Luton Town FC vs Accrington Stanley (28th Feb 2015)

Town back to winning ways with comfortable home victory

The Hatters bounced back to form after two successive defeats with a routine home victory over Accrington Stanley and close the gap on the top three in League 2.

After the visitors had frustrated the Town in the opening half at Kenilworth Road, Jayden Stockley’s thumping header four minutes before half-time had the Hatters ahead.

And on the hour the Hatters doubled their lead when Luke Guttridge side-footed home inside the penalty area having taken Elliot Lee’s pass in his stride.

That made the game safe as the Town held onto record their 11th home win in 14 unbeaten matches in League 2.

But it could have started oh-so differently when Accrington, who beat league leaders Burton in the week, came close to taking the lead inside six minutes. Striker Terry Gornell raced clear of the Town defence but Elliot Justham made himself big to snuff out the danger.

Accrington were pushing the Hatters back for long spells in the first half and Justham was called into action again on 21 minutes when he palmed away a dangerous cross from Piero Mingoia before pouncing on the loose ball to thwart the visitors.

Three minutes later Fraser Franks cut out another cross from the right at Stanley continued to press, before Jonathan Smith charged down Kal Naismith’s shot and Justham claimed a Gornell header.

But, as the break approached, the Town upped the ante. And the Hatters came close to breaking the deadlock on 37 minutes when Lee’s header from a left-wing Jake Howells cross was kept out by Stanley keeper Scott Davies at his near post.

With the Hatters now sensing an opportunity, the breakthrough finally arrived four minutes before half-time. Lee did well to win a corner which Guttridge swung in from the left, and Stockley rose above everyone in the box to crash home a header. It was the striker’s second goal in as many games, and his third in total since arriving on-loan from Bournemouth.

The Hatters began the second period in the ascendancy with Cameron McGeehan – making his first start at Kenilworth Road since rejoining on-loan – flicking a header wide of the target five minutes after the restart.

The Town then thought they should have had a penalty a minute later when Lee was sent tumbling in the penalty area.

But the Hatters did double their lead shortly after the hour mark. Lee was the creator, shaping to shoot but instead spotting the run of Guttridge, and with time and space the midfielder finished smartly past Davies to make it 2-0. It was his third goal of the season – all of which have come on home soil.

With the Hatters now in command, it was almost 3-0 three minutes later when McGeehan’s inch-perfect cross was missed at the back-post by Jake Howells.

As time ticked down, and as Accrington’s attacks diminished, John Still introduced Alex Lawless and Mark Cullen from the substitutes’ bench and with a minute left on the clock Cullen almost grabbed a third for the Hatters, only to see his header from Guttridge’s free-kick tipped away by Davies.

With the game almost up, Cullen let fly with a rasping effort from distance that Davies needed to tip over and that was that.

Another home win, another clean sheet and with all the teams above them in the table dropping points the Town can look forward to their trip to Bury on Tuesday night. BE THERE!

Town: Justham; Harriman, Griffiths, Wilkinson, Franks; Smith, Howells, McGeehan; Guttridge; Stockley (sub Cullen 82), Lee (sub Lawless 72). Subs not used: Whalley, Oduwa, Parry, Drury, King.

Attendance: 8,700, including 87 from Accrington.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-town-2-0-accrington-2303343.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3gP8c4BzHM

League Two: Luton Town 2 Accrington Stanley 0

Luton Town got their promotion push back on track as they ended a run of back to back defeats with victory over Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

On an afternoon that was solid if never spectacular, Hatters showed just how crucial results are over performance, taking full advantage of defeats for both Burton and Shrewsbury, with Wycombe held by Stevenage.

Town made three changes for the clash, with Elliot Justham remaining in goal as Mark Tyler wasn’t fit enough to start, while Luke Wilkinson returned from suspension as Alex Lacey dropped out of the squad completely.

Elliot Lee also came in for his full Town debut, with forward Mark Cullen, after confirming his intentions to stay at the club prior to the game, back on the bench.

The visitors settled far quicker though, creating a marvellous early chance as Terry Gornell beat the offside trap to go clean through, but Justham stood up extremely well to make a vital save.

The rebound fell to the impressive Josh Windass, who beat the Luton keeper but not the retreating Fraser Franks as he managed to stick out a heel and deflect it away.

Stanley continued to make the running in the opening stages, as they were by far the better side, producing some delightful approach play, often leaving their hosts chasing shadows.

With Town’s supporters reduced to frustrated groans, Franks had to twice clear dangerous crosses from inside his own area, while Gornell beat Wilkinson to another delivery, nodding wide of the post.

Windass, the games eye-catching player, then set off on a run at the heart of Town’s defence from inside his own half, with Wilkinson eventually blocking for a corner.

Town’s one opportunity of note summed up their efforts, as a dangerous free kick from 25 yards, was fired wastefully over the bar by Lee.

The on-loan striker finally tested Davies on 36 minutes as on a rare foray wide, Jake Howells’ sent over a cross that he nodded goalwards, with the keeper clawing his header away.

As they have done so often though, Luton made the most of their briefest spell of pressure, taking the lead on 40 minutes as Guttridge swung a corner over and Stockley rose highest to power a header home before celebrating wildly.

In the second half, Luton saw shouts for a penalty turned down for the second week running when Guttridge seized on Davies’ poor clearance and slid in Lee.

Although his touch was on the heavy side, allowing Davies to recover, the striker was bundled to the ground but referee Lee Collins gave nothing as Town were left wondering when their luck will ever change.

Acrington to their credit, were still always a threat going forward, with Gornell’s lovely flick met by Windass, whose ambitious first-time effort was well wide.

Town looked to have breathing space on 61 minutes though when the ball was fed through to Lee, who unselfishly squared for the onrushing Guttridge to expertly beat Davies from close range, bagging his first league goal since October.

Luton tried to turn the screw as Michael Harriman found McGeehan who whipped over a cross that Howells just failed to convert at the far post.

Cullen was introduced to warm applause from the home crowd and almost had his 13th of the season when he twisted to divert Guttridge’s free kick on target, with Davies tipping behind.

Stanley went slightly longer themselves in their quest for a consolation, but both Wilkinson and Franks stood firm, with the latter growing in assurance ahead of Steve McNulty’s availability on Tuesday.

Cullen’s busy cameo almost led to a goal in injury time, as he unleashed a blockbuster from 25 yards, with Davies touching it over the top, but it was definitely a case of job done by the hosts.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths, Fraser Franks, Luke Wilkinson, Jonathan Smith, Cameron McGeehan, Jake Howells, Luke Guttridge, Elliot Lee (Alex Lawless 72), Jayden Stockley.

Subs not used: Andy Drury, Mark Cullen, Andy Parry, Shaun Whalley, Nathan Oduwa, Craig King.

Stanley: Scott Davies, Luke Joyce (C), Dean Winnard (Matt Crooks 45), Josh Windass, Terry Gornell, Kai Naismith (Sean Maguire), Pierio Mingoia, Antony Barry (Shay McCartan 69), Andy Proctor, Rob Atkinson, Seamus Conneely.

Subs not used: Michael Liddle, Gerardo Bruna, Andrew Dawber, George Bowerman.

Referee: Lee Collins.

Booked: Franks 45, Atkinson 48, Lee 71, Windass 85.

Attendance: 8,700 (Accrington 87).

Star man: Luke Guttridge