Luton Town FC vs Cambridge United (31st Jan 2015)

Hatters hold to come out on top in five-goal thriller

Town 3 (Drury 19, Wilkinson 31, Smith 45) Cambridge 2 (Hunt 67, Simpson 86)

The Town survived a second half onslaught from Cambridge United to record a ninth home league victory of the season.

First half goals from Andy Drury, Luke Wilkinson and Jonathan Smith had put the Hatters well in control at half-time.

But the visitors, who knocked the Town out of the FA Cup earlier this month, dominated the second half and almost came back to equalise in a frantic finale.

With 23 minutes left substitute Johnny Hunt steered home to make it 3-1 and with four minutes remaining fellow sub Robbie Simpson’s strike set-up a grandstand finish.

But the Town held on to move to within four points of top spot in League 2, with a game in hand.

The Hatters began unchanged for the third match running, but it was Cambridge that started the better and Mark Tyler needed to be at his agile best on 10 minutes when tipping former Hatters loan star Cameron McGeehan’s low drive around the post. Unusually the referee signalled for a goalkick.

Two minutes later, though, United came even closer to breaking the deadlock when Tom Elliott nodded a headed against the Hatters’ crossbar following Ryan Donaldson’s left-wing corner.

But after those two early scares, the Town went on the attack and soon after Jake Howells came close to setting up Shaun Whalley in the 16th minute, three minutes later a packed Kenilworth Road had a goal to celebrate. Howells was the architect: his fierce shot from the edge of the box was parried by United goalkeeper Chris Dunn and Drury was on hand to coolly slot home a first-time finish. It was the midfielder’s second goal in three matches.

With the Town’s tails up it wasn’t long before it was 2-0 when Wilkinson doubled the lead on 31 minutes. The defender began the move which led to Howells winning a corner down the left, and from Drury’s dangerous inswinging corner, Wilkinson rose above everyone in the box to nod home his fourth goal of the season.

Wilkinson’s joy was short-lived, however, as four minutes before the break he was withdrawn after feeling a slight hamstring strain and on came Fraser Franks in his place.

But before the referee signalled for half-time there was another goal to celebrate as the Town went 3-0 up. Scott Griffiths’ shot on the edge of the box was blocked but the ball fell kindly at the feet of Jonathan Smith and he smashed home a fierce shot that whizzed past Dunn.

At half-time with the Town three goals to the good, the Hatters unveiled new signing Ryan Hall to Kenilworth Road crowd, but after the break the Town were second best as the visitors’ upped the ante with a nothing-to-lose mentality.

Richard Money sent on Simpson and Hunt at the start of the second period, and United came close to pulling a goal back on 55 minutes when Hunt’s pass across goal eluded everyone in the penalty area.

Back came the Town, though - Jayden Stockley belted a shot well-hit shot on the half-volley inches wide of the target as the Hatters looked to kill Cambridge off completely, and then Whalley weaved his magic down the right on the hour only to see a left-foot shot rise over the crossbar.

But United’s pressure was unrelenting and after denied Donaldson’s deflected drive was saved by Tyler, they pulled a goal back on 67 minutes when McGeehan was found alone down the left and his square pass teed up Hunt to expertly guide a first-time shot into the top corner.

Moments later a mad scramble in the Town penalty area caused havoc as the visitors sensed a real opportunity to get something from the game.

As a result, John Still introduced Mark Cullen and Alex Lawless in a change of tact to try and prevent a United comeback.

But the Town failed to muster a worthwhile chance and Tyler’s blushes were spared on 77 minutes when he misjudged a long ball forward and Simpson almost guided a toe-poke home from the byeline.

If Hatters followers thought it was squeaky bum-time as the clock ticked down, the nerves became even more frayed with four minutes left when Simpson did find the target to get Cambridge to within one goal with a left-foot finish inside the six-yard box.

As three added minutes were shown by the fourth officials, Cambridge gave it one final go and hearts were in Hatters’ mouths when McGeehan raced through – only for Tyler to get there first and smothered the ball.

And that was it. The Town saw it out and celebrated their first home win since 20th December to make it seven games unbeaten in League 2.

Next stop. Oxford away. See you there.

Town: Tyler; Harriman, Griffiths (sub Cullen 73), McNulty, Wilkinson (sub Franks 41); Doyle, Smith, Drury; Howells, Whalley (sub Lawless 70), Stockley. Subs not used: Guttridge, Robinson, Wall, Justham.

Attendance: 10,054, including 939 from Cambridge – the second highest gate of the season.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-town-3-2-cambridge-2239125.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcK2FqfDnt8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_8VzntBOjE

League Two: Luton Town 3 Cambridge United 2

Luton Town just about withheld a second half fight back to record the double over rivals Cambridge United this season.

It had looked the Hatters were going to enjoy a comfortable triumph after moving 3-0 in front by the interval thanks to goals from Andy Drury, Luke Wilkinson and Jonathan Smith.

