Luton Town FC vs Cheltenham Town (24th Feb 2018)

MATCH REPORT: LUTON TOWN 2 CHELTENHAM TOWN 2

Hatters rescue a point with Sheehan's injury-time equaliser

The Hatters fought back from two goals down to take a late point on an afternoon of controversy at Kenilworth Road as Cheltenham once again proved a bogey side for Nathan Jones and his team.

The Robins, who won 3-2 on their visit here last season, looked like returning to the Cotswolds with all three points once again as Joe Morrell and Mohamed Eisa goals either side of half-time gave them a two-goal advantage.

The second came moments after referee Mark Heywood had awarded the Hatters a penalty, despite Olly Lee was volleying a James Justin cross into the visitors’ net as he was being held by full-back Ilias Chatzitheodoridis. Cheltenham keeper Scott Flinders saved James Collins’ spot-kick, and Eisa doubled the Robins’ advantage five minutes later.

The Town had the character to bounce back to grab a point, however, with Luke Berry netting his eighth goal of the season just before the hour, and captain Alan Sheehan heading in an injury-time equaliser to keep the Hatters three clear of second-placed Accrington Stanley in second place, and seven ahead of Notts County in fourth.

Jones named an unchanged side from the one that beat Crawley 4-1 in the Town’s last outing at Kenilworth Road, which meant goalkeeper Marek Stech started behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Glen Rea, captain Alan Sheehan and James Justin, who celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday.

In midfield was Flynn Downes, Olly Lee, Luke Berry and Andrew Shinnie, with Harry Cornick and James Collins up front.

There were two changes on the bench, however, where leading scorer Danny Hylton – who celebrates his 29th birthday tomorrow – returned along with recent signing from Liverpool, Lloyd Jones.

The opening quarter-of-an-hour was a slow, stop-start affair, with the visitors seeing a header from Joe Morrell and a left-foot blast from Chatzitheodoridis fly well wide of Stech’s goal.

The first moment of real quality came in the 16th minute when Berry found space on the Town left and the midfielder delivered a pinpoint low cross for Collins, who opened the face of his right foot on the half-volley, but his angled effort went just over the bar.

A minute later Olly Lee latched onto a loose ball 25 yards out, but his shot lacked power, then Downes, who had been booked early for a foul on Harry Pell, was at the heart of the Hatters’ next chance, playing a sharp pass into Collins, who flicked it inside for Berry to shoot at goal – though his effort was comfortably saved by Flinders.

Lee had another shot on the half-hour that Flinders pushed wide but prevented it going for a corner, before Collins’ low 31st-minute cross flashed across the six-yard box, but neither Cornick or Lee could convert as they homed in on goal.

Lee, clearly confident after scoring against Crawley for the first time in 13 games, was popping up in promising positions all around the penalty area, and when Cheltenham only headed a Sheehan corner half-clear, the midfielder had another go – this time mis-hitting his shot tamely wide.

Cheltenham reminded the Town that they posed a threat on the break when Kevin Dawson raced clear in the 35th-minute and drew a good save from Stech with his outstretched foot, before Cornick led an immediate counter for the Town, that ultimately came to nothing.

The Robins soon had the lead though, Morrell letting fly from fully 25 yards and finding the top corner with a shot that seemed to dip as it flew against the strong wind on 41 minutes.

Town came out for the second half a goal down, but they immediately went on the attack, Sheehan and Shinnie combining to tee up Cornick for a snap-shot from the left side of the area, then Justin fizzed a low cross in from the left that Flinders gathered just ahead of Collins.

The came a moment of real controversy in the 50th minute as Justin crossed from the left once more, and Lee – despite being held by Chatzitheodoridis – volleyed into the back of the net, but referee Mark Heywood already had his whistle in his mouth to award a penalty.

Collins, who had scored penalties in the previous two games at Stevenage and against his old club Crawley, saw his effort saved low to his left by Flinders, and Cheltenham somehow managed to smuggle the ball up and over the bar as the Town striker closed in on the rebound.

Almost inevitably amid the uproar, Cheltenham doubled their lead in the 55th minute when Moore crossed from the right and Eisa buried a free header past Stech.

Jones responded straightaway by bringing Hylton on for Collins, and Jake Jervis for Shinnie.

The Town were back in business almost immediately as Stacey dug out a 58th-minute cross from the right that just eluded Hylton, but Berry made no mistake coming in behind him to finish brilliant from eight yards for his eighth goal of the season.

It was all Luton now, and Lee saw another volley fly over the bar into the Kenny end when Cheltenham only half-cleared another Sheehan corner, then Hylton pulled the trigger from 25 yards in the 65th minute, but his shot flashed the wrong side of the post.

Hylton was starting to make things happen, and a snaking run across the edge of the box and one-twos with Cornick and Lee almost saw him put Jervis in.

Jones made his third substitution with 13 minutes to go, throwing Luke Gambin into the fray in place of Lee, and within a couple of minutes the Malta international was teasing his way around the area, whipping in a low cross that was just too far in front of Hylton.

