Gillingham vs Luton Town FC (6th Oct 2015)

PUBLISHED 22:06 6th October 2015 Hatters exit JPT at Priestfield

GILLINGHAM 2-1 LUTON TOWN

The Hatters bowed out at the second round stage of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy following a narrow defeat at League 1 Gillingham. A much-changed Town side led at half-time thanks to Cameron McGeehan’s goal four minutes before the interval. But after John Still made three half-time changes, the hosts took control and Max Ehmer levelled on 65 minutes moments after home goalkeeper Stuart Nelson had denied Josh McQuoid a second Town goal.

Having got themselves level the home side pushed forward and substitute Bradley Dack fired home the Gills’ winner with seven minutes left to send Justin Edinburgh’s through to the area quarter-finals.

The Town began showing six changes to the side that won at Hartlepool on Saturday, fielding a completely different back four. The defence of Alex Lawless, Dan Potts, Mark O’Brien and Magnus Okuonghae were joined by Nathan Doyle, who skippered the side, and striker Jack Marriott fresh from his two goals in the weekend win in the North East.

League 1 high-flyers Gillingham were the Football League’s leading goalscorers on home soil but the new-look Hatters defence were rarely troubled in a low key opening first 45 minutes that saw neither Mark Tyler, or the Gills’ keeper Nelson, tested.

However, the home custodian was the one man who had to pick the ball out of the net as the Town went in front four minutes before the break. A tidy move from the Hatters led to Potts swinging in a deep left-wing cross to the back-post towards McGeehan who bravely got across his man to guide a header down and beyond Nelson. It was the midfielder’s fifth goal of the season.

At the start of the second half Still made a triple substitution, introducing Ryan Hall, Scott Griffiths and Danny Green for McGeehan, Guttridge and Olly Lee. The changes saw Griffiths slot in at right-back and Lawless move into a middle three alongside Hall and Green with Josh McQuoid and Marriott in attack.

Gillingham started the second half the brighter of the two sides but the Town defence stood firm as Edinburgh’s Gills chased an equaliser, forcing a number of corners that the Hatters dealt with well.

With the hosts pushing upfield, the Town’s best chances were on the break and on 62 minutes McQuoid was unlucky not to score his first goal in Luton colours when twice going close. Having been found by Hall the striker firstly saw a shot blocked before his follow-up was well-saved by the outstretched arm of Nelson.

And that save from the home goalkeeper was crucial for the Gills, as three minutes later, they levelled. Potts made a mess of a back-header to Tyler but made up by blocking Cody McDonald’s shot behind for a corner. However, the Town couldn’t clear their lines from the resultant right-wing flag-kick with Green’s header back into the dangerzone leading to McDonald testing Tyler but Ehmer was first to the follow-up, lashing a firm shot home.

Having had their lead wiped out, the Town came close to restoring their advantage on 67 minutes when Hall was inches away from connecting with Marriott’s right-wing centre. Ten minutes later Green curled a free-kick just wide from 25 yards and on 77 minutes Marriott raced onto Green’s throughball but was just beaten to the ball on the edge of the box by Nelson.

However, with seven minutes to go, the Gills took the lead with two substitutes combining. Bradley Garrison sped up the left past Griffiths to square for McDonald. His near-post shot was blocked by Tyler but Dack was on hand to fire home the loose ball from close range.

The Town rallied in the closing stages as they looked to take the tie to penalties but Potts sliced their best chance wide of the post in the final minute when well placed – and that was that.

Town: Tyler; Lawless, Potts, Okuonghae, O'Brien; Doyle, Lee (sub Griffiths 46); McQuoid, Guttridge (sub Green 46), McGeehan (sub Hall 46); Marriott.

Subs not used: Justham, Wilkinson. [Attendance 3428]

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-gillingham-2-1-town-2732139.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7MAM6sElmM

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round: Gillingham 2 Luton Town 1

Luton Town went out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy this evening after a late goal by Gillingham’s Bradley Dack took the League One side through to the third round.

