Luton Town FC vs FC Halifax Town (5th Oct 2013)

Wonder Wall gives Town the edge in seven-goal thriller

Town 4 Guttridge 16, Benson 33, Gray 39, Wall 83 FC Halifax 3 Marshall 3, Ainge 19, Gardner 23

A thunderous late goal from substitute Alex Wall sealed a remarkable turnaround for the Hatters as they came from 1-0 and 3-1 down to beat FC Halifax in a seven-goal thriller at Kenilworth Road.

It was 3-3 at half-time following a breathless first 45 minutes in which the Town trailed twice only to comeback twice to level the score.

Halifax, without an away win and with just one point on their travels from five games, took the lead on three minutes through Paul Marshall’s strike before Luke Guttridge levelled on 16 minutes with a heavily deflected shot.

However, the Hatters were suddenly 2-1 and then 3-1 down, as the Shaymen shocked the majority inside Kenilworth Road. Former Town defender Simon Ainge nodded the visitors ahead again on 19 minutes, rising to head unchallenged in the box following a right-wing free-kick; before Dan Gardner’s fine low shot made it 3-1 four minutes later.

The Town were living dangerously and the visitors came inches from going 4-1 up on 31 minutes when Gardner swivelled in the box and mis-hit a volley that looped over Mark Tyler and kissed the face of the crossbar. Puffed cheeks all round.

And it proved to be a massive turning point in the game, as two minutes later, the Hatters cut the deficit. Scott Griffiths scampered up the left to hook a cross back into the box. It eluded everyone but found fellow full-back Ronnie Henry, and his cross from the right was met first-time by Benson who sent an assured finish beyond Matt Glennon in the visitors’ goal.

The Hatters sensed blood, and buoyed by their second goal, an equaliser appeared on 39 minutes. Alex Lawless was the provider – poking an accurate pass through the Shaymen’s defence, and Gray was on to it in a flash and belted a low finish into the corner of the net.

You always sensed after a first half containing six goals the game would become more constrained in the second period – and so it proved.

The Town were the more dominant as they pushed for an early goal after the restart but failed to test Glennon.

But, mid-way through the second half, the visitors slowly crept back into the game and only a fantastic save by the legs of Tyler prevented Neil Aspin’s side from going 4-3 up when the Town goalkeeper blocked Garnder’s low shot on the turn on 66 minutes.

Then they came even closer on 71 minutes when substitute Kevin Holsgrove’s deflected shot bounced onto the foot of the post and away to safety, much to the Town’s relief.

That near miss was the catalyst for John Still to bring on Wall on 72 minutes and it was the burly striker’s effort, after a series of half-chances, that won it for the Hatters with seven minutes left on the clock.

He took a pass from Benson to drive forward, Gray’s movement drew an opening in the Halifax defence, and the former Maidenhead man unleashed a superb 25-yard effort that flew into the top corner past the outstretched hands of Glennon.

“A goal worthy to win any game,” was Still’s verdict come the final whistle.

That knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and, as time ticked down, and Gray almost added a fifth in stoppage time but the Town held onto secure three points in dramatic fashion.

Town: Tyler; Henry (sub Wall 74), Griffiths, McNulty, Lacey; Smith, Parry; Guttridge; Gray, Lawless (sub Robinson 90), Benson.

Subs not used: Whalley, Howells, Jusham.

Attendance: 6,519 (including 260 from Halifax)

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/halifax-win-in-pictures-1097201.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE4BA8IXHW0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lwhM04UXJE

Wonder wall blockbuster completes dramatic Hatters comeback victory

Skrill Premier: Luton Town 4 (3) FC Halifax Town 3 (3)

A late winner from super sub Alex Wall saw Luton complete a dramatic comeback victory to triumph 4-3 against FC Halifax Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

With the scores locked at 3-3 wonder Wall proved to be the day’s biggest hit when he arched a sumptuous 25-yard effort past the helpless Matt Glennon to bag Town all three points as Luton rose to fifth in the table.

