Chester FC vs Luton Town FC (16th Nov 2013)

The Hatters extended their unbeaten run in the Skrill Premier to 11 matches – but had to settle for a point at Chester.

Leading through Andre Gray’s 11 minutes the Town looked all set to record a second successive win on the road but Chester fought back to earn a draw when Gareth Seddon’s fine finish beat Mark Tyler.

The Hatters enjoyed the better of the chances in the second half and came close to grabbing all three points in the dying stages but couldn’t find a winner.

Despite turning up to the Deva Stadium late after the team coach encountered traffic en-route, the Town started on top.

Gray had his first sight of goal after 90 seconds, firing inches wide after turning in the box before thundering a shot high and wide of goal a minute later having latched onto a superb touch from strike-partner Paul Benson.

As the Town pushed for an early goal, captain Ronnie Henry volleyed over the crossbar on four minutes but, on 11 minutes, their pressure paid off when Gray fired the Hatters in front. After a series of headers inside the box, the ball dropped to the feet of the striker and he turned and smashed home an unstoppable shot past John Danby in the Chester goal. It was his seventh goal of the season.

The goal was no more than the Hatters deserved for an accomplished opening to the game and Gray almost had a chance for a second goal on 18 minutes when he seized on an error from home defender Ross Killock and thumped a shot goalwards – but Killock managed to get back, block the effort and apologise to his team-mates.

However, after that let-off, Chester upped the ante. The Town survived a penalty appeal when a bicycle kick from Seddon deflected off of Steve McNulty behind for a corner – with referee Darren Handley waving away the handball shouts.

But the Hatters weren’t so lucky on 23 minutes when Chester levelled. The Town failed to clear their lines and Seddon arrowed a rising shot past the dive of Mark Tyler to send the home supporters into raptures.

Buoyed by their equaliser, the hosts continue to press. Half-chances came and went as the Hatters were pushed back and Seddon almost created a second goal for Chester four minutes before the break when his flick-on found Craig Mahon but his volley from the edge of the box flew wide.

After such a promising start, the Town allowed the hosts to end the first half on top and right-back Chris Lester raced upfield to shoot wide in the last action of the first 45 minutes.

Seven minutes after the restart, the Hatters almost retook the lead when Alex Lawless’ goal-bound volley was blocked bravely by Danny Higginbotham from the edge of the box. Three minutes later, Danby held a Benson header from a right-wing cross from Parry.

Gray was denied a second thanks to another block – this time Killock denying the striker’s shot from just inside the area following Lawless’ pass. Lawless then curled an effort wide after a well-worked move on 66 minutes.

John Still introduced Mark Cullen on 66 minutes and Jake Howells six minutes later in a bid to find a winner but it was Gray who came within a whisker of making it 2-1 on 76 minutes when he turned brilliantly in the box and saw his fierce drive tipped behind by Danby.

With 10 minutes left Cullen inadvertently got in the way of a goal-bound rocket of a shot from Scott Griffiths after Chester had gifted the Hatters a corner.

As time ticked into three minutes of stoppage time the Town came within a whisker of winning all three points when Jonathan Smith’s volley from the edge of the box dropped inches the wrong side of the post and that was the last action as the Hatters extended their unbeaten league run further.

TOWN: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, McNulty, Lacey; Smith, Parry; Guttridge (sub Howells 72, Lawless (sub Whalley 82), Gray; Benson (sub Cullen 66). Subs not used: Stevenson, Justham.

Attendance: 3,291

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Boss happy to come through away fixtures

After six games and 1,400 miles the Town completed their record-equalling record of consecutive away fixtures by extending the unbeaten run in the Skrill Premier to 11 games on Saturday.

The 1-1 draw at Chester made it four successive league fixtures on the road without defeat, consisting of two wins and two draws, and it was something manager John Still was delighted with.

“I don’t know how many away games that’s been, but to go through them unbeaten in the league is brilliant,” he said on Saturday.

“When I look at the fixtures, you think there’s going to be one away fixture where you don’t do as well, but we haven’t had one, so I’m delighted with that.

“With the run of games and everything in context, I’m absolutely ecstatic as it would have been easy not to get something.”

The Town came through a difficult start to the day when the team coach was stuck in traffic, which meant kick-off was pushed back to 3.15.

Andre Gray’s earlier goal had the Hatters in front but Gareth Seddon’s equaliser earned the home side a share of the spoils.

“We’ve not had the best day with the travel and the road being closed, getting here late and started late, but the boys responded fantastic,” said Still.

“Chester were hanging around a bit as well before kick-off, so the first 10-15 minutes for both teams can be awkward. You never know how that’s going to work out.

“They’ve had a go which everyone does when they play us, but we overcame that and went 1-0 up, but they deservedly got back into the game.

“I thought we looked a touch tired in the first half, but not so second half.

“The second half we responded brilliantly and put in a really good performance.”