Then, in the 83rd minute, Gambin produced a lovey bit of skill to feed the ball to Hylton to the right side of the area and the top scorer delivered a right-footed blast that Flinders did well to beat away at his near post.

With 89 minutes on the clock, Cornick whipped in an inviting cross that Gambin – the smallest player in among the giants of the Cheltenham defence – got his head on, but couldn’t keep his effort down.

Gambin was the provider for the late equaliser though, as his right-wing corner picked out Sheehan – who would normally be taking the set-pieces – to ram in a close range header at the far post to rescue a point with his third goal of the season.

In the end, a point was better that nothing as the Hatters once again showed the character that has seen them fight back late on several occasions already this season, and extend the unbeaten run throughout February to four matches before next week's trip to Cambridge.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Rea, Sheehan ©, Justin, Downes, O Lee (Gambin 77), Berry, Shinnie (Jervis 57), Collins (Hylton 57), Cornick. Subs: Mullins, D’Ath, Jones, Shea (GK)

Yellows: Downes, Sheehan, Hylton

Goals: Berry 58, Sheehan 90+2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-_kW0CPOyk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkBQCcrWU6Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgvMu_on8wc

NATHAN JONES ON THE DRAW WITH CHELTENHAM TOWN

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side should have come away with more than a point in their 2-2 draw against Cheltenham at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

After going a goal down through Joe Morrell's brilliant strike from range four minutes before the end of the first half, the visitors doubled their lead through Mohamed Eisa, just moments after the Hatters had seen James Collins penalty saved. Olly Lee had been dragged to the ground but tucked it past Scott Flinders, only for referee Mark Heywood bring it back for the spot kick.

Luke Berry halved the deficit with a well taken half volley just before the hour mark before Alan Sheehan headed in from Luke Gambin's corner two minutes into second half stoppage time.

The result leaves the Hatters three points clear at the top of Sky Bet League Two, with seven in between themselves and fourth.

Jones said: "It'll be a good point in the end I am sure, but it's the same old story for us – we get these opportunities and I knew today would be an opportunity.

"I didn't tell the players that because when I do tell the players that, right at the end of the month we tend to lose games or draw games or drop a point. It's really frustrating because we knew how they'd come because they did exactly the same thing last year, they play 4-5-1 and really dropped in and hit us on the counter attack.

"They scored out of nothing in the first half. It's an error from the goalkeeper because they shouldn't be scoring from that sort of range really.

"We had most of the play and a few chances that we just needed to be a bit more clinical on. We had a lot of shots that missed the target, balls flashing across we didn't connect with. It just felt like one of those days, it really did.

"We go behind and we come in at half-time and we think we'll have a right go second, and we did. The game changed in a three-minute period – from the penalty to their second goal."

Sheehan salvages a point in stoppage time

League Two: Luton Town 2 Cheltenham Town 2

Skipper Alan Sheehan scored in stoppage time to rescue the Hatters as they fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a point against Cheltenham Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Luton were looking like they were going to suffer another home defeat to the Robins, who won 3-2 last term, during a hugely controversial second half, which saw official Mark Heywood take centre stage.

First, he chalked off Olly Lee’s perfectly good strike on 50 minutes, blowing for a foul on striker James Collins a millisecond beforehand when he should have played advantage, to give Hatters a penalty, which Collins saw saved by Robins keeper Scott Flinders.

Mohammed Eisa then doubled Cheltenham’s advantage before Luke Berry hauled Town back into the game.

Sheehan struck at the far post to ensure a point, with Heywood then booking sub Danny Hylton for diving in the area with seconds remaining as Town had to make do with a point.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones named an unchanged side for the clash from their 4-1 victory over Crawley Town last time out, although Hylton and Lloyd Jones returned to the bench, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Jordan Cook missing out.

The visitors had made a bright start, Joe Morrell glancing a header wide, while on-loan Flynn Downes once again had to walk a disciplinary tight rope from the early stages, booked for shoulder barging his opponent to the ground.

Kevin Dawson followed him into the book, before Heywood opted to keep his cards in his pocket after that, letting a number of other challenges, that were similar if not worse, go by the wayside.

The journalist’s nightmare, Ilias Chatzitheodoridis, then skewed wide as Cheltenham didn’t look like they had come to defend, but Luton fashioned a great chance as Andrew Shinnie released Berry whose cross was side-footed over by Collins.

Olly Lee fired tamely at Flinders from a good position, while Collins then turned provider for Berry with a clever flick, the midfielder’s angled drive held by the opposing keeper.

Town upped the ante, forcing three corners in quick succession and they should have led midway through the half, as Collins did excellently on the left, crossing low only for Harry Cornick to completely miss his kick from close range.

Sheehan’s numerous corners continued to cause danger, one half cleared to Lee who once again didn’t have his shooting boots on, scuffing wide.

Hatters keeper Marek Stech ensured it remained goalless, standing up well to deny Dawson who was clean through, play swiftly switching to the other end, where Cornick chose the wrong option with Collins free to his left.