It had looked like Hatters would force penalties at least at the Priestfield Stadium after Cameron McGeehan’s first half strike was cancelled out by Max Ehmer.

However, Dack came off the bench to sweep home the winner as a much-changed Luton, who won the competition back in 2009, made a dignified exit.

Boss John Still opted to make six alterations to his team for the tie, with Dan Potts, Alex Lawless, Jack Marriott, Nathan Doyle, Magnus Okuonghae and Mark O’Brien all coming in.

Hatters couldn’t get going in the opening 15 minutes though as Gillingham had the only moments of note, Brennan Dickenson firing over from 25 yards, while Cody McDonald volleyed a corner off target.

Despite neither side even coming remotely close after that, Luton were somehow in front on 41 minutes.

Luke Guttridge managed to draw the hosts out of position and found Potts whose deflected cross was met perfectly by the run of McGeehan to nod home a fifth of the campaign.

Hatters almost had an immediate second as Olly Lee’s shot was gathered by Stuart Nelson after some neat link-up play with Josh McQuoid.

Still made three clearly pre-planned changes at the break, bringing on Danny Green, Ryan Hall and Scott Griffiths, resting goalscorer McGeehan, Lee and Guttridge with an eye on Saturday’s clash against York City.

Griffiths took up an unaccustomed right back role, but made one fine clearing header at the back post as Gills finally upped their pressure.

You always sensed Hatters had a break away goal in them though and it was almost the case on the hour mark as Hall found McQuoid and he was denied by a fine low save by Nelson.

The Gills were level on 65 minutes though as Town paid the price for some awful defending, as from Green’s misdirected header, Okuonghae couldn’t clear the loose ball and although Tyler saved with his legs, Max Ehmer had the easy task of side-footing home.

McDonald headed over at the back post as Luton started to look shaky at the back, but Town did settle down once more and came close on 77 minutes with Green’s delightful through ball from deep was just stolen off Marriott’s toes by Nelson in the nick of time.

With spot kicks looming, Gills had the winner with six minutes go to as Bradley Garmston overlapped Griffiths on the left flank for Dack to make it 2-1.

Luton had a glorious chance to equaliser with time running out as Hall’s cute flick reached Potts in a wonderful position only for the full back to shank a volley well wide.

Gills: Stuart Nelson (C), Max Ehmer, Jordan Houghton (Bradley Dack 71), Jake Hessenthaler, Cody McDonald, Jermaine McGlashan, Aaron Morris, Emmanuel Osadebe, Luke Norris (Ben Williamson 62), Brennan Dickerson (Bradley Garmston 75), Harry Lennon. Subs not used: Glenn Morris, Josh Wright.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Alex Lawless, Dan Potts, Magnus Okuonghae, Mark O’Brien, Nathan Doyle (C), Olly Lee (Scott Griffiths 46), Josh McQuoid, Luke Guttridge (Ryan Hall 46), Cameron McGeehan (Danny Green 46), Jack Marriott.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Luke Wilkinson.

Referee: Michael Bull. Booked: Guttridge 43, Green 62, McGlashan 74.

Hatters MOM: Mark O’Brien - defender enjoyed a rare outing in his preferred centre half position.

Hatters boss John Still was fulsome in praise of his side despite their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit at the hands of Gillingham on Tuesday night.

Luton made five changes for the clash against their League One opponents, while also opting for a triple substitution at the break, giving both Danny Green and Ryan Hall run outs.

The Hatters had led through Cameron McGeehan’s fifth of the season, before Max Ehmer and Bradley Dack netted after the break as Still said: “I was delighted with our performance, I thought first half we controlled it.

“Second half, they’ve come into it, but we’ve made some more changes and I wouldn’t have put a team out that I didn’t think could win.

“In the end, we’ve pushed again and I was really, really pleased.

“I thought it was a really, really, really good first half, football-wise, we had to work our socks off second half.