Hard-working Hatters denied victory by dogged Chester

Skrill Premier: Chester 1 (1) Luton Town 1 (1)

Promotion hopefuls Luton were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Chester this afternoon as their hosts dug deep at the end to preserve a point, writes Mark Wood.

The Hatters bossed the start of the first half and deservedly took the lead through Andre Gray’s powerful low strike. But City levelled through Gareth Seddon’s brilliant low strike as they dominated the rest of the first half.

However, the Hatters had the better of the encounter and only a series of fantastic blocks denied them a winner, while Jonathan Smith’s last-gasp effort flashed just wide of the post as Town had to settle for just a point.

A season-high attendance at the Deva Stadium of 3,291 was boosted by a large number of Hatters who made the six-hour round-trip to Cheshire.

Despite staying just 25-miles away overnight, a road closure caused the Hatters to arrive late as kick-off was pushed back by 15 minutes.

Luton made just one change to the side that triumphed 2-1 at Braintree on Tuesday night, Luke Guttridge coming into the starting XI as Jake Howells dropped to the bench.

Town made a decent start as Gray dragged wide two minutes in before drilling an overly ambitious effort from range over after Paul Benson’s exquisite touch from Scott Griffiths pass had been laid expertly into his path.

It was a bright and busy start from the Hatters who were straight on to the front foot, but skipper

Ronnie Henry could only lash well wide from outside the box after John Danby had punched out Guttridge’s cross.

And Town made their dominance pay as they took a well-deserved lead on 11 minutes. Alex Lawless headed the ball back into the area and Gray, with his back to goal, wriggled free before turning and drilling into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Hatters continued to boss the opening stages as Ross Killock gave the ball away in a dangerous position on 17 minutes and Guttridge sent Gray clear but, having skipped past his man, Killock recovered superbly to block a great chance.

The energetic Smith had a volley blocked and Lawless rolled a tame effort straight at Danby before City started to fight back.

Strong appeals for a penalty were waved away on 20 minutes when Seddon’s acrobatic overhead kick seemed to came off Steve McNulty’s arm from point-blank range and behind for a corner, while Killock’s looping header was easy for Mark Tyler.

However, Chester did level on 23 minutes when the ball ran kindly for Seddon 20 yards out and his low drive left Tyler clasping at air.

It was suddenly all the hosts as Craig Lindfield threatened to break on to McNulty’s weak back header before Alex Lacey finished the job.

Smith was booked as he caught his man late, but referee Darren Handley seemed content to let plenty go as Chester proceeded to enjoy a number of slightly controversial decision.

The hosts continued to push as they looked to take the lead, having one shot blocked while another corner flashed across the box.

Hesitancy between Tyler and his two centre-halved led to some confusion as the game finally started to settle down.

Smith dragged a non-threatening effort well wide before the Seals almost grabbed a second a minute before the break when Seddon’s flick ran nicely for Craig Mahon and his effort swerved just past the far post.

Danny Higginbotham was forced into a brave block seven minutes into the second half when he threw himself in the way of an Alex Lawless piledriver.

Danby then had to be aware to hold Benson’s fine flick header from Henry’s cross as a cagier second half ensued.

More good combination play saw Lawless release Gray on 64 minutes, but Killock produced another fine block before Smith’s driving run set up Lawless, but he could only curl wide.

Mark Cullen replaced Benson on 66 minutes as Town continued to break forward to good effect, but without being able to find the killer ball.

Luton looked to claim victory as they brought Howells on for Guttridge with 18 minutes to play.

Great play by Gray ended in his cross-shot being turned away by Danby, was the visitors looked to finish strongly, while Griffiths’ lasered effort from fully 35 yards with nine minutes to go looked to be heading in, only for it to hit the unwitting Cullen in the box.

Lawless was then replaced by Shaun Whalley as Town used up all of the subs going into the final minutes.

A dangerous late City free-kick beat everybody in the box , while Howells’ tantalising cross was somehow ushered away by the hosts, before Town almost grabbed victory in stoppage time when McNulty chested the ball into the path of Smith but his dipping volley flashed inches wide of the far post as the hosts hung on for a draw.

Blues (4-2-3-1): John Danby, Jason Jarrett, Craig Lindfield, Lewis Turner, Kevin McIntyre, Ashley Williams (Michael Kay 90+1), Danny Higginbotham (C), Gareth Seddon, Craig Mahon (Joe Heath 90+3), Ross Killock, Chris Lester. Substitutes not used: Paul Linwood, Conor Wilkinson, Jamie Reed.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Alex Lawless (Shaun Whalley 82), Scott Griffiths, Andy Parry, Luke Guttridge (Jake Howells 72), Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson ( Mark Cullen 66), Andre Gray, Alex Lacey. Substitutes not used: Elliot Justham, Jim Stevenson.

Booked: Smith 30.

Referee: Darren Handley. Assistant Referees: Matthew Donohue and Ian Johnston. Fourth Official: Mark Powell.

Attendance: 3,291 (Luton 890).

Star Hatter: Scott Griffiths - Tenacious, committed and battling performance from the experienced full-back.