Hyde vs Luton Town FC (17th Aug 2012)

Two out of two on the road for the Hatters

Hyde 1** Blinkhorn 55 Town 2 **O’Donnell 68, Fleetwood 78

The Town battled back from behind to go top of the Blue Square Bet Premier with a hard-earned win a Hyde.

It was two goals in a 10-minute spell in the second half that turned the result in the Hatters' favour after the hosts had taken the lead in the 55th minute through Matthew Blinkhorn.

But a fine equaliser from JJ O'Donnell made it all square before Stuart Fleetwood's fourth goal in three games 12 minutes from the end secured all three points.

Town boss Paul kept the faith with the same side that beat Kidderminster on Tuesday night. Jake Howells returned to the squad after representing Wales Under-21 in midweek but had to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench.

The Hatters started the brighter of the two sides and they should have taken the lead as early as seventh minute when an Alex Lawless’ right-wing cross was headed over the crossbar by Jon Shaw from six yards.

Back came Hyde though and they thought they should have had a penalty after Alex Brown went down in the box and, five minutes later, the Town appealed in vain for one themselves when Lawless’ firm strike struck the arm of Matthew Cassidy.

As the Hatters continued to boss possession, playing some nice football on the immaculate Ewen Fields surface, Shaw missed another excellent chance on 20 minutes when he blazed over from six yards after Hyde had failed to clear a Town corner.

Neither goalkeeper had been tested until Mark Tyler was called into action twice in the space of 60 seconds on 29 minutes when he reacted well to Phil Jevons’ shot from the edge of the box before the Town number 1 showed quick reactions to pounce on Robbie Williams’ shot from close range from the resultant corner.

The Town went up the other end and had another appeal for a spot-kick waved away on 31 minutes when Scott Rendell went down under pressure from Williams.

Two minutes later Hyde should have taken the lead when former Hatters loanee Blinkhorn failed to convert from five yards after Cassidy’s cross had flashed across the six-yard box.

By now it was end-to-end stuff and moments later Shaw saw a header cleared off the line following an O’Donnell corner as the Town went in search of that elusive opener.

With five minutes to the break the Hatters came even closer to breaking the deadlock when Shaw spurned a terrific chance after O’Donnell’s free-kick was headed back across goal by Janos Kovacs but the number 9 side-footed wide unmarked when six yards out.

Three minutes later Fleetwood, the two-goal hero from Tuesday’s win, crossed for Scott Rendell but he could only glance a header well wide of the goal.

After the restart it was Hyde who started the better with Shaw blocking an on-target shot at the near post following an early corner before right-back Josh Brizell fired into the side-netting.

But the Town were struggling to find their rhythm and it was the Tigers who took the lead on 55 minutes when Blinkhorn turned on the edge of the box and finished well past Tyler who, despite getting a glove on the ball, could not keep it out.

In response Buckle made two substitutes in quick succession, introducing Howells and Andre Gray for Greg Taylor and Yaser Kasim.

Hyde continued to press though, and Tyler needed to dive away to his right on 67 minutes to prevent a low shot from Brizell making it 2-0.

The Town were finding it tough going and looked unlikely to find a way back into the game until O’Donnell stepped in on 69 minutes. Shaw battled for the ball and worked it into the path of Rendell who showed patient play to feed O’Donnell and he arrowed a low shot goalwards that fizzed past the motionless David Carnell in the Hyde goal. It was the young midfielder’s first goal for the club.

Now the Hatters were in the ascendency, O’Donnell saw a shot from the edge of the box that was blocked minutes later before Ronnie Henry blasted a shot inches wide with 16 minutes left on the clock.

It seemed that Hyde’s threat had now been nullified as the Town went in search of a winner and, lo and behold, 10 minutes after they drew level, they took the lead through that man Fleetwood. Tyler played a crucial role – darting way outside of his box in sweeper-esque fashion to mop up the danger and pass to Henry. The skipper then threaded a fine ball down the line to Gray who raced down the wing, looked up and swept an inch-perfect pass into the path of Fleetwood whose first-time finish beat Carnell. Cue the celebrations – it was the striker’s fourth goal in three games.

