Hartlepool United vs Luton Town FC (18th Oct 2014)

Report: Hartlepool United 1-2 Luton Town

The Hatters became the first club in League 2 to record five successive victories as goals from Mark Cullen and Jim Stevenson kept up their fine run of form at Hartlepool.

Cullen, on his 50th appearance, put the Town ahead five minutes before the break before substitute Stevenson scored his first goal for the club with nine minutes left to double the Hatters’ advantage.

And despite the home side pulling a goal back with a stoppage time penalty, the Town held on record yet another victory – their fourth on the road this season – to close the gap on the top three.

The Town began showing one change to the side that beat Southend last week with the recalled Miller – fresh from scoring five goals in 10 games on-loan at Dover – making his debut in the place of Alex Lawless.

Hosts Hartlepool had only scored two goals at home in their previous six matches but they came close to taking the lead in the fourth minute when striker Charlie Wyke’s shot from the edge of the box was parried well by Mark Tyler.

Having won at Exeter last week the hosts started on the front foot, with the Town restricted to attacks on the break.

The Hatters back-line held firm in the face of pressure from the hosts and it wasn’t until the 21st minute that the Town created a chance when Luke Wilkinson’s back-post header from an Andy Drury free-kick was blocked, as was Jonathan Smith’s follow-up in the six-yard box.

As the half wore on, the more the game swung from end-to-end in an entertaining passage of play. It was hearts in mouths time for the Town on the half-hour mark when Wyke went down in the penalty area after Wilkinson’s challenge but referee Tierney signalled no penalty.

Tyler then stopped a goal-bound header from Matthew Bates on 33 minutes, but seven minutes later, out of nothing, the Hatters took the lead. Pelly Ruddock Mpaznu picked the ball up on the right and threaded an inch-perfect ball into the feet of Cullen eight yards from goal, and the striker did the rest, coolly slotting the ball past home goalkeeper and captain Scott Flinders.

Behind at the break the hosts began the second half like the first, putting the Town under pressure, and Tyler needed to be on his toes to keep out Ryan Brobbel’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area three minutes after the restart.

The Town weathered the home side’s early rally in the second half and almost doubled their lead twice in the space of five minutes. Firstly Miller’s first-time left-foot shot whistled inches wide of the post before Wilkinson should have made it 2-0 on 62 minutes when he saw his point-blank header from five yards blocked on the line after he was found unmarked from Drury’s accurate right-wing free-kick.

As Hartlepool struggled to call Tyler into serious action the Hatters continued to search for a second goal. Miller saw a shot blocked following fine hold-up play from Cullen on 67 minutes before Cullen then drove a shot from the edge of the box wide moments later.

Goalscorer Cullen made way in the Town’s first change on 71 minutes when Paul Benson was sent-on by John Still, but whilst Hartlepool upped the ante in search of an equaliser they failed to test Tyler at all.

But the Hatters were always looking a threat on the break and they doubled their lead with nine minutes to play when Stevenson grabbed his first goal in Luton colours. Benson was dragged to the floor inside the D and Miller hammered the resultant free-kick at goal. The ball was parried by Flinders but the ball dropped to Stevenson, first to it, and made no mistake to tap home.

The Hatters kept threatening on the break but while Hartlepool pushed forward for a late consolation the hosts failed to call Tyler into any meaningful save as the clock struck 90.

But just when the Town thought they had kept a sixth clean in seven matches, referee Tierney penalised Scott Griffiths for a foul on Pools substitute Brad Walker in the final minute. The subsequent penalty was dispatched well by Neil Austin.

Three further minutes of added time elapsed without concern as the Hatters held on to secure yet another victory to keep themselves on the coat-tails of the top three.

Town: Tyler; Harriman, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle, Smith, Drury; Ruddock Mpanzu (sub Stevenson 79), Miller (sub Guttridge 90), Cullen (sub Benson 71). Subs not used: Lacey, Wall, Walker, Justham.

Attendance: 4,225, including a magnificent 525 backing the Hatters.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/hartlepool-gallery-2023686.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-UtsAlnTnA&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eH0wy8TjIA&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

Hatters League Two: Hartlepool 1 Luton Town 2

Luton Town made it five straight victories in League Two with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph at struggling Hartlepool this afternoon.

Goals from Mark Cullen, on his 50th appearance for the club and Jim Stevenson’s first ever strike were enough for the visitors as Pools could only reply with a late Neil Austin penalty.

