Gillingham vs Luton Town FC (30th Aug 2016)

PUBLISHED 22:37 30th August 2016 Historic night for Hatters in the Checkatrade Trophy

Gillingham 1 (Oldaker 90+1) Luton Town 2 (Musonda 10, Smith 22)

Att: 2,128 (137 away)

A youthful Hatters side pulled off a Checkatrade Trophy shock at Gillingham tonight by winning 2-1 with goals from Frankie Musonda and Jonathan Smith, and outplaying their League One opponents for long parts of the first match of the new group stage.

With injuries and illness having taken their toll on the Hatters squad playing their eighth game in 25 days, plus midfielder Glen Rea being away with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, manager Nathan Jones took the opportunity to give squad members important game time.

Youth team right-back Kavan Cotter came in for his debut, while goalkeeper Craig King also made his first start along with Tyreeq Bakinson and Akin Famewo. There was a first competitive start for Isaac Vassell up front too, after several sub appearances since joining from Non-League Truro City in the summer.

History was also made in injury time when Under-16s striker Connor Tomlinson came on for his debut, at 15 years and 199 days old the youngest ever to do so for Luton Town.

The Hatters started the game brightly, knocking the ball around well and a swift passing exchange between Tyreeq Bakinson and Jake Gray almost got Isaac Vassell into the box.

The ex-Truro man, making his first competitive start in a Town shirt, was looking lively but it was James Justin – once more playing in the left-back role in which he made his senior debut against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup – who had the first shot on goal in the sixth minute, calling home keeper Stuart Nelson into a full length save from outside the area.

The Town made the breakthrough on ten minutes when Jake Gray delivered a free-kick from deep on the right flank, and Musonda stole in unmarked to nod past Nelson.

The young Hatters continued to impress, but Craig King – making his senior debut in goal for the Town – was the next keeper called into action, saving well from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in the 23rd minute.

Within a minute, however, the Town’s lead was doubled. Gray beat his man on the right wing and crossed low, with the ball finding its way via a couple of deflections to Smith, who smashed home his second goal of the season from eight yards.

The Hatters were steaming into tackles and looking strong beyond many of their years, and with Gray and Smith dominating midfield, they were looking comfortable against their League One opponents.

A surging run from Gray just after the half-hour put Zane Banton into a promising position, but his shot from the edge of the box was charged down.

The backline still had to be on their guard, but youth teamer Kavan Cotter was having an excellent night at right-back while Akin Famewo slid to intercept a Bradley Dack attempt to put Cody McDonald in the clear.

It was the Town who continued to look most dangerous, however, and Vassell forced a save out of Nelson on 43 minutes when he broke clear into the box, and with 45 minutes on the clock, Famewo rose to meet Gray’s corner at the far post, but was off target with his header.

In the opening seconds of the second half, Vassell raced clear once again, only for his shot to be blocked by Josh Pask, and the hosts didn’t threaten until the 58th minute, when King had to race off his line to save bravely at McDonald’s feet, and just after the hour when the young keeper had

Vassell went down under a challenge from Pask, but referee John Busby waved play on, and then – on 65 minutes – Banton wriggled free in the middle of the penalty area and appeared to be pulled back as he prepared to shoot. Again, Busby gave nothing as Nelson cleared the loose ball.

In the 69th minute the game was almost put to bed when Vassell’s explosive pace took him clear between the home centre-halves, and his cross to the far post found the magnificent Smith, who couldn’t keep his header down at full stretch with the goal at his mercy.

Gillingham soon had a great chance to get back in the game when Darren Oldaker’s shot ricocheted into the path of sub Bradley Stevenson ten yards out, but King again saved well and as the game wore on, it was the Town who continued to carry the main threat.

With two minutes left, King had to save with his feet at the near post from Jake Hessenthaler, and then Darren Oldaker reduced the arrears with a strike from the edge of the box in the first minute of time added on.