Impressive Halifax had made a dream start to the afternoon with the pacy pair of Lee Gergory and Dan Gardner particularly impressive.

And the Shaymen roared into a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Paul Marshall, ex-Hatter Simon Ainge and Gardner, with Luke Guttridge initially equalising for Luton.

But Luton always always looked like they had goals in them and levelled before the break with strikes from forward Paul Benson and Andre Gray, before Wall’s belter seven minutes from time finally secured Luton victory.

Town made two changes from the team that drew 0-0 at Hereford United last weekend as Jake Howells dropped to the bench and Mark Cullen missed out entirely as in came Alex Lawless and Gray into the starting XI.

The visitors flew out of the blocks as Gregory almost jinked his way through before being muscled off of the ball by Steve McNulty.

But the reprieve was brief as the lively Gregory again streaked through the heart of the Luton defence and, although Mark Tyler did well to save at his feet, the ball ran for Marshall do drive past two home players on the line and give the Shaymen a third-minute lead.

Guttridge won the ball on the edge of the visitors’ box on nine minutes and a home defender did superbly to stop the ball reaching Gray.

Luton looked to respond as Alex Lacey had an effort blocked from a corner, Lawless lifted a cross to the back post which was cleared after a lovely jinking run and Gray blasted miles over.

The Shaymen continued to look dangerous in possession as Gardner dragged a good chance just wide before the Hatters levelled on 16 minutes.

Goal machine Guttridge skipped past former Hatter Ainge on the edge of the area and, as he looked to curl inside the far corner, his shot deflected off the sliding Ryan Toulson and inside Matt Glennon’s near post.

But the lead lasted less than three minutes as Halifax won a free-kick on the flank and Marshall’s delivery picked out Ainge in a static box to simply head past the hapless Tyler.

And things got even worse as Halifax added a brilliant third on 23 minutes. Gardner picked the ball up on halfway and wriggled his way past Lacey before racing away from McNulty and burying an unstoppable effort into the bottom right hand corner from 20 yards for a sensational goal.

A superb Andy Parry cross was cleared behind on 28 minutes and another good Guttridge delivery was headed away as Town sensed there was still a way back into the match.

Yet it was almost game over on 31 minutes when Gregory did well to muscle Lacey away from the ball and his mishit shot looped over Tyler and came back off the bar as Luton survived.

They were right back in it two minutes later as, after Scott Griffiths’ cross had just eluded Gray, Ronnie Henry drove the ball back into the six-yard and Benson turned home from close range.

And quite unbelievably it was 3-3 six minutes before the break when Lawless and Gray combined well on the edge of the box and the recalled striker’s snapshot bulged the bottom left-hand corner.

Halifax winger Adam Smith twice enraged the home crowd by going down for elongated spells of treatment before being replaced by Danny Lowe as four minutes of injury-time were added.

Town made a promising start to the second half as Guttridge headed over Benson’s cross six minutes in, before Gardner did well to beat McNulty before driving well over from range.

A more conservative half ensued and Lacey had to time his challenge to perfection on 63 minutes to deny Gregory as he looked to burst on to Gardner’s pass.

Gardner then did well to create space in front of McNulty as his low drive was repelled by Tyler.

At the other end Gray broke but his dangerous low cross was well cleared before it could find a Luton man.

Both teams were far more cagey in the second half, but both had chances to snatch the lead on 71 minutes. Kevin Holsgrove’s effort from the edge of the box took a huge deflection as it rebounded off the wrong-footed Tyler’s far post.

At the other end the ball the fell kindly for Benson, but lacked the legs as he raced clean through and the keeper smothered well at his feet.

Halifax centre-half Marc Roberts then headed a good cross just wide before Luton gambled as they replaced skipper Henry with striker Wall.

A fine Guttridge cross was missed by Ainge and Benson hesitated as the chance vanished.

