Luton Town FC vs Bury (16th Dec 2014)

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-town-1-0-bury-2148348.aspx

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30515020

FA Cup second round replay: Luton Town 1 Bury 0

Luton Town set up an FA Cup third round tie at Cambridge United after edging out League Two rivals Bury in a second round replay at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The only goal of the game came moments into the second half when the recalled Luke Rooney’s cross deceived keeper Shwan Jalal and curled into the bottom corner.

Bury missed a superb change to force extra time, as unlike at Gigg Lane over a week ago, this time they failed to net an injury-time leveller with an unmarked Nathan Cameron heading straight at Mark Tyler.

Rooney was one of two changes to the side beaten 3-0 at Morecambe on Saturday. He came in for his first start since September 6, while Scott Griffiths returned, with Steve McNulty suspended and Jake Howells dropped to the bench.

Luton swapped to a 4-3-3 formation with Shaun Whalley and Rooney either side of Mark Cullen.

A quiet opening period saw Town come closest on 13 minutes when Fraser Franks’ header from Andy Drury’s corner was deflected on to the outside of the post.

Rooney and Whalley showed promise in fits and starts, with Rooney’s cross cleared behind, while Whalley was hauled down by Cameron just outside the box.

The winger was then obstructed once more and from Drury’s delivery, Luke Wilkinson nodded over.

Some trickery from Rooney almost led to an opener on the half hour as his shot looked goalbound, only for Cullen to intervene and head wide.

Town’s leading marksman was then a whisker away with his low drive after a quick break involving Whalley and Drury.

Moments before half time, Mayor went close with an audacious backheel into the side-netting.

After a first half bereft of any real chances, the hosts then went ahead when Rooney’s cross, intended for Cullen, nestled in the far corner, with Jalal rooted to the spot.

With the deadlock broken, Luton finally started to find a modicum of space as Smith fired over, before Drury teed up Whalley and his dink was just beyond Cullen, who needed treatment after clattering into the post.

The striker dusted himself down though and almost notched moments later, taking Rooney’s pass and sending a low drive that was deflected inches wide.

Centre half Franks made a superb interception to stop Andrew Tutte levelling the tie.

Somehow Luton didn’t have a second when Wilkinson nodded Drury’s free kick across goal and Griffiths’ volley was repelled by a superb reflex save from Jalal, with Cameron sliding the loose ball off the line.

Bury could and showed have forced an extra 30 minutes, only for Cameron to fluff his lines.

Town can now put the Cup to one side and look forward to welcoming Newport County, who will be without suspended ex-Hatter Aaron O’Connor, in League Two this weekend.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Fraser Franks, Luke Wilkinson, Scott Griffiths, Jonathan Smith (C), Nathan Doyle, Andy Drury (Jake Howells 79), Shaun Whalley (Matt Robinson 84), Luke Rooney, Mark Cullen (Ross Lafayette 79).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Jim Stevenson, Ricky Miller, Alex Lacey.

Shakers: Shwan Jalal, Jim McNulty (C), Andrew Tutte (Craig Jones 70), Kelvin Etuhu, Nicky Adams, Danny Mayor, Ryan Lowe, Keil O’Brien (Danny Rose 78), Daniel Nardiello (Hallam Hope 58), Tom Soares, Nathan Cameron.

Subs not used: Chris Hussey, Chris Sedgwick, Hayden White, Robert Lainton.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Booked: Cameron 68.

Attendance: 2,923 (Bury 182).

Hatters MOM: Nathan Doyle. Calmness personified all evening and used the ball magnificently too.

LUTON TOWN 1 BURY 0

It may not be a glamour tie that gets the juices flowing but Luton Town booked an FA Cup third round clash with League Two rivals Cambridge United after Luke Rooney's flukey cross­-turned-­goal beat Bury at the second attempt.

The winger marked his first start since September's League Two defeat to Plymouth Argyle and, after his team­-mates stunk up the Globe Arena on Saturday, slumping to a 3-­0 reverse against an average Morecambe, he staked his claim to keep the shirt with a lively second half performance.

