Luton Town FC vs Exeter City (3rd Apr 2015)

Full report: Luton Town 2-3 Exeter City

The Town let a two-goal lead slip to sink to their seventh successive defeat as an injury-time goal from Exeter’s David Wheeler stunned Kenilworth Road.

First half goals from Luke Guttridge and Mark Cullen had the Hatters in control at half-time – but it was a different story in the second half.

Exeter halved the deficit six minutes after the restart when Ryan Harley hooked past Elliot Justham, and with 14 minutes left on the clock the Grecians levelled when Jordan Moore-Taylor poked home.

And just when it seemed the Town would hold on for a point to stop the rot, Wheeler popped up at the back post to divert the loose ball home after Christian Ribeiro’s header had come back off the post.

Kenilworth Road was left thunderstruck as the Hatters contemplated yet another defeat – their ninth in 10 League 2 games.

That dramatic finale seemed a million miles away at half-time when the Hatters confidently went off the park after the first 45 minutes with a 2-0 lead.

In fairness their advantage was harsh on the Grecians, who had bossed possession and chances in the first half. The Grecians’ shoot-on-sight policy was giving the Town defence a few nervous moments but the closest the visitors came to beating Elliot Justham in the first half was when the Hatters keeper held onto Graham Cummins’ header.

But it’s fair to say that luck – something that John Still doesn’t believe in – has alluded the Town in recent weeks, but there was, thankfully, some good fortune about the goal that led to the Hatters taking the lead on 21 minutes. The ball bounced at the feet of Guttridge 12 yards out and his shot took a deflection off an Exeter defender and rolled home to the delight of the home crowd.

As the rain teemed down, Exeter continued to pour forward in search of a goal but without seriously concerning the Hatters’ goal.

Exeter upped the ante as half-time approached but the Hatters had other ideas and, against the run of play, they made it 2-0. The Town did superbly to win the ball back off the visitors in the final third and Jonathan Smith’s pass sent Cullen through. The Hatters’ leading goalscorer still had plenty to do, but shrugged off his would-be-marker and thrasher a cool, low finish under the dive of James Hamon for his 13th of the season.

Ahead at the break the last thing the Town wanted was to concede an early goal at the start of the second half, but the visitors reduced arrears on 51 minutes when Harley was found alone six yards out and his volley flew past the exposed Justham.

Back came the Town, Alex Lawless flashing a shot wide of the target two minutes later, but it was the visitors that looked the more likely to score next. Justham was tested on 56 minutes when Arron Davies arrowed a shot from a corner routine before the Town keeper then pawed away Liam Sercombe’s shot six minutes later.

Exeter were beginning to turn the screw and a minute after Jayden Stockley was introduced for Cullen, the visitors levelled when the Town failed to clear their lines on the edge of the penalty area and Moore-Taylor slid home a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.

The Town were looking tired as the visitors now pressed for a winner. But the Hatters to their credit were still hunting a winner themselves as the game continued to swing up and down the soggy Kenilworth Road pitch.

Both sides went for the win as time ticked down. Substitute Cameron McGeehan’s goal-bound shot was blocked with two minutes left and Sercombe saw a shot blocked by Paul Benson in the final minute of the 90 for the visitors.

It was hearts in mouths for the Town two minutes into injury time when Exeter had the ball in the net a third time but to the Hatters’ relief Davies’ back-post header wad ruled out for offside.

However, the Hatters weren’t so lucky in the final minute of stoppage time when the visitors won it. Ribeiro’s header from a right-wing cross kissed the post but Wheeler was first to the loose ball, pouncing quickest in the six-yard box to leave Kenilworth Road absolutely stunned.

The Hatters had one last chance from a corner but the visitors were able to clear and the Town players fell to their feet knowing they had lost for a seventh straight game.

Town: Justham, Harriman, Kinsella (sub Lacey 77), Wilkinson, McNulty, Lawless, Doyle, Smith (sub McGeehan 71), Guttridge, Cullen (sub Stockley 75), Benson.

Subs not used: Miller, Hall, Oduwa, King.

Attendance: 8,755, including 429 supporting Exeter.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-luton-2-3-exeter-city-2374309.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfc1ra4aCy8

League Two: Luton Town 2 Exeter 3

Luton Town’s play-off hopes were dealt a body blow as Exeter City snatched a last-gasp winner at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, condemning the Hatters to defeat number seven on the spin.

To make matters worse, it had looked like Luton were well on the way to ending their horror form, leading 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from the recalled Luke Guttridge and Mark Cullen.

However, Exeter, who were easily one of the best teams to appear at Kenilworth Road this season, had other ideas, levelling through Ryan Harley and Jordan Moore-Taylor, before sub David Wheeler nicked it at the death, with boos then ringing out from the home support.

Although the manner of the defeat was harsh on the Hatters, they just couldn’t cope with the Grecians precise passing football, dragged this way and that at times.

The hosts made just one change before kick off, Guttridge replacing Andy Drury, and looked lively early on, as Jonathan Smith headed into the path of Guttridge whose side-footer was just wide.

Keeper Elliot Justham then tried to be too clever outside the box as his clearance fell straight to Liam Sercombe, but his ambitious left footed volley, with the keeper out of his area, flew into the stands.

The visitors settled into their stride quickly thanks mainly to some thrusting runs from Sercombe, one ending with Graham Cummins volleying wildly off target.

With Luton’s bright start soon evaporating, they fell back into their old habits of going too long too often, with the Grecians looking far more comfortable getting the ball down on the floor at every opportunity.