But the Town backline held firm to record a terrific and well-deserved victory and boss Jones had opportunity to introduce Connor Tomlinson from the bench in time added on.

At 15 years and 199 days old, the Under-16s striker could play onlyu with permission from his headteacher at Harlington Upper School and he became the Hatters’ youngest ever player, beating Jordan Patrick who was 16 years and nine days.

2,128 (137 away)

TOWN: King, Cotter, Musonda, Famewo, Justin, Bakinson, Smith, Gray, Banton (Tomlinson 90+2), Vassell, McQuoid (Atkinson 84). Subs: Gooch (GK), Read, Hinds, Bean, Snelus.

Yellows: Banton, McQuoid

GILLINGHAM: Nelson, Ehmer, Hessenthaler, McDonald, Osadebe, Pask, Oldaker, List, Dickenson (Stevenson 61), Dack, Emmanuel-Thomas. Subs: Bond, O'Hara, Oshilaja, Donnelly, Cundle, Wright.

Yellows: List

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-gillingham-checkatrade-trophy-3282250.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3pDo9JY88A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6jg5RpVvWE

Luton Town proved they’ve got a rich crop of young talent to be reckoned with as they deservedly beat League One Gillingham 2-1 in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Frankie Musonda and Jonathan Smith scored inside the first 25 minutes as part of a dominant first half and, even when Darren Oldaker halved the deficit late on, Town still had time to make history.

Connor Tomlinson was given a few injury-time seconds to become the club’s youngest player at 15 years and 199 days, having needed permission from his Harlington Upper headteacher to play a part.

Yet Luton may find that they’ve broken the school rules. The new format of this competition stipulates that Luton would have had to either field five players from Saturday’s 3-0 League Two win over Cambridge, or five players that will start in this weekend’s clash against Wycombe.

Though a completely changed starting line-up here, comprising six Academy graduates, acquired themselves magnificently, the sensible money will be on few, if any, starting the next game.

That could mean a fine for Town, but with competition prize-money for a win (£10,000) outweighing the maximum £5,000 slap on the wrist for a breach of the rules, then it was a thoroughly worthwhile evening.

The inexperienced Hatters side started superbly and were ahead in the 10th minute when Musonda headed in his first competitive Town goal.

Then in the 24th minute Town rampaged toward the Gills goal through the excellent Jake Gray and his byline cutback found its way to Smith who smashed home with interest to double Luton’s lead.

Isaac Vassell – on his first start for the club – almost made it three just before the break when he burst through but just couldn’t nick it past the outrushing keeper Stuart Nelson, while Akin Famewo headed Gray’s corner into the wrong side of the netting to complete a wonderful first half display.

Vassell and Smith both had chance early in the second period but when, on 58 minutes, Cody McDonald evaded Luton attentions in the box, Craig King - on his Hatters pro debut - was quick off his line to keep the Gills striker out, repeating the trick from a less threatening angle three minutes later.

The Hatters twice had decent shouts for spot-kicks waved away as Zane Banton and Vassell both appeared to be impeded in penalty area.

Smith should have put the game to bed on 69 minutes when Vassell raced down the wing and clipped a cross to him at the back post but, with the goal at his mercy, the midfielder headed over from point blank range.

Gillingham matched that for inaccuracy as substitute Bradley Stevenson fluffed his lines from close range after the ball ricocheted into his path.

King then kept Jake Hessenthaler out with his feet, but he could do little to prevent a Oldaker pile driver from finding the net at the death.

Even that was upstaged when Tomlinson replaced Banton to become Luton’s youngest ever player in what was a fabulous night all round for the Hatters.