Manager John Still said afterwards: "We could have been rubbish and it would have been a vast improvement on Saturday."

Rooney has suffered an unfortunate end to the year, having enjoyed regular starts in the season's early knockings before being shown a red card for diving against former side Swindon in the Capital One Cup, even though replays clearly showed he'd been hacked twice and deserved a penalty rather than punishment.

A knee injury followed just as Town embarked on an 11-­game unbeaten streak and he couldn't get back in the side. His 47th minute goal, however jammy, was a very good way to remind boss Still just what he had been missing.

What Town hadn't been short on was tussles against Bury. This was their third meeting of the campaign after a pair of 1­-1 draws in league and cup.

And while Danny Nardiello's last­-gasp leveller at Gigg Lane last week forced this re­-run there was to be no late drama to deny the Hatters a trip to Cambridge, after United despatched Mansfield in a replay, though that was owed everything to a ghastly injury time miss from Nathan Cameron who, unmarked, headed straight at Town goalie Mark Tyler with the goal at his mercy and an opportunity to force extra time in the palm of his hand.

By then, the Hatters should have been out of sight because despite a dull first half they'd enjoyed the majority of the chances.

Having said that, the opening ten minutes were a welcome antidote to the sluggishness of their losing exploits at Morecambe on Saturday, but then the first half tailed off into a lacklustre tie that supporters had largely given a wide berth.

Fraser Franks came close when his header was tipped onto the post by keeper Shwan Jalal and Luke Wilkinson, back to his measured self, sent Andy Drury's free­-kick over the bar. Rooney could hardly believe Mark Cullen had blocked his own shot after a silky stepover engineered some space in the 18­-yard area.

But seconds later Town's top scorer was allowed space to fire on goal himself. He worried Jalal enough to get the Shakers keeper scurrying across his line, but the daisy cutter missed its target.

Bury's best chance saw Danny Mayor, who'd had some success out wide against Michael Harriman, see his initial cross blocked by Wilkinson before he improvised a back heel on the rebound that hit the side netting.

The tie got what it so desperately needed one and a half minutes into the second half, somewhat fortuitously, when Cullen failed to get a connection on Rooney's low cross and the ball trickled unaided inside the post.

It certainly stopped the tedium that had taken over before the break and Shaun Whalley, frustrated in the opening 45 minutes, should have doubled Luton's lead but though the winger's dinked finish beat the keeper it failed to find the net.

Cullen, who tried to divert it goalwards, missed the ball and slammed into the post but then picked himself up and moments later saw Jalal deny him from distance.

The Bury number one would top that stop soon after when Scott Griffiths, returning to the starting 11 in place of suspended captain Steve McNulty, ­ slammed home with interest a close range volley and began turning to celebrate before a gloved hand pushed it just about to safety.

Before that, the visitors had experienced a similar disappointment when Hallam Hope looked through on goal after a sublime defence splitter from Ryan Lowe, only for Franks to snuff out the danger with a stunning saving tackle.

Bury pushed for a leveller which never came, thanks of course to Cameron, to see Town into the next round. And though it's another clash against divisional rivals, the hope will be for some added spice against one of their nearest neighbours, ­an opportunity to progress in the competition and, of course, a chance to renew animosities with Cambridge boss Richard Money.

Luton: Tyler, Franks, Smith, Drury (Howells, 79), Griffiths, Cullen (Lafayette, 79), Rooney, Whalley (Robinson, 84), Harriman, Doyle, Wilkinson

Unused subs: Lacey, Justham, Miller, Stevenson

Bury: Jalal, McNulty, Tutte (Jones, 70), Etuhu, Adams, Mayor, Lowe, O'Brien (Rose, 78), Nardiello (Hope, 59), Soares, Cameron

Unused subs: Hussey, Sedgwick, White, Lainton

Referee: Oliver Langford Attendance: 2,923 (182)