By now it was well and truly all the Town and it almost became three on 83 minutes when terrific play from O’Donnell fed Shaw but the striker’s left-foot shot was blocked by a home defender as it travelled goalwards.

As time ticked down, Buckle brought on Matt Robinson for goalscorer Fleetwood and, after the Town weathered four minutes of injury time in the driving rain they held on to secure a hard-fought win.

An eight-day break before AFC Telford come to Kenilworth Road. Top of the league – although it’s likely to be only for 24 hours – enjoy it and see you next Saturday.

Result from Ewen Fields Hyde 1-2 Town

FULL-TIME - The Town come from behind to earn all three points and go top of the league.

90 mins - Into the last minute. Four added minutes.

87 mins - Third and final change for the Town. Fleetwood off, Matt Robinson on.

83 mins - Almost sniff for 3-1, O'Donnell does well to play in Shaw, on his left-foot, shot blocked eight yards out.

78 mins - GOAL! Hyde 1-2 TOWN (Fleetwood) - It's all turned around here in the space of 10 minutes as a super move, starting with Tyler sees Gray whip in an inch-perfect cross from Fleetwood to finish. His fourth in three games.

74 mins - Town pressure now, O'Donnell sees a shot blocked before Ronnie Henry blasts a first-time effort into the side-netting.

69 mins - GOAL! Hyde 1-1 TOWN (O'Donnell) - Patient play from Rendell on the edge of the box and he tees up O'Donnell to fire a low shot past Carnell. Game on.

64 mins - Second Town sub, Andre Gray on for Kasim.

61 mins - First Town change, Greg Taylor replaced by Jake Howells.

55 mins - Goal - Hyde 1-0 Town (Blinkhorn) Hyde have been the better side in the second half and now they've taken the lead, Matthew Blinkhorn turning on the edge of the box and fires a left-foot finish beyond Mark Tyler.

50 mins - Hyde begun second half the better side. Shaw blocks an on-target effort before right-back Josh Brizell shoots wide.

46 mins - Off for the second half. No changes for the Town.

HALF-TIME - Goalless here at the break. Town have had plenty of chances but somehow it's still goalless.

43 mins - Another half-a-sniff for the Town, Rendell glances a header wide from Fleetwood cross from the left.

40 mins - What a chance, best of the night and it's another one that goes begging for Shaw as O'Donnell's free-kick is headed across goal by Kovacs and it's on a plate for the striker but Shaw side-foots a shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

36 mins - Break 10 minutes away, Town upping it as time ticks towards 45.

33 mins - End-to-end now, Shaw again goes close as from O'Donnell corner he heads at goal and is cleared off the line.

33 mins - Hyde come back once more, some-how bounces wide as Blinkhorn can't turn home Cassidy's cross.

31 mins - Pen? Well no, says the ref as Rendell goes down under a push from Williams.

29 mins - Chances for Hyde. Firstly Jevons tests Tyler with a shot from the edge of the box before the Town stopper makes a close range stop from the resultant corner from Robbie Williams.

26 mins - Half a sniff for Hyde but Phil Jevons hits the side-netting with a firm shot from 18 yards.

20 mins - Big chance for the Hatters, Shaw blazes well-hit effort over the crossbar from six yards after Hyde had failed to clear a corner.

15 mins - Quarter-of-an-hour gone, Town still dominating possession but neither goalkeeper called into action thus far.

7 mins - Great chance for 1-0 Town but Shaw heads a Lawless cross from the right over the crossbar from six yards. Hatters on top so far.

Town: Tyler, Henry, Rower-Turner, Kovacs, Taylor, Kasim, O'Donnell, Lawless, Rendell, Fleetwood, Shaw. Subs: Beckwith, Howells, Robinson, Gray Brill.

Spirit and determination shines through says boss

Once again manager Paul Buckle praised his side's character as they came from a goal down to earn three points at newly-promoted Hyde.

With 20 minutes left the Hatters were trailing to Matthew Blinkhorn's strike before goals from JJ O'Donnell and Stuart Fleetwood secured the Town's second away win of the week.

Buckle said afterwards: “I'm pleased we've won – we've come through two difficult games with six points. The players deserve a massive pat on the back. Tonight showed we have some tremendous characters.

