Luton Town FC vs Gateshead (11th Aug 2012)

Town come back from two goals down to earn point

**Town 2 ** Gateshead 2

Shaw 61, Fleetwood 71 Hatch 25, Odubade 35

Paul Buckle’s men clawed their way back from two goals down with an opening day draw with Gateshead at Kenilworth Road, with goals from Stuart Fleetwood and debutant Jon Shaw sealing a comeback in a strong second-half display.

Two-nil down at half-time after a muted first half display, the Hatters came out for the second half with real vigour and attacking intent, but fell just short of picking up the three points they wanted after giving themselves too much to do against a strong and well-organised Heed side.

The Town lined up with four debutants in a 4-3-3 formation, with new captain Ronnie Henry lining up in defence alongside left-back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, loanee Yaser Kasim sitting deep in the midfield, and Scott Rendell starting in a central striking role alongside last season’s top forwards Andre Gray and Stuart Fleetwood.

JJ O’Donnell was handed his first ever league start by Buckle, and his enthusiastic running gave the visitors a scare as early as the third minute, as he drove forward from midfield and sent a low shot skidding into the body of Adam Bartlett in the Heed goal.

The Town enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the early stages, with Kasim and Jake Howells linking up well in a mobile three-man midfield and entertaining the Town faithful under the bright Luton sunshine.

But it was Gateshead who struck first, deflating the buoyant atmosphere at a packed Kenilworth Road. Hatters old boy Liam Hatch stooped low to head in a left wing corner, which ricocheted off Greg Taylor and trickled past Mark Tyler to send the visitors in front on 25 minutes.

Hatch looked to double his account three minutes later but sliced his shot well wide after robbing Kasim 25 just outside the Town’s eighteen-yard box, before the Town sank further behind when Yemi Odubade got in behind Ronnie Henry and fired a low strike into the back of the net.

The visitors had set themselves up perfectly for an away game, sitting too deep to allow the Hatters’ strikers any space behind the back four, and using the power of Hatch and pace of Odubade to hit the Town on the break. Two goals in front, Gateshead grew in confidence, with the lively Odubade causing problems among the home defenders, carving out a decent half chance for midfielder Josh Gillies on 40 minutes as the Hatters struggled to get a handle on the game.

A visibly frustrated Buckle took drastic action at half-time and made a double substitution. Taylor and Kasim were replaced with Alex Lawless and Shaw, the burly striker making his Town debut against his old club. Rendell dropped back into midfield to make way for Shaw, while Lawless slotted in a right-back.

The changes seemed to invigorate the Hatters, who came back onto the pitch with new purpose and aggression. Five minutes after kick-off, Gray throttled a volley over the bar on the turn after O’Donnell deftly chipped the ball over Ben Clark in the Heed back line. On 56 minutes, Howells found Fleetwood in some space in the area with a lofted free kick, but the striker could only snatch at the half chance from a tight angle.

The Hatters’ pressure paid dividends when new-boy Shaw glanced in his first goal in Town colours on the hour mark, turning in a Fleetwood cross in front of a delighted Kenilworth Road end.

Suddenly, the stadium was rocking as the Town faithful responded noisily to the Hatters’ improved performance. Rendell and Shaw were putting themselves about with physical displays up front, while Lawless and O’Donnell were showing great bite and energy further back.

A hanging cross from Rowe-Turner caused panic in the Gateshead box on 66 minutes; as Shaw challenged the ‘keeper the ball fell to Fleetwood to the left of the six-yard box, who couldn’t quite adjust his footing quickly enough to get a cross or shot in, as blue shirts crowded him out.

Buckle shuffled his back again on 69 minutes, introducing Adam Watkins for Gray, allowing Rendell to push right up alongside Shaw in a formidable-looking front line, and Rendell made his presence in opposition box count immediately, nodding down an O’Donnell cross for Fleetwood to lash in an equaliser from close range on 71 minutes.

As the Kenilworth Road decibel level reached new heights, Gateshead’s Micky Cummins should have silenced the home end after being put through more or less straight from the kick-off. The Heed midfielder managed to shrug off the attentions of Kovacs and get a clear sight of goal as he bore down on Tyler’s goal, but with time to pick his spot he could only spoon the ball high and wide.

Yet it was the home side who were showing the most initiative in the opposition half, especially using set-pieces as a means of unleashing an onslaught on the Heed goal, with Howells repeatedly seeking the head of Kovacs as the Hungarian made a nuisance of himself in and around the six-yard box.

Watkins almost bagged a winner with five minutes to go, sending a low, left-footed shot just wide of the post after Shaw cushioned a header into his path.

The visitors remained a threat on the break though, and demonstrated that they remained capable of launching set-piece assaults of their own as giant defender James Curtis crashed a header from a corner against the bar in the dying minutes of the match.

Neither side could force a winner in the end though, despite the Hatters continuing to seek out Shaw and Rendell as long options up until the final whistle.

And so the Town left the field to applause from the 6,700-strong crowd, unable to get the winning start they would have hoped for, but showing a grit and determination to dig in and respond to the two goal half-time deficit.