But they made far heavier weather than they should have in the second 45 minutes as Cambridge threw caution to the wind, pulling goals back through subs Johnny Hunt and Robbie Simpson, leaving a shot-shy Luton hanging on for dear life at the final whistle.

Town had stayed with the same 11 for the third week running as a frantic opening saw little quality on display from either side.

Shaun Whalley was wayward, while Drury’s low effort easy for Chris Dunn, with U’s looking the more threatening, particular through former Luton loan star Cameron McGeehan, playing in a far more advanced position than during his time at Kenilworth Road last season.

The Norwich midfielder, who is surely destined to play at a higher level than League Two, took aim from range and his effort was destined for the bottom corner until Mark Tyler superbly got a finger tip to turn it behind, although bafflingly, a goal kick was awarded by the officials.

Cambridge then came even closer when Tom Elliott met Ryan Donaldson’s corner and powered a header against the bar.

Hatters’ first real opportunity arrived on 15 minute as Wilkinson brought the ball out of defence, committing the U’s back-line and found Jake Howells, whose trickery took him into the box.

The winger’s deflected shot was parried by Dunn on to Whalley but went behind the goal.

Whalley then gifted possession away and the ball was worked to Ryan Donaldson, but racing forward, he dragged well wide from a promising position.

However, Hatters had the lead out of nothing on 19 minutes, thanks largely to some fine wingplay from the impressive Howells.

Town’s current longest serving player again came off his flank and his shot was superbly parried by Dunn only for Drury to calmly volley the rebound into the net.

Luton now had the bit between their teeth as a lovely move saw Howells’ final ball gathered by Dunn, before Wilkinson stepped out from the back once more as Town won a corner just after the half hour mark.

The defender took his customary position in the box and rose highest to head Drury’s corner into the roof of the net as Luton doubled their lead.

Frustratingly, Wilkinson’s influential afternoon was curtailed early as he picked up a hamstring injury and was replaced by Fraser Franks.

Hatters then looked to have sealed victory on the half time whistle as Scott Griffiths’ acrobatic volley was blocked, but Smith took the loose ball and his shot embarrassed a red-faced Dunn, who ended up diving past the ball for a very soft third.

Town unveiled new signing, winger Ryan Hall, from Rotherham United on an 18-month deal during the interval, as crucially visiting boss Richard Money threw on Simpson and Hunt for the second period.

After former U’s loanee Jayden Stockley saw his audacious volley flash narrowly wide, it was pretty much all Cambridge, with Luton barely stepping foot into their opponents half at times.

Whalley did break away to fizz a left footer over, but the U’s won a host of corners that were just about repelled by the Town defence, who were finding themselves increasingly hemmed in.

A marvellous block by Drury prevented Simpson’s goalbound drive from thundering into the net, but the U’s were back in the game on 67 minutes.

A ball over the top was picked up by an offside-looking McGeehan and he teed up the onrushing Hunt, who produced a classy, measured finish beyond Tyler into the far corner.

Town boss John Still reacted by bringing Alex Lawless and Mark Cullen on in quick succession as Lawless almost made an immediate impact, transferring the ball on to his left foot and shooting wide.

The introduction of Cullen finally gave Stockley a partner, as the forward had been cutting a frustrated figure, with Drury moving to the left hand side.

Cambridge were screaming for a penalty as the ball appeared to hit Howells’ hand in the area, before Simpson then beat Tyler to a long ball and flicked goalwards as his effort went virtually along the line and away.

Another ex-Hatter, Greg Taylor fired into the side netting, but with five minutes remaining, the gap was down to one.

Hatters were once again beaten by a simple downfield pass and Simpson took it under control before swivelling to beat Tyler.

Luton’s hearts were in their mouths after giving a free kick away just outside the area, but thankfully, Hunt put it into the crowd.

Then, in stoppage time, McGeehan, who was afforded a fine ovation by Luton supporters afterwards, raced away, but Tyler just managed to nick the ball of his toes as Hatters held on.

The result saw Luton remain in fourth place, but are now only four points off new leaders Shrewsbury with a game in hand.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths (Mark Cullen 73), Luke Wilkinson (Fraser Franks 41), Steve McNulty (C), Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith, Andy Drury, Shaun Whalley (Alex Lawless 69), Jake Howells, Jayden Stockley.

Subs not used: Alex Wall, Elliott Justham, Luke Guttridge, Matt Robinson.

United: Chris Dunn, Richard Tait, Greg Taylor, Josh Coulson, Ryan Donaldson (Luke Chadwick 73), Tom Champion (C), Tom Elliott, Michael Nelson, Dominic Ball (Robbie Simpson 46), Cameron McGeehan, Sullay Kaikai (Johnny Hunt 46).

Subs not used: Ian Miller, Will Norris, James Akintunde, Jordan Chiedozie.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.

Booked: Whalley 45, Champion 73, Doyle 76.

Attendance: 10,054 (939 Cambridge).

Hatters MOM: Jake Howells. Some really fine wing-play on the left flank, particularly during the first half.