Match facts

Gillingham: Nelson; Ehmer, Hessenthaler, McDonald, Osadebe, Pask, Oldaker, List, Dickenson (Stevenson, 61), Dack (O’Hara, 45), Thomas (Donnelly, 45)

Unused subs: Bond, Oshilaja, Cundle, Wright

Luton: King, Cotter, Musonda, Famewo, JJ, Smith Bakinson, Gray, Banton (Tomlinson, 90+2), Vassell, McQuoid (Atkinson, 84)

Unused subs: Snelus, Hinds, Bean, Read, Gooch

Referee: John Busby Attendance: 2,128 (137)

IF you want a conveyor belt of homegrown talent, then look no further than Kenilworth Road, as a Luton team chock-a-block with starlets comfortably beat a more experienced League One Gillingham team in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Frankie Musonda and Jonathan Smith scored the first half goals as the Hatters added some real value to this much-derided and experimental new competition format.

They may yet fall foul of the rules, but, in some cases, rules are there to be broken and Luton have created an interesting precedent.

The Hatters were one of the few dissenting Football League clubs in the summer that voted against this Football League Trophy's revamped format of incorporating some Premier League Under-21 teams – which, at worst, some fans feared was the thin end of the wedge for introducing elite academy B-teams in the lower leagues – but no-one can say they did not take it seriously, regardless of the rules.

These are that Football League sides must field five players that started the last first-team game, or that will start the next. Eleven changes were made here and, despite their top drawer performances, it is unlikely that five of that team will start against Wycombe on Saturday.

But the Football League should think long and hard about punishing the club because of the standard on show at the Priestfield Stadium. And, even if the competition's governing body do slap their wrists, Luton will come out quids in regardless. With £10,000 prize money for a win and and only a maximum fine of £5,000 for breach of rules it will be not only be a financially advantageous night but absolutely priceless in terms of game time for the club's promising crop of young players.

Indeed, while the new format was billed as an attempt to develop elite clubs' homegrown players, the Hatters proved they are already streets ahead on that front.

Their young guns are ready right now.

Among the wholesale changes were six Academy graduates – four that had already made their professional debuts plus Craig King and Kavan Cotter who were handed theirs. They contributed to the demolition of a team from a higher division complete with half a dozen first team players.

Add you can even add a new record and a potential new name to Town's growing list of starlets as, for the final few seconds, Connor Tomlinson, at 15 years and 199 days, was introduced to become the youngest ever Luton player. That beat by some distance previous holder of that honour, Jordan Patrick, who was 16 years and seven days old when he made his bow.

The young bucks started the game like lightning and, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, they were 2-0 up inside 22 minutes. First centre back Musonda headed in Jake Gray's free-kick for his first ever competitive goal, then the midfielder claimed a second assist with a darting run to the byline. His pull-back bounced perfectly for Smith who rammed home from eight yards. It was no more than they deserved for a sterling first half display, but Isaac Vassell and Akin Famewo may still be kicking themselves that they didn't make it 3-0.

When the hosts did threaten, keeper King was there to deny the Gills; first former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanual-Thomas in the first half and Cody McDonald twice in the second.

The Hatters had two penalty shouts dismissed as Zane Banton and Vassell both seemed to be impeded, but Smith should have put the game to bed on 69 minutes. Instead he headed over from point blank range with the goal gaping.

When Gillingham substitute Bradley Stevenson missed a sitter it looked like Town would also come away with a much-deserved clean sheet but King could do little to stop a Darren Oldaker pile driver at the death.

Still Luton had the final say of a magnificent night when Tomlinson – who had needed permission from his Harlington Upper school headteacher to take part in the game – became the latest in a currently rich line of Luton youth players to make the step up to the first team.

The Football League will do well to remember just what Luton are achieving with homegrown talent.

Gillingham: Nelson; Ehmer, Hessenthaler, McDonald, Osadebe, Pask, Oldaker, List, Dickenson (Stevenson, 61), Dack (O'Hara, 45), Thomas (Donnelly, 45) Unused subs: Bond, Oshilaja, Cundle, Wright

Luton: King, Cotter, Musonda, Famewo, JJ, Smith Bakinson, Gray, Banton (Tomlinson, 90+2), Vassell, McQuoid (Atkinson, 84) Unused subs: Snelus, Hinds, Bean, Read, Gooch

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 2,128 (137)