A quick break by Exeter saw Justham out smartly to save, but Luton then showed they could counter just well, netting the opener on 20 minutes.

First, Luke Wilkinson stepped in to win the ball, allowing Smith to take up proceedings. He found Cullen on the right who fed the onrushing Guttridge and his effort deflected off a visiting defender to beat James Hamon.

Exeter didn’t appear rattled by the goal though, continuing to press as Lee Holmes’ daisycutter was well handled by Justham, who then had race off his line again to claim, before Nicholls drilled wide.

Despite leading 1-0, the home fans were growing more and more restless watching their side being out-passed and dropping deeper and deeper in the opening 45 minutes, allowing Exeter to control proceedings with relative ease.

Justham confidently claimed Cummins’ header, but Hatters finally advanced up the field with Lawless showing some fine skill to beat his man on the byline as with players well placed, went for the top corner and ended up finding touch.

The hosts then had another opportunity which came again from one huge punt forward by Steve McNulty, as Moore-Taylor slipped and let Benson in, who got stuck in two minds and eventually teed up Lawless to side-foot well over.

Somehow, Luton then had a second moments before the whistle, as they finally showed the virtues of pressing higher up the pitch, with Lewis Kinsella this time stepping in to win the ball back by the half-way line.

Smith helped out and chipped through to Cullen, who back in his favoured central position for a moment, showed great chest control and goalscoring instincts to race away and slam under Hamon.

A strike from Town’s top scorer has always been followed by a Luton triumph previously, but Hatters’ positive start to the second period was punctured immediately when a lovely lofted pass was met by Ryan Harley and he volleyed past Justham.

The Hatters should have been 3-1 ahead straight away as a long ball forward dropped for Lawless, who crucially couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Aaron Davies then tried his luck from a clever corner as 30 yards from goal, Justham clung on, but the signs were clearly worrying for Luton.

However, Hatters broke away as they had done twice to such great effect in the first period, with Lawless and Smith leading the charge.

Eventually, Benson toe-poked through to Guttridge, though this time the deflection worked against him, going behind for a corner.

Town’s lack of fitness amongst their key players like Benson, Smith and Doyle really started to show as the game progressed, as they conceded territory to Exeter, which in turn upped the frustration in the home stands.

On 75 minutes, the visitors had the equaliser their play deserved as a free kick was swung in and with Luton losing the first header, the ball dropped for centre half Moore-Taylor, who coolly side-footed into the bottom corner.

Cameron McGeehan, Jayden Stockley and Alex Lacy were now on for the hosts, but apart from a McGeehan effort that drew a decent block from Ribeiro, it was apparent the game was only going one way.

Stockley had a marvellous chance but skied into the stands after Michael Harriman’s cut back, although Exeter thought they had won it late on when Davies tucked home from close range, but the linesman’s flag had been raised.

There was to be no such rescue for the hosts in the final minute of injury time though when Ribeiro header’s was tipped on to the post by Justham, but sub David Wheeler reacted quickest to turn the rebound into the net.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Michael Harriman, Lewis Kinsella (Alex Lacey 76), Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Luke Guttridge, Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith (Cameron McGeehan 70), Alex Lawless, Mark Cullen (Jayden Stockley 75), Paul Benson.

Subs not used: Ricky Miller, Ryan Hall, Nathan Oduwa, Craig King.

Grecians: James Hamon, Christian Ribeiro, Liam Sercombe, Matt Oakley (C), Arron Davies, Jamie McAllister, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Lee Holmes, Alex Nicholls (David Wheeler 63), Graham Cummins (Clinton Morrison 75), Ryan Harley.

Subs not used: Danny Butterfield, Craig Woodman, Scott Bennett, Jimmy Keohane, Kavanagh Keadell.

Referee: Rob Lewis.

Booked: Wilkinson 75, McNulty 78, Doyle 90.

Attendance: 8,755 (429 Exeter).

Hatters MOM: Nathan Doyle.

Still admits Hatters ran out of steam

Hatters boss John Still felt that trying to get his players fit for a chance to reach the play-offs eventually back-fired during the 3-2 defeat against Exeter City yesterday.

The hosts had led 2-0 at half time, only to concede three goals, including a last-gasp winner, falling to their third successive 3-2 home reverse and seventh straight loss.

With the likes of Jonathan Smith, Nathan Doyle, Paul Benson, Luke Guttridge and Alex Lawless still short of match fitness, the Hatters noticeably struggled in the second period as Still said: “It’s a massive disappointment. To work so hard to get in front and conceding three goals again, it’s very disappointing.

“The players have worked their absolute socks off, I can’t ask for more from the players.

“We’ve run out of steam a bit which we expect because they haven’t played a lot. It was a tremendous effort, but that on the day wasn’t good enough.

“I think Exeter are a good footballing side, they were always in the game first half.

“We were 2-0 up, they came back strong, played very well second half, we made one or two changes and just ran out of legs.

“Jonathan can play a bit, but he’s had to come off, Doyle the same. We had a problem with Lewis (Kinsella), he had to come off with cramp, so we put (Alex) Lacey on there as I thought we might be able to hold on to it.

“The players have worked tirelessly, they’ve not always played great, but played okay.

“I don’t hold any responsibility on the defeat to them, I’m the manager and have to look at myself.

“I picked a team I really felt could win the game, I’ve gone for as many of our strong characters as I can, took a chance on the fact that they wouldn’t all be fit and we looked okay, cracks appeared when we ran out of petrol in certain areas of the pitch.”