With Alex Lawless missing out, Town boss John Still gave the recalled Ricky Miller his full debut, with the striker starting out on the left hand side,

The hosts, with only two goals to their name in the league at home all season, came close early on as on-loan Middlesbrough forward Charlie Wyke, who boss John Still picked out as a danger man in the week, saw his fierce effort parried by Mark Tyler.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, utilised in the highly successful Andre Gray role from last season, almost broke on to Andy Drury’s deft pass, but the danger was cleared.

Pools didn’t look a side short on confidence as Ryan Brobbel sent a shot narrowly over and Scott Harrison’s header looped wide.

The visitors came close on 21 minutes though as Drury’s perfect free kick was met at the back post by Luke Wilkinson.

His header appeared to strike a hand, but nothing was given by referee Paul Tierney and Jonathan Smith’s follow up volley deflected behind.

Hatters then had a huge let off on the half hour mark as Wyke got in behind Wilkinson and was brought down by a sliding challenge from the centre half for what looked like a penalty.

Tierney gave it some serious thought but waved away the appeals, while Matthew Bates then raced forward and arched his back, forcing Tyler into a routine stop.

Town broke the deadlock out of nothing on 41 minutes as Ruddock Mpanzu burst forward from a quick throw and slipped in Cullen, who slotted under Flinders for his fifth of the campaign.

Pools came close to an immediate response when Brobbel’s free kick went just wide, with Tyler left in a heap after losing his footing.

After the break, the Luton stopper saved easily from Brobbel once more, before a scrappy period was enlivened by Miller’s instant long range blast that flew just past Flinder’s upright.

Hatters almost had the game sewn up as Wilkinson was once again left completely unmarked from Drury’s free kick only to see his header blocked and Flinders gobble up the loose ball.

Miller had another sighter when being found by Cullen’s lovely control and overhead pass just after the hour, but dallied and Flinders held on, with Cullen also arrowing off target shortly after.

Still opted to replace Ruddock Mpanzu with Jim Stevenson on 79 minutes and the sub played a major role in making the game safe moments later.

Fellow replacement Paul Benson was hauled down to win a free kick, Miller powered it on target and Flinders parried it straight into the path of Stevenson who tapped home.

Although the result looked secure, Luton kept on pressing, Drury’s deflected effort falling just wide.

Pools gave themselves a slim chance in injury time as Griffiths was adjudged to have fouled Brad Walker and Austin buried his effort high past Tyler.

The Luton keep came out to punch clear as Hartlepool threw caution to the wind, but there wasn’t enough time as the points headed back to Bedfordshire.

Pools: Scott Flinders (C), Michael Duckworth, Neil Austin, Scott Harrison, Dan Jones, Tommy Miller, Michael Woods (Connor Smith 63), Matthew Bates (Brad Walker 78), Lewis Hawkins (Jonathan Franks 89), Charlie Wyke, Ryan Brobbel.

Subs not used: Freddie Woodman, Jordan Richards, Josh Nearney, Kieran Green.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Jim Stevenson 79), Andy Drury, Ricky Miller (Luke Guttridge 90), Mark Cullen (Paul Benson 71).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Alex Lacey, Alex Wall, Charlie Walker.

Booked: Jones 83, Hawkins 86.

Attendance: 4,225 (525 Luton Town)

Referee: Paul Tierney.

Hatters MOM: Jonathan Smith - gave his all to the cause.

Hatters boss John Still praised his side’s winning mentality as they made it five successive League Two victories with a 2-1 win at Hartlepool yesterday.

Goals from Mark Cullen and Jim Stevenson saw Luton extend their unbeaten run to seven matches as they have now taken 19 points from a possible 21.

Still said: “We said before the game that we had to take into account not every game is going to be pass and move, we’ve got to battle like we did last year at places like Macclesfield.

“They’ve changed their manager and had a great result against Exeter, who are on a good run. The pitch is not in the best condition for both teams, windy conditions, so all of that, we’ve still got to go out and win.

“It’s a winning mentality and we defended great. Tyles (Mark Tyler) hasn’t had anything to do, but we’ve done really, really well, I’m really, really pleased.

“Everyone’s worked hard, everyone knows the job, and it was a really, really good away performance.”

Hatters were denied their sixth clean sheet from seven games with a late penalty awarded against Scott Griffiths as Still added: “I don’t think it was a penalty, I’m a long way from it, but he’s given it.

“It’s control the controllables isn’t it. I can’t do anything about that, we controlled what we could control and worked hard.

“We come from a great atmosphere from 9,000 at home and you come away and the support isn’t quite as much, although it was fantastic away support.

“So they have to deal with that as well, it’s all part of the learning curve of knowing how to play and knowing how to win.”