“Sloppy play on the edge of our box led to their goal but in truth, especially in the first half, we were making all the running and creating chances.

“When you don't get the first goal it's always hard, but we remained patient and the supporters helped us – I thought they were first class again tonight – coming to Hyde on a Friday night and that's why we went over to them at the end because they played a vital role.

“We showed our desire tonight. I'm trying to instil a winning mentality and a grit and determination, and you know if you baulk at places like Hyde then you'll get rolled over.

“We showed that we can mix it up and I'm proud that we're top of the league tonight.”

O'Donnell's strike signalled the start of the Town's comeback and the boss paid tribute to the young midfielder's display.

“When I first set eyes on him when I came to the club I knew there was a player there,” Buckle said. “I brought him back from out on loan and I told the people at the club he'll go onto play a big role for us.

“I didn't envisage him coming on so quickly, but what I like about JJ is that he's always on the front foot looking to drive us forward.

“He's made another big step tonight and it's really pleasing to see someone so young drive us forward from midfield like he's doing.”

Then, 10 minutes after the equaliser, Fleetwood's fourth goal in three games sealed the victory to complete the turnaround which delighted the manager.

“Mark Tyler's come way out of his goal and for a second I thought he's over-run it,” Buckle said. “But he's played a great ball down the line and Andre Gray's got in behind and Fleets has sensed what he's going to do and it's a perfect ball and a great finish.”

The Town now face a week's rest before facing AFC Telford at Kenilworth Road next Saturday but, despite sitting top of the table, Buckle admitted there's plenty more to come from his side.

“We're still no-where need to be,” he said. “There's still a lot of work to do. I'd like to see us in front really dominating teams with our tails up.

“But at the moment we're showing different qualities and seven points this week is a fantastic return.”

Blue Square Bet Premier: Hyde 1 (0) Luton Town 2 (0) www.dunstabletoday.co.uk

Late goals from JJ O’Donnell and Stuart Fleetwood saw Town battle back from a goal down to triumph 2-1 at Hyde tonight and go top of the embryonic Blue Square Bet Premier table, writes Mark Wood.

Ex-Hatter Matthew Blinkhorn had given the Tigers the lead 10 minutes into the second half, but the Hatters found a second win to fight back and claim victory on their first-ever trip to Ewen Fields.

Town named the same side that won 2-0 at Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night, the only change coming on the bench where Jake Howells, back from Wales U21 duty, replaced Dan Walker.

Hyde looked to exploit their mobility up front early on, but the Hatters should have taken the lead on seven minutes when Ronnie Henry and Alex Lawless combined with the midfielder standing the ball up to the back post, but target man Jon Shaw could only head over with the better placed Scott Rendell lurking behind.

Luton then had shotus for a penalty waved away on 19 minutes when Shaw found Lawless and his first-time effort deflected behind for a corner.

And from the half-cleared corner Rendell’s challenge fell nicely for Shaw but he could only blaze a good chance over, before the target man tried to play in Fleetwood but his heavy touch took the ball too far.

Town were playing all of the football but were given a warning on 26 minutes when Phil Jevons swerved an effort into the side netting from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later Javons was allowed to burst on to a half-cleared free-kick and his powerful blast was beaten away by Mark Tyler.

The Luton stopper then had to be alert from the resulting corner when the ball broke to Robbie Williams but the centre-half’s weak effort was well snaffled by Tyler.

More good shouts for a penalty from Luton were waved away again just after the half hour when Williams seemed to blatantly push Rendell over to get to a high ball into the box.

The chances were coming thick and fast and the Tigers should have take the lead seconds later when Callum Byrne got free on the left and ex-Hatter Blinkhorn couldn’t turn his cross-shot home from close range.

Both teams were creating chances and Shaw’s powerful header from O’Donnell’s corner was somehow repelled by a throng of bodies, while at the other end Scott Spencer sprung the offside trap and, although he slid past Tyler the Luton keeper was able to recover and gather.

A training ground move from the Hatters should have seen take the lead with six minutes of the half left when O’Donnell’s free-kick found the onrushing Janos Kovacs and his header was perfect for Shaw to turn home but he could only scuff wide from a couple of yards out.

