Luton Town FC vs Hereford United (15th Feb 2014)

Luton Town 7-0 Hereford United

Town 7 Gray 12, 68, 82, Benson 49, Howells (pen) 56, Ruddock 60, Lawless 90 Hereford 0

A stupendous six second half goals helped the Hatters to a stunning 7-0 victory over Hereford to go nine points clear at the top of the table.

Andre Gray led the way with yet another hat-trick – his third treble of the season – and he was ably assisted with goals from Paul Benson, Jake Howells, Pelly Ruddock and Alex Lawless as the Town ran riot.

The Hatters were a goal up at half-time thanks to Gray’s first of the afternoon on 12 minutes but, after Hereford rallied in a competitive first half, the Town turned on the style in the second to record their 11th consecutive home league win and also extend their unbeaten run to an astonishing 22 games.

It all started with John Still fielding an unchanged team that beat Macclesfield on Tuesday night and after a bright opening to the game it was Gray who broke the deadlock with a predatory finish. Scott Griffiths and Luke Guttridge combined to tee-up Cameron McGeehan to drive a low shot goalwards from the edge of the box. His effort was spilled by Daniel Lloyd-Weston in the Hereford goal and Gray was first on the scene to tuck home the loose ball.

Hereford, who arrived at Kenilworth Road with just two away wins all season, responded well to going behind, but despite having their fair share of possession, the Bulls failed to seriously test Mark Tyler in the Town goal.

Gray came close with two further efforts in the first half, one which he saw cleared off of the line, whilst Benson was denied by a smart save by the legs of Lloyd-Weston after Gray had swept a ball forward for his strike-partner to chase.

However, despite Hereford’s best efforts to pull a goal back before the break it remained 1-0 and the Bulls’ threat would diminish considerably in a second half completely dominated by the Hatters.

The first of six second half goals arrived on 49 minutes when McGeehan headed on Howells’ right-wing corner, and Benson stole in to nod home from two yards out for his 12th goal of the season and his first at the Kenilworth Road end of the ground.

Two became three seven minutes later when Howells struck from the spot. Guttridge and Ruddock combined superbly before the latter was upended in the penalty area by Kingsley James and Howells coolly dispatched past Lloyd-Weston for his fifth goal of the season, and fourth from 12 yards.

By now Hereford’s resistance had completely broken as the Town continued to surge forward in the hunt for more goals.

And on the hour it was 4-0 when Ruddock scored his first senior goal by smashing a shot in off of the crossbar after a fine flowing move involving Guttridge and Benson.

Benson then tracked back in this own half to pinch the Bulls of the ball and feed Guttridge on 68 minutes, and his pass then sent Gray racing away and the in-form striker made no mistake with a confident finish to make it 5-0. It was four goals in a devastating 15 minutes for the Town.

With Tyler a spectator as the Hatters pinged the ball around for fun, poking holes in the visitors’ defence, it five became six on 82 minutes when Gray netted his treble. Lawless wriggled down the left flank to cut the ball back into the penalty area and Gray was there to side-foot powerfully past Lloyd-Weston for his 22nd goal of the season.

Gray came close to adding a fourth for himself moments later when his shot hit the side netting, but the Town did apply the coup de gras in the final minute. Lloyd-Weston made a fine save to stop Matt Robinson’s vicious 30-yard free-kick but both Lawless and fellow sub Jon Shaw were quickest to the loose ball with the former getting the verdict post-match as the Town crowned a fine week with a sterling performance.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/town-7-0-hereford-gallery-1361672.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQvf1Lhy2gM

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/js-hereford-verdict-1502-1361709.aspx

Outstanding second half showing puts Hatters fans into seventh heaven

Skrill Premier: Luton Town 7 (1) Hereford United 0 (0)

A simply irresistible second performance by six-y Hatters put Town’s supporters into seventh heaven as they destroyed Hereford United 7-0 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Matadoresque Luton cracked home six second half goal as they put the bulls to the sword and move nine points clear at the top of the Skrill Premier summit as they made it 11 home league wins in a row and extended their record unbeaten run to 22 games.

Town had led just 1-0 at the break through Andre Gray’s predatory strike, but the on-fire striker again stole the show with two more second half goals to register his third hat-trick of the season and move him clear at the top of the Conference scoring charts with 22 goals for the season.

The Hatters played some exquisite football in the second half as strike partner Paul Benson, Jake Howells, from the spot, powerful midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and substitute Alex Lawless at the death were all on target too as Town ran riot.