Buckle’s men will be hoping to register their first win of the season on Tuesday, with a trip to Kidderminster, who went down 1-0 at Lincoln today.

Town: Tyler, Taylor, Henry, Kovacs, Rowe-Turner, Kasim, O'Donnell, Howells, Rendell, Fleetwood, Gray.

Subs: Watkins, Brill, Shaw, Beckwith, Lawless.

Gateshead Bartlett, Magnay, Chandler, Curtis, Clark, Gillies, Turnbull, Hatch, Odubade, Cummins, Bush.

Subs: Boyle, Fishder, Marwood, Wilson, Nixon.

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Great character to earn point says boss

Town boss Paul Buckle felt his side showed great character to come back from two goals down to earn a point on the opening day against Gateshead.

The Tynesiders raced into a two-goal lead at the break before goals from strikers Jon Shaw and Stuart Fleetwood levelled things up inside a 10-minute spell after the interval.

And despite being disappointed with the first 45 minutes, Buckle recognised the positives come the final whistle

“The first half was definitely one to forget,” he told Hatters Player afterwards. “It didn’t look anything like us from pre-season and it seemed to me that the players wanted too much time on the ball. There wasn’t enough purpose about us.

“We’ve been undone for the first goal by a set-piece which is sloppy, and it’s a reminder to the players that if you concede the first goal at Kenilworth Road it’s very difficult.

“But we showed fabulous character and the fans stuck with us – and we could have won it.”

Trailing 2-0, the boss made two changes at the break introducing Shaw -nagainst his former club - and Alex Lawlss for Yaser Kasim and Greg Taylor.

“I will always go for it,” Buckle said. “It was killing me to be 2-0 down at half-time. We came in and there were a lot of faces down but, it’s a good saying of ours, ‘there’s nothing on the floor, so heads up’.

“Both changes were tactical and with Jon up there we looked a different a completely different team. In the first half we were trying to score the perfect goal but once Jon was on we could hit him and everyone could join in.

“I’ve said before if we’re going to succeed this season we’re going to have to mix it up and I’m delighted we’ve shown so much character to come back from two down and draw.

“Today’s a great reminder of what this league is all about and we’ve shown the strength of character to come through it.

“There’s a lot of positives and it’s only the first game of the season.”

Hatters battle back from the brink thanks to goals from Shaw and Fleetwood www.dunstabletoday.co.uk

Blue Square Bet Premier: Luton Town 2 (0) Gateshead 2 (2)

OLD boys from both sides came back to haunt their former clubs as Luton Town battled back from two goals down at the break to salvage a 2-2 draw against Gateshead at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

A dire first half performance from the Hatters allowed the Heed to surge into the lead as ex-Hatter Liam Hatch headed home from a corner before Yemi Odubade nipped in to put them 2-0 up.

Town seemed devoid of ideas but a double change at the interval breathed new life back into them as former Tynesiders striker Jon Shaw pounced to net on his Hatters debut before Stuart Fleetwood drove home to level the scores.

The visitors almost grabbed a late winner when Hatch’s header clipped the bar, but Town clung on for a valuable draw to avoid a disastrous start to the season.

Ex-Heed striker Shaw had to make do with a place on the bench as Scott Rendell, Andre Gray and Fleetwood started up front, while JJ O’Donnell won the battle for the midfield berth as he started alongside Yaser Kasim and Jake Howells. Gateshead, meanwhile, named ex-Luton target man Hatch up front.

Town started brightly and had their first effort just three minutes in when O’Donnell found space on the edge of the box but his low drive was saved by Adam Bartlett.

The home side were playing some nice stuff but finding chances hard to come by against the well-drilled Heed.

And the Tynesiders, who’d looked good from set-pieces all afternoon, stunned the Hatters on 25 minutes when a corner was whipped into the six-yard box and Hatch stooped to head home via a Luton leg.

The Heed were then allowed to tear a swathe through the middle and, with Town’s defence at sixes and sevens, Hatch could only lash wide.

And things went from bad to worse on 35 minutes when Odubade was slipped through a static defence and he kept his cool to finish confidently past the exposed Tyler.

Shell-shocked Luton were struggling to find their men as the crowd started to make their frustrations known.

Odubade almost skipped past Janos Kovacs but the Hungarian recovered well to put in a telling block, while at the other end Fleetwood’s pass was too strong for Gray.

With Town on the ropes Heed looked to press home their advantage and Hatch’s knockdown five minute before the break found Josh Gillies but his low effort was well snaffled by Tyler.

Town were chasing shadows and losing their battles all over the pitch and even when they won a free-kick in a good place just before the break the delivery was overcooked.

And in injury time James Chandler was rightfully booked when his terrible lunging challenge curtailed Howells’ burst forward.

Boss Paul Buckle made a double substitution at the break as Town looked to get back into the game, bringing on Shaw for the disappointing Greg Taylor and Alex Lawless for the defensive-minded Kasim.

O’Donnell’s lofted pass found Gray early in the second half but his volley was miles wide.

The Hatters were struggling top cope with a swirling wind and, although a canny Howells free-kick picked out Fleetwood, he could only whistle well wide.