Luton looked to put the ball into the box at every opportunity but Rendell could only glance Fleetwood’s delivery wide while Greg Taylor’s deep cross was gloved behind by the keeper with Shaw lurking.

Hyde started the second half brightly having one shot from a goalmouth scramble blocked behind before Josh Brizell burst forward from right-back but could only hammer a good chance wide.

Rendell smashed an overly-ambitious effort off target as Town were reduced to far too many long balls forward aimed at their two target men.

And the Tigers took the lead out of the blue on 55 minutes when Blinkhorn showed some nice skill on the edge of the box before blasting an unstoppable effort past the despairing dive of Tyler who, despite getting a good hand on it, couldn’t keep it out.

An off-the-ball incident saw Williams elbow Fleetwood on 59 minutes to leave the Luton striker on the floor, but none of the officials saw it as the defender went unpunished.

Both Howells and Andre Gray were plunged into the fray as the visitors desperately searched for a way back into the game, but it was Hyde who continued to press with Brizell’s low effort gathered by Tyler.

A diagonal ball into the box finally paid dividends for Luton as they unexectedly equalised on 69 minutes. Shaw competed for Howells’ cross and Rendell laid the ball into O’Donnell’s path whose low shot flew straight past the unsighted David Carnell.

A first-time effort from Henry flew wide on 74 minutes before from scattered defence Town snatched the lead on 78 minutes. Tyler scampered out of his box to sweep up the danger and found Henry whose pass down the line was perfect for the lightning Gray to outpace his man before squaring into space for Fleetwood to fire home in off the bar for his fourth goal is three games.

Playing with renewed vigour and belief Town almost made it three on 83 minutes when more good work from O’Donnell saw him release Shaw, but his left-footed effort was well blocked by the sliding Luke Ashworth.

Scott Spencer then threatened as four minutes of stoppage time were added. The rain pounded down at the end as Hyde won a late corner and keeper Carnell joined the attack but the delivery was overhit and the final whistle followed soon after as Luton reached the summit.

Tigers (4-3-3): David Carnell, Josh Brizell, Adam Griffin (C), Luke Ashworth, Alex Brown (David McNiven 75), Callum Byrne (Kelvin Lomax 89), Scott Spencer, Phil Jevons (Grant Spencer 75), Robbie Williams, Matthew Cassidy, Matthew Blinkhorn. Substitutes not used: Ashley Frith, Daniel Douglas-Pringle.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Greg Taylor (Jake Howells 61), Janos Kovacs, Alex Lawless, Jon Shaw, Scott Rendell, Stuart Fleetwood (Matthew Robinson 87), JJ O’Donnell, Yaser Kasim (Andre Gray 64), Ronnie Henry (C). Substitutes not used: Dean Beckwith, Dean Brill.

Booked: Kasim 41; Williams 64.

Referee: Darren Handley

Assistant Referees: James Mainwaring and David Croft Fourth Official: Ben Toner.

Attendance: 1,141.

Star Hatter: JJ O’Donnell. Boundless energy and his equaliser changed the course of the game.

TOWN boss Paul Buckle was a satisfied man after Hatters recorded back-to-back away wins by beating Hyde 2-1 in front of the TV cameras on Friday night, writes Mike Simmonds

Luton had fallen behind just 10 minutes into the second half when Matthew Blinkhorn fired past Mark Tyler from outside the box.

But Hatters levelled through JJ O’Donnell’s first goal for the club, while in-form striker Stuart Fleetwood made it four in three from Andre Gray’s glorious cross to seal all three points.

Buckle said: “I was very pleased to win the game. We had two very difficult away fixtures and we’ve come through with six points.

“So the players deserve a massive pat on the back, the fans do as well. I’ll always mention the fans as I couldn’t believe again the numbers that turned up on a Friday night in Hyde, backed us, supported us when we were one down and I’m so pleased they had something to go back with.

“Yes, we need to start the second half better. The first half we caused them problems, but couldn’t find the back of the net. It was a bit of a sloppy play around the edge of the box that led to their goal, so there’s lots of pluses, but still stuff to work on.”