Luton named an unchanged side from the one that battled to a 2-1 victory at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night, the only change coming on the bench where Jon Shaw came in for new dad Mark Cullen, while the Bulls named former Hatters Luke Graham and Dan Walker in their starting XI.

On a threadbare pitch Luton made the better start as Luke Guttridge won the ball on the edge of the box and skipped into the area, only to be barged over by Rod McDonald, who was making no effort to play the ball, but referee D Handley waved away their appeals for a penalty.

Guttridge then did well to release Gray in the box but his angled drive was cleared off the line by Graham, before Hereford let Howells’ cross run across their six-yard box and the reaching Gray could only poke it over the bar.

Walker’s corner was missed by everyone on 10 minutes as it ran behind, before the Hatters deservedly took the lead two minutes later when Cameron McGeehan’s low drive from the edge of the area was spilled by Daniel Lloyd-Weston and Gray reacted first to fire home the rebound under the keeper.

The Bulls threatened intermittently as Chris Sharp fired well over before Luton almost made it 2-0 on 22 minutes when Gray’s slide-rule pass released strike partner Benson behind the Bulls’ defence but, one-on-one with the keeper, Lloyd-Weston saved with his legs.

The difficulties of Town’s beach-like pitch were summed up on 26 minutes when Guttridge could only air-kick a half cleared cross when well placed on the edge of the area.

Luton though had to remain alert as the Bulls threatened after half an hour when good play by Walker released Jonathan Brown on the right and his dangerous cross was well headed behind at the far post by Ronnie Henry with Michael Rankine lurking.

After a spell of Bulls pressure Town went close to a second again on 34 minutes when Gray beat his man as he surged into the area but blasted over with the keeper to beat.

McGeehan became the first man in the book on 37 minutes for a foul on Brown and from the resulting half-cleared free-kick McDonald’s effort dipped just over.

Persistent fouling then saw Guttridge yellow-carded moments later, before a lovely weaving Guttridge run was prematurely ended by Kingsley James’ cynical challenge and he was duly booked as Town’s midfielder reacted angrily, throwing the ball to the floor.

In stoppage time Mpanzu’s powerful blast took a nick as it went behind and Benson headed over from Guttridge’s corner as Town led narrowly 1-0 at the break.

Great work from Gray saw him burst to the byline four minutes into the second and his fierce near-post cross-shot was beaten behind as Town took the lead from the subsequent corner.

Howells’ corner was headed back into the mix by McGeehan as Benson bravely forced the ball home from close range for his 12th goal of the season.

A spell of treatment followed for McGeehan as he doggedly carried on, before Chris Bush was booked for blocking off Gray as he looked to romp down the right.

And it was 3-0 on 56 minutes when Mpanzu and Guttridge combined brilliantly on the edge of the area as the former West Ham United man burst into the box and was scythed down by James, who was perhaps lucky to not get a second yellow card, as Howells confidently smashed home the penalty to the keeper’s left.

And the Hatters finished off their opponents on the hour with another brilliant goal as Guttridge jinked his way into the box and his ball in was brilliantly laid into the path of Mpaznu by Benson for the midfielder to crash home off the bar.

But the Hatters weren’t done and made it five on 68 minutes when Guttridge’s lovely pass put Gray clean through and he kept his cool to fire home off the far post.

Boss John Still took the chance to make a change, bringing on Matt Robinson for McGeehan who was afforded a great reception by the home faithful as he made his way from the field.

Robinson’s first contribution was to be harshly booked for his first foul on 73 minutes as Brown dragged his free-kick wide.

Another change saw Lawless replace Howells with 14 minutes to go and it was he who was the provider for Gray to complete his hat-trick on 82 minutes when he pulled the ball back perfectly from the byline for Gray to powerfully side-foot home into the corner.

And it should have been seven moments later when Guttridge played Gray clean through again, but the striker hesitated with the defence closing and could only fire into the side netting.

In stoppage time Lawless skirted along the byline as he twice forced Lloyd-Weston down to save before Luton capped a fantastic afternoon in the third minute of stoppage time with a seventh.

Robinson’s blistering 30-yard free-kick was tipped into the air by Lloyd-Weston with Lawless and Shaw both sliding in to force the ball into the net and cap a simply scintillating second half performance.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty, Jake Howells (Alex Lawless 76), Scott Griffiths, Cameron McGeehan (Matt Robinson 69), Luke Guttridge, Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson (Jon Shaw 79), Andre Gray, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. Substitutes not used: Anthony Charles, Elliot Justham.

Bulls (4-4-2): Daniel Lloyd-Weston, Danny Leadbