful – fresh from seeing their side relegated from League 1 last term – showed voices of frustration as the Town neatly passed the ball around the Brunton Park pitch.

Such was their early dominance and confidence the Town should have been ahead on 10 minutes. Carlisle failed to clear their lines down the left and Paul Benson’s cushioned header sent Cullen away. The striker raced clear and into the penalty area but could only curl his left-foot shot wide of the target with Howells screaming for a pass that would have led to a tap-in.

That let-off woke up the hosts. Graham Kavanagh’s side broke with pace on 13 minutes, and as the Town backpedalled, right-back Danny Grainger’s cross was cleared by Wilkinson. Moments later Scott Griffiths did well to head clear the danger as the Cumbrians threatened to pin the Hatters back.

The home pressure continued, and Mark Tyler – making technically his 200th ‘league’ appearance for the Town, but his first in the Football League – was called into action for the first time on 26 minutes when he gathering Brad Potts’ low strike after the United midfielder had weaved through the Town defence.

However, four minutes later, the 1,000 Hatters fans decked in orange were jumping for joy as they saw their side take the lead on the half-hour with a beautifully crafted goal. Benson and Howells were the architects – the former feeding the latter to square across goal to the unmarked Cullen and the striker tucked home from a yard out.

“Luton are back, Luton are back,” chimed the delirious Town support, knowing their lead was a deserved one, and seconds later there was a sniff for a second but Matt Robinson’s left-wing pass into the box fell behind those Hatters players in the penalty area.

With the home support becoming increasingly agitated at their team’s performance, the Town almost snuck a second in before the break when Cullen did brilliantly to worm his way down the left and deliver an arching, delicious cross that was inches from finding Benson’s head in the six-yard box.

Boos rang out from the home support as referee Miller signalled for half-time. It was a much happier story in the away end.

Carlisle began the second period by making a change, bringing on new signing Stephen Elliott, and the home side immediately put the Town under pressure, winning an early corner that was pawed away by Tyler. The Hatters keeper then clung onto a deflected shot from distance by Courtney Meppen-Walter.

However, the home side continued to lay siege on the Hatters’ goal. Tyler then had to do well on 53 minutes to tip over a back-post header from Meppen-Walter from a left-wing corner before the Town number one was in the right place at the right time to block a Billy Paynter shot from a narrow angle.

Paynter wasn’t far away on 58 minutes for the hosts when flicking his header from an Amoo cross inches wide of the post before Meppen-Walter tried his luck from distance again, only to find Tyler’s gloves.

The Town had barely threatened in the second period but almost doubled their lead completely against the run of play on the hour when Andy Drury’s volley from 20 yards that bounced half-a-yard wide of the post with home stopper Mark Gillespie beaten.

Carlisle’s tempo had slowed considerably as the final 25 minutes approached, but the Hatters had a scare with 20 minutes left when Tyler allowed a right-wing cross drift across goal, was robbed of the ball by Gary Dicker out of his goal. However, to the Hatters’ relief, the home midfielder could only find the side-netting with his shot.

After coming close to being pegged back the Hatters all of a sudden sensed a second goal. Drury almost sent Howells through with 15 minutes left before the Town spurned a great chance to make it 2-0 a minute later on 76 minutes. Goalscorer Cullen scampered unchallenged down the right and to byeline but his pass into the six-yard box was missed by both Drury and Benson.

Half-chances followed for the Town as time ticked down and John Still made his first change, introducing Jim Stevenson for his first appearance since November in Drury’s place, with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Paynter fired over on 83 minutes for the hosts before Luke Rooney replaced Howells. And the Town substitute almost set-up a second for the Hatters with four minutes remaining when his cross from the left eluded Benson in the six-yard box.

Rooney and Benson again came close in the first minute of stoppage time when firstly the midfielder’s shot was blocked. Benson then reacted quickest to the follow-up to force Gillespie into a smart save – and that was the final action as the Town ended their first game back in the League with a victory.

Town: Tyler; Connolly, Griffiths, Wilkinson, McNulty; Lacey, Robinson, Drury (sub Stevenson 78); Howells (sub Rooney 83), Cullen, Benson.

Subs not used: Justham, Franks, Wall, Mpanzu Ruddock, Guttridge.

Attendance: 6,760 (actually 6766?) including a magnificent 1,088 backing the Hatters.

Boss pleased with opening day win but refuses to get carried away

It only took four words for John Still to sum up the Town’s victory at Carlisle in their first game in the Football League for five years.

“We played like Luton.”

A year ago the Town fell to an opening day defeat at Southport. “That seems a long time ago now,” added the boss after he has witnessed a battling display earn three points thanks to Mark Cullen’s 30th-minute tap-in after clever build-up play from Matt Robinson, Jake Howells and Paul Benson.

“It was a good day but whether this performance matters in six or eight games up the road is another story,” said Still – refusing to get carried away.

“For now though I am happy because we played like Luton play.

“We played some good football and had to dig in at some difficult times but we got through it.

“For some of the players it was a new experience, but they proved they are not fazed by anything. Quite a few were either making their Football League or club debuts.”

The Town’s triumph was achieved with over 1,000 travelling supporters in attendance.

And Still paid tribute to those who made the long trip up the M1 and M6 to back the team to victory.

“The crowd was fantastic again today as always,” said Still.

“They have earned the chance to come to grounds like Carlisle and others that we will play in this season.”

However, the boss remained cautious despite the excellent result and gutsy performance. You know – never too high, never too low.

“It is important for everyone inside the club to remember that what we are doing at the moment is making steps, small steps,” added Still.

“You know I will not get too excited until the job is done and we have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be.

“As the old saying goes, we will always just take one step at a time.”

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/carlisle-win-in-photos-1816332.aspx

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

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

Carlisle 0 Luton Town 1

Luton Town enjoyed a superb return to life in League Two with a battling 1-0 win at Carlisle United this afternoon.

Hatters took the lead through Mark Cullen’s first half tap-in, before producing a determined rearguard performance in the second half as they shut out a Cumbrians side who were relegated from League One last season.

The visitors handed debuts to summer signings Paul Connolly and Luke Wilkinson, while midfielder Andy Drury also started on his second spell at the club.

Alex Lacey was handed a role in midfield as was Matt Robinson, while Mark Cullen partnered Paul Benson upfront.

Hosts Carlisle gave starts to new signings Danny Grainger, Billy Paynter and Gary Dicker, while last season’s top scorer David Amoo was fit after shaking off an ankle injury.

Any nerves Hatters might have had in stepping up a division weren’t on display early on as they more than held their own, Matt Robinson almost fashioning a shooting chance, snuffed out by Courtney Meppen-Walter’s crunching challenge.

Town should have been in front on 11 minutes when a defensive error was pounced upon by Paul Benson, who nodded Mark Cullen into the clear.

He raced away, but with just Mark Gillespie to beat, screwed wide of the target, leaving the unmarked Jake Howells yelling in frustration.

The hosts first real chance saw Alex Marrow expose a lack of real pace in Town’s midfield, charging away to set up a crossing position, but Hatters’ defence did enough.

Another Cumbrians’ midfielder Brad Potts then set off on a surging run into the box as Luton’s defence stood off, only to shoot straight at Mark Tyler, while debutant Wilkinson almost got caught out by Amoo’s drop of the shoulder, the striker firing well over.

Town had the lead on the half hour mark though as striker Paul Benson and Jake Howells linked superbly on the right hand side and the forward’s cross was tapped in from a mere yard by Cullen.

Hatters almost had a second instantly after another incisive break, but Robinson’s cross was just behind the awaiting Benson.

The Cumbrians, who jeered off by a small section of support at the break, made a change for the second period as new signing Stephen Elliott replaced Grainger.

It was Carlisle who came out full of fire too, Tyler clawing a corner away and then Paytner demanding a penalty for handball against McNulty, but nothing was given.

McNulty had to get his timings just right to produce a sliding intervention and stop the pacy Amoo in the box, while Tyler flipped Meppen-Walker’s header over the top.

With the Cumbrians’ tails well and truly up, Town couldn’t get their foot on the ball though for the early parts of the second period, weathering attack after attack.

First Potts beat Connolly near the by-line and his cross trickled across the box with Paynter denied well by a sprawling Tyler.

Paynter did then beat the keeper on the hour mark with a glancing header from Amoo’s delivery, but his effort fell just the wrong side of the post.

After being under the pump for long periods, Town then came within inches of a second as Drury unleashed a lovely angled volley from outside the box that flew just off target.

An uncharacteristic error from Tyler almost led to a leveller as he misjudged and then had his pocket picked by Dicker, but luckily for Town’s keeper, the midfielder could only send his shot behind the goal.

Benson had started to look increasingly isolated upfront and forced to live off scraps, but to their credit, Hatters’ backline, marshalled excellently by skipper McNulty, stuck to their task commendably and gained in confidence with every clearance made.

With 20 minutes to go, Luton came back to life once more as Howells failed to make the most of Drury’s through ball.

Hatters created an even better opportunity when Cullen escaped on the flank as his cross was about to be volleyed home by Drury, only for Benson to get in his way and the chance went betting.

Jim Stevenson then came on for Drury for his first Hatters action since November 2013 and also his Football League debut, while Still replaced Howells with Luke Rooney.

Town could have sealed victory in the closing stages, as Rooney’s shot was blocked, with Benson quickest to the rebound, although he was denied by the body of Gillespie.

It mattered little though as Hatters’ defence held out for a richly deserved clean sheet to ensure their 1,088 travelling fans could celebrate a perfect start to life back in the league.

Carlisle: Mark Gillespie, Danny Grainger (Stephen Elliott 46), Matty Robson, Alex Marrow, David Amoo (Danny Kearns 76), Billy Paynter, Gary Dicker, Courtney Meppen-Walter, Brad Potts, David Symington, Sean O’Hanlon (C).

Subs not used: Anthony Sweeney, Paul Thirwell, Patrick Brough, Dan Hanford (GK), Kyle Dempsey.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Paul Connolly, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Alex Lacey, Andy Drury (Jim Stevenson 79), Matt Robinson, Jake Howells (Luke Rooney 83), Paul Benson, Mark Cullen.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Fraser Franks, Alex Wall, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Guttridge.

Booked: Connolly 64.

Referee: Nigel Miller.

Attendance: 6,760 (1,088 Hatters).