“One or two people like Magnus (Okuonghae) and Mark O’Brien haven’t played a lot defensively and (Dan) Potts, so they probably got a little bit tired at the end.

“But it was valuable time for them and they’ve all put in good performances, so I’m absolutely delighted with the group of players who’ve been involved.”

With the likes of Alex Lawless, Okuonghae and O’Brien getting run-outs, while Nathan Doyle had 90 minutes too, Still felt whatever the result, it was a worthwhile exercise.

He added: “I’m always disappointed when you lose but I’m a realist.

“It’s important that the people who played got that time because they have to show that they’re ready to come and play if we’ve got a problem regular first team wise.

“Some of these boys haven’t had enough football, that’s not their fault, it’s just the way it is, but I say everyone has done their bit.

“We went with Lawless at right back who did very, very well, Magnus and O’Brien playing together at first team level.

“Doyle was very good, he lasted the game well, Pottsy was very good, while early on I thought Olly Lee, Cam and Gutts (Luke Guttridge) were terrific.

“Getting Green on and Hally on was to give them the time that they deserve, in a little bit of unfamiliar positions, so I thought they did ever so well.

“I’m disappointed to lose, of course I am, but more happy than disappointed.”

Gillingham 2 Luton Town 1

It may not have been as late as some of the hammer blows that have struck Luton Town this season but Bradley Dack's goal towards the end for Gillingham knocked them out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Costly late lapses blighted the start of the Hatters campaign and, after their excellent recent run, this was a reminder of how cruel football can be.

It was much-changed team named by manager John Still, but it was one that led the League One side 1-0 at half-time thanks to Cameron McGeehan scoring four minutes before the break.

It looked as if first team coach Hakan Hayrettin's belief that any side named by Luton was good enough to claim victory was being vindicated but the Gills reminded why they are riding high in their division in the second half.

The JPT may be a much-maligned competition, but it is one that Hatters fans hold close to their hearts and sadly, there will be no repeat of the glorious run of 2008/09.

Luton named a completely different back four to the one named at Hartlepool as Alex Lawless, Magnus Okuonghae, Mark O'Brien and Dan Potts all came in.

Jack Marriott was also rewarded for his recent heroics from the bench with a start in a match at Priestfield that was low key to the point where Luton took the lead.

Potts was able to swing in an accurate cross from the left that was attacked by McGeehan at the back post and he guided a header beyond Gillingham 'keeper Stuart Nelson for his fifth goal of the season.

The start of the second half saw yet more changes for Town as Still replaced McGeehan, Luke Guttridge and Olly Lee with Ryan Hall, Scott Griffiths and Danny Green in a triple substitution.

Gillingham began to force the visitors into more work defensively but Luton were able to hit them on the break with one such counter ending with Josh McQuoid being denied by a good save by Nelson.

The Gills were to then draw level on 65 minutes as a corner wasn't cleared properly by Green and after Cody McDonald challenged Hatters goalkeeper Mark Tyler, Max Ehmer lashed into the net.

Town strived to restore their lead as Green sent a free kick from 25 yards just wide before Nelson had to come out to the edge of his area to beat Marriott to the ball.

But two substitutes were to prove to be their undoing with seven minutes left as Bradley Garrison beat Griffiths down the left wing before squaring for McDonald.

Tyler was able to block his shot but Dack was on hand to tuck in the rebound from close range and Luton were unable to find a way back in the time that remained.

Gillingham: Nelson, A Morris, Lennon, Ehmer, Dickenson (Garmston 74), McGlashan, Osadebe, Houghton (Dack 66), Hessenthaler, Norris (Williamson 63), McDonald

Unused subs: G Morris, Wright

Luton Town: Tyler; Lawless, Potts, Okuonghae, O'Brien; Doyle, Lee (sub Griffiths 46); McQuoid, Guttridge (sub Green 46), McGeehan (sub Hall 46); Marriott.

Subs not used: Justham, Wilkinson.

Referee: Michael Bull