But Town got themselves right back into the game on the hour when they worked a lovely move on the left of the box and Shaw was there to force home Fleetwood’s byline pull-back

Gray’s dangerous cross was just cut out seconds later as Kenilworth Road suddenly came to life with reborn belief.

Gillies curled wide before being replaced and Odubade looked in but could only kick the ground in the box as he looked to pull the trigger.

And Luton were back level with 19 minutes to play when O’Donnell’s ball into the box was headed back across goal by Rendell to the completely unmarked Fleetwood who rammed home an unstoppable effort from acute angle.

Gateshead though should have retaken the lead just seconds later when they broke with numbers and Mick Cummins was teed up on the edge of the box but he could only spiral over when he should have at least hit the target.

Substitute James Marwood almost made an instant impact for the visitors as he crossed to the far post, but Lathaniel Rowe-Turner’s barest of touches seemed to put Hatch off as he could only glance wide.

With five minute to go substitute Adam Watkins burst on to Shaw’s knock down, but having bulldozed his way into the box he could only drag a left-footed effort wide with just the keeper to beat.

The Heed almost grabbed a winner with just a minute to go when another corner was whipped into the box and Hatch’s header clipped the bar on its way over as four minutes were added.

Town pushed for a winner but there were to be no more chances as the Hatters had to settle for an opening day draw.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Greg Taylor (Jon Shaw 46), Janos Kovacs, Scott Rendell, Jake Howells, Stuart Fleetwood, JJ O’Donnell, Yaser Kasim (Alex Lawless 46), Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray (Adam Watkins 69). Substitutes not used: Dean Beckwith, Dean Brill.

Tynesiders (4-4-2): Adam Bartlett, Carl Magnay, Jamie Chandler, James Curtis, Ben Clark (C), Josh Gillies (James Marwood 67), Phil Turnbull, Liam Hatch, Yemi Odubade (Nathan Fisher 76), Micky Cummins (Patrick Boyle 78), Chris Bush. Substitutes not used: Glenn Wilson, James Nixon.

Booked: James Chandler (45+5).

Referee: N Kinseley Assistant Referees: S Freerick and S Pawley Fourth Official: A Degnarain.

Attendance: 6,743 (76 Gateshead).

Star Hatter: Jon Shaw. His introduction brought the Hatters back to life.

Fleetwood saves the day for Hatters www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk

LUTON TOWN 2 GATESHEAD 2

IF the cliché ‘it’s a game of two halves’ was written to describe any game, it was this fascinating season’s opener.

After finding themselves facing a two goal deficit after 45 minutes, following an inexplicably poor performance, the Hatters did well to force their way back into the game.

What looked like a lost cause was salvaged by strikes from summer signing Jon Shaw and Stuart Fleetwood who spared the blushes of the home side.

Starting well, it took only two minutes for JJ O’Donnell to get Town’s first and only shot of the half on target.

The youngster, who was making his first league start for the club, did well to muscle his way into a good position, but the resulting strike was a tame effort that the keeper Adam Bartlett easily saved.

Despite the impressive pre-season campaign and the numerous additions to the squad over the summer, manager Paul Buckle had warned that this would be no easy game and Gateshead made sure that it wasn’t.

Although the Hatters held the majority of early possession, the visitors’ defence did well to stifle the pace and guile of Andre Gray, and close down any opportunity of a forward run that they tried to make.

Increasingly working their way into the game, it was Gateshead that made the breakthrough in the 25th minute.

Ex-Hatters loanee Liam Hatch did well to score from a left-wing corner as the Hatters’ defence desperately tried to hack the ball away.

Buoyed by their goal, the visitors began to excel as the shell shocked Luton side lost their shape and focus.

Just ten minutes later Gateshead doubled their lead, a 35 yard strike from Yemi Odubade enough to loop over the goalkeeper and find the back of the net

The Tynesiders could have had a third on the stroke of half time as Josh Gillies got on the end of a Hatch header, but Tyler did well to save the effort.

After leaving the pitch to a chorus of boos, Paul Buckle made a statement of intent at the beginning of the second half with two immediate substitutions.

The introduction of target man and former Gateshead player Jon Shaw brought the Hatters back to life, and indeed it was the striker that gave the home side a way back into the game, with a lunging close range effort following a Stuart Fleetwood pass.

The goal lifted the spirits of the fans and players alike and signalled the beginning of a period of Luton dominance.

Playing with a new found confidence it was Fleetwood who got Luton’s equaliser, blasting home a cross from O’Donnell following a Scott Rendell corner.

After working his way into the box Adam Watkins could have scored the winner five minutes from time, but his powerful strike was stopped by Bartlett.

At the other end, Tyler did well to get a single glove to a long range strike from Hatch and tip it over the bar.

There may be a dent left in the optimism that had surrounded the club before this game, but no one can fail to be impressed with the fighting spirit showed by the team to ensure a share of the spoils in the second half.

Luton will now make the trip to Kidderminister Harriers on Tuesday evening, hoping to get that elusive first win under their belt sooner rather than later.