Out of nowhere, Luton were a goal down though when Morrell took aim for fully 30 yards, his shot flying past Stech, who would have been disappointed in being beaten from such a distance, with no deflection apparent.

After the break, Luton looked to make a high tempo start and did just that, Cornick’s snapshot not missing by much, before Heywood’s big moment.

James Justin sent over a cross that Lee volleyed past Flinders to appear to make it 1-1, only for the official to point to the spot, penalising Will Boyle for pulling back Collins inside the area, failing to send the defender off as well.

Collins stepped up, his low effort repelled by Flinders, with the striker’s rebound somehow being deflected over the bar by the prostrate keeper.

The Robins took full advantage of their let-off, instantly doubling their advantage, Eisa given the freedom of Bedfordshire to nod home a second on 55 minutes.

Jones raided his bench instantly, sending Hylton and Jake Jervis on, with Hylton immediately causing a nuisance in the area from Jack Stacey’s cross allowing Berry to slam home and crucially halve the deficit within 60 seconds.

Lee once again was disappointingly off target as a corner fell to him on the volley, with Hylton trying his luck from 20 yards, narrowly wide.

Luke Gambin was also introduced with 13 minutes to go, and he threaded a ball through to Hylton whose effort was beaten away by Flinders.

The Maltese international was to play an instrumental role as the Hatters did find a way through in stoppage time though, grabbing the corner, with Sheehan in the area this time and stooping at the far post to head home.

Hylton then thought he had won another penalty at the death, going down in the area, but Heywood rushed over to show the Luton forward yellow for what he deemed simulation.‏

Results elsewhere were kind to the hosts as although Accrington cut the gap to three points at the top, they remain seven points in front of fourth, now Notts County, who beat Stevenage 2-0.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan (C), Flynn Downes, Olly Lee (Luke Gambin 77), Luke Berry, Andrew Shinnie (Jake Jervis 57), Harry Cornick, James Collins (Danny Hylton 57).

Subs not used: James Shea, Johnny Mullins, Lloyd Jones, Lawson D’Ath.

Cheltenham: Scott Flinders, Jamie Grimes, Nigel Atangana, Harry Pell, Kevin Dawson (Emmanuel Onariase 90), Carl Winchester (C), Will Boyle, Mohamed Eisa (Sanmi Odelusi 81) , Joe Morrell, Taylor Moore, Ilias Chatzitheodoridis (Joe Rodon 78).

Subs not used: Danny Wright, Jerell Sellars, Brian Graham, Rhys Lovett.

Referee: Mark Heywood.

Booked: Downes 6, Dawson 9, Boyle 50, Pell 77, Sheehan 90. [Hylton, Winchester and Grimes were also booked 90]

Attendance: 8,453 (142 Cheltenham).

Hatters MOM: Luke Berry – his goal gave Luton a chance of getting back into it.

Jones felt referee Heywood didn’t need to give a penalty

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones couldn’t understand why referee Mark Heywood didn’t play an advantage to allow Olly Lee’s goal to stand against Cheltenham this afternoon.

Early in the second half with the Hatters trailing 1-0, they looked to have restored parity when Lee volleyed home at the back post from James Justin’s cross.

However, official Heywood already had the whistle to his lips, blowing for a foul on striker James Collins by visiting defender Will Boyle and awarded the hosts a spotkick.

To make matters worse, Collins saw his penalty saved by Ross Flinders as Mohammed Eisa made it 2-0 soon after, before Town fought back with goals from Luke Berry and Alan Sheehan.

It’s not the first time Heywood has courted controversy either when in charge of Luton, with Jones given a one-game touchline ban and fined £1,000 for comments made to the officials during the 1-1 draw at Wycombe in January 2017.

He also sent off Carlisle’s Michael Raynes in a clash at Kenilworth Road during December 2016, a decision that was later overturned on appeal, as speaking afterwards, Jones said: “The game turned in that three minute period, that’s really why we haven’t won the game.

“I can’t say too much about the referee but I never come off the pitch with this referee and say ‘you’ve had a really good game there.’

“But all he had to do was wait. The only reason we’re talking about it is because we’ve missed a penalty.

“We still should score that penalty and then marked him down at the end of the game, but he’s only got to let it go a second and it’s a goal.

“He didn’t need to give the penalty, if he waited, saw how it panned out, as he’s given it as he’d seen the shirt grab.

“He knows it’s a pen so let it pan out but he didn’t and it’s disappointing.”

Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson could feel some sympathy for his opposite number, as he said: “I didn’t think that was a penalty. I’d be really upset if I was the Luton manager and had the ball in the net.

“But he’d already blown and so he’s got to give the penalty because he’d already blown before the ball went into the net.

“Of course, I’d be like Nathan, I’m sure he was very upset. I didn’t look at him.

“I thought the second save, from when the ball rebounded back to him, was unbelievable. I thought that was absolutely magnificent because he had to be brave. How he’s got it over the bar I do not know.

“We can take positives from it. I’m not going to be going home and kicking the cat, if I had one.”