And Town completed a scarcely unbelievable turn-around with a brilliant fourth on 83 minutes. Sub Wall picked the ball up wide on the left and cut inside before unleashing a wonderful arching effort to beat Glennon from 25 yards as his shot dipped over the keeper and into the top right hand corner.

Halifax poured forward in search of an equaliser as Town had to weather a couple of long throws that again caused difficulties in their box throughout the afternoon.

A swift Town break in injury time ended in a Benson putting over a woeful cross that drifted out, before Gray raced on to a Benson flick but, with just the keeper to beat, his effort rose just over the bar as Luton sealed a sensation comeback victory.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Alex Lawless (Matt Robinson 90), Scott Griffiths, Andy Parry, Luke Guttridge, Ronnie Henry (C, Alex Wall 74), Paul Benson, Andre Gray, Alex Lacey. Substitutes not used: Jake Howells, Elliot Justham, Shaun Whalley.

Shaymen (4-2-3-1): Matt Glennon, Ryan Toulson, Scott McManus, Adam Smith (Danny Lowe 43), Dan Gardner, Lee Gregory (C, Kevin Holsgrove 65), Marc Roberts, John McReady (Sean Williams 81), Paul Marshall, Lois Maynard, Simon Ainge. Substitutes not used: Phil Senior, Jonathan Worthington.

Booked: Gregory 29.

Referee: N Kinseley. Assistant Referees: A Quelch and M Lucie. Fourth Official: N Pratt.

Attendance: 6,519 (Halifax 260).

Star Hatter: Andre Gray. Hungry striker showed plenty of desire as he used his power and pace to unsettle the Shaymen and became more effective the longer the game went on.

Hayrettin lauds Town’s spirit after thriller

First team coach Hakan Hayrettin paid tribute to Hatters’ team spirit as they came from 3-1 down to defeat FC Halifax Town 4-3 in a thrilling Skrill Premier clash yesterday, writes Mike Simmonds.

Town had been trailing by two goals after just 23 minutes, but clawed their way back to 3-3 by half time and then went on to win the game late on after a magnificent strike by substitute Alex Wall.

Hayrettin said: “It was unbelievable, great spirit. We fought to the death, we believed we could get back into the game and did that.

“There were times this season when we didn’t play well and battled our way through it, but we played exceptionally well in a lot of games and maybe didn’t get what we deserved.

“Maybe we didn’t play as well as what we could do this time, but we showed we’ve got a spirit and never say die attitude there, and that means a lot in the camp and it’s been installed.

“I’m just so pleased that the boys have showed something that I don’t know in the last two or three years if we’ve had that attitude that is needed to drive on.

“Sometimes you’ve got to do the best you possibly can for your team mates and every single one of them threw their shirts on the line to make sure we got something out of the game.

“We’re in a street fight and we’ve got to swing to come out the other end. To come from 3-1 down to 3-3 and win the game in that style, was unbelievable.”

Hayrettin also spoke in glowing terms about Hatters’ unwavering support, as there wasn’t a hint of unrest despite Town’s perilous position at one stage.

He continued: “With this crowd that we’ve got behind us it gives the boys that push, that desire, that drive and those qualities we’ve shown maybe come from the supporters sometimes.

“That support when we were 3-1 down, they got behind the side, there was no sign of negativity and they drove us on. They were unbelievable.

“We can only hope that they continue all season. We’ve got to have that same desire, same attitude, same professionalism to keep doing the right things, keep driving on.”

The coach also confirmed there was no injury to striker Mark Cullen who dropped out of the squad despite scoring four goals in his last three games, while Jake Howells was only on the bench too, adding: “The manager has always stressed, the team is not about the team that plays, it’s about the whole squad.

“The whole squad will be utilised as and when required, so they need to be ready.

“He thought it was the best thing to do to play these players and for us it worked.

“Howells has been outstanding for us, but he changed it slightly to play two up top and I think it showed maybe when we had that further up the pitch it works better for us.

“But there was no negativity from anyone in the camp. It was something that he wanted to do to get the result and the manager decided to do that and he got three points.”