Luton Town FC vs Aldershot Town (5th Apr 2014)

Town 1 McGeehan 85 Aldershot 0

As John Still has said before – and would say again – “winners find a way” and the Town moved to within six points of a return to the Football League with a narrow win over Aldershot thanks to Cameron McGeehan’s late winner.

The Hatters looked all set to share a point with the lowly Shots until the on-loan Norwich midfielder’s brave, brave header found the back of the net with just five minutes left on the clock to spark delirious celebrations at a packed Kenilworth Road.

The Town, who began showing two changes to side that earned a late victory at Dartford on Tuesday, were frustrated in a first half that saw them go close on several occasions and have a goal chalked off for offside.

Aldershot, in desperate need for the points to prevent a second successive relegation, had the first effort of the game when Josh Scott’s low effort rolled wide of the target with Mark Tyler at full stretch on nine minutes.

But the Town were playing some eye-catching, one-touch football and came close on 11 minutes when Luke Rooney – one of those two changes to the side – volleyed over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

The Hatters continued to probe looking for a way through the visitors defence and the majority inside Kenilworth Road thought the Town were ahead on 21 minutes but Paul Benson’s lob nested home – only for the effort to be chalked off for offside.

Ten minutes later the Hatters created their first good chance of the game when captain Ronnie Henry’s cross was met by the foot of Andre Gray from six yards but the Town striker’s firm, first-time shot was well-saved by Shots goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

As half-time approached the Hatters came close again. Alex Lawless’ clever pass set Gray away but after beating the Aldershot defence for pace his low effort was blocked again by Morris.

Aldershot were by no means second best in an entertaining first half and Mark Tyler needed to be alert on 44 minutes to deny the lively Adam Mekki’s low shot at the near post.

After the break both sides struggled to create much of clear-cut chances. Gray had the beating of his man down the right flank for pace all game but failed to pick out a team-mate on 54 minutes having raced clear and got to the byline.

The same happened on 66 minutes when Benson came within a whisker of connecting to Gray’s right-wing cross as the visitors continued to keep the Town at bay with some dogged defending.

Still sent on Mark Cullen and Matt Robinson in an attempt to snatch the points but Aldershot came close to taking the lead themselves with two efforts in the space of a minute when firstly Mekki’s low shot was saved by Tyler before Jordan Roberts’ scuffed his effort wide when well-placed at the back-post.

The boss made his third and final change with eight minutes left when introducing Jake Howells for Lawless and three minutes later the Town got the goal that won it. Howells was the architect – twisting and turn his man inside out to deliver a cross to the near post. McGeehan was first to it, stabbing an effort goalwards which was blocked. However, the teenager was quickest to the loose ball again and he dived bravely to head the ball over the line and cue for pandemonium inside a Kenilworth Road.

Four added minutes followed but the Town needed a fabulous reflex save from Tyler to ensure the three points when he somehow stuck an arm up to prevent Fraser Franks’ inadvertent deflection from six yards giving the Shots a late, late, late equaliser.

The Town, though, held out and the biggest crowd of the season were left to celebrate a vital victory. It’s so close now…get down to Kenilworth Road again on Tuesday night when Tamworth are the visitors.

TOWN: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, McNulty, Franks; McGeehan, Ruddock (sub Robinson 67), Rooney (sub Cullen 75); Lawless (sub Howell 82), Gray, Benson. Subs not used: Shaw, Justham.

ATTENDANCE: 8,558, including 240 from Aldershot.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/aldershot-gallery-1469076.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2lhUjqmwpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecZ1g8RgJws

https://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157643477010884/

McGeehan’s late strike puts Town on verge of the title

Skrill Premier: Luton Town 1 Aldershot Town 0

A late goal from Cameron McGeehan put Luton Town two wins away from the Skrill Premier title as they finally broke Aldershot Town’s resistance at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

It had looked like Hatters were going to be held to a rare stalemate in front of their own fans, with the Shots desperate for points themselves to avoid relegation.

Town boss John Still had made two changes to the side who had won 2-1 at Dartford on Tuesday night, with two of the stars, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Luke Rooney replacing Matt Robinson and Jake Howells who dropped to the bench.

Shots had the first effort in anger with Josh Scott dragging wide as Town were guilty of trying to play their way out of defence.

Rooney volleyed off target for the hosts, who thought they had the lead on 20 minutes when Paul Benson was sent through by Andre Gray.

Defender Jaydon Gibbs slid in to send the ball looping over Glenn Morris and into the net, but the linesman’s flag chalked it off, just as Town’s striker was sheepishly wheeling away.

Gray looked for all the world like he would put Hatters in front on the half hour as Rooney pounced on a clearance and fed skipper Henry on the right flank.

The skipper’s inch-perfect cross found Town’s leading scorer, but Morris spread himself excellently to repel the volley.

Fraser Franks then saw yellow for bringing down the sprightly Adam Mekki after a rare Steve McNulty error, but the resulting free kick was hammered way over Tyler’s bar by the striker.

Gray came close again in the closing stages. Found by Lawless’ clever ball from deep, he put on the afterburners to race clear of two Shots defenders, but Morris once again was out quickly to stick out a leg and save.

The keeper didn’t cover himself in glory soon afterwards though, rushing out as Ruddock Mpanzu ran from deep to meet Rooney’s chip, but he couldn’t direct a header on target.

Tyler then made a simple save to clutch on to Mekki’s angled drive as Luton failed to score in the first half at home for the third game running.

After the break, Shots settled first, as Craig Stanley fired off target after a poor ball out of defence by Ruddock Mpanzu.

The impressive Mekki continued to be the Shots most likely source of a goal, but his free kick once again to trouble Tyler.

Gray remained Town’s clearest threat too as he escaped on the wing and from his cross, Benson’s close range effort deflected behind for a corner.

As he had in midweek, Still rang the changes once more with Robinson and Mark Cullen on during the seond half, but a positive Shots side still had opportunities.

Mekki forced a low save from Tyler, while the unmarked Jordan Roberts should have done better on the half volley, only to shank wide.

Still threw Howells on for Lawless and he substitute played a major part in the winning goal on 85 minutes.

Twinkling his way past a Shots defender, the longest serving player’s cross was spilled by Morris and McGeehan dived in bravely to force the ball over the line as Kenilworth Road erupted.

Luton had a scare in the closing stages when Franks’ sliced clearance flew towards his own goal, but Tyler reacted superb to palm the ball up in the air and then punched clear, before tipping the resulting corner over.

There was no time for the Shots to mount another comeback though as Town ground out another crucial three points to edge ever closer to the title.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ronnie Henry, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty, Fraser Franks, Cameron McGeehan, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Matt Robinson 68), Luke Rooney (Mark Cullen 75), Alex Lawless (Jake Howells 82) Andre Gray, Paul Benson.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Jon Shaw.

Aldershot Town: Glenn Morris, Joe Oastler, Craig Stankey (C), Adam Mekki, Martin Rowlands (Harry Cornick 88), Josh Scott (Bradley Bubb 51), Mark Molesley (Jordan Roberts 70), Jaydon Gibbs, Dan Butler, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Mark Phillips.

Subs not used: Luke Williams, Rob Gerrard.

Referee: Simon Bennett.

Bookings: Franks 36, Scott 49, Henry 63, Butler 86.

Attendance: 8,558 (240 Shots)

Referee: Simon Bennett.

MOM: Andre Gray. Full of running and Town’s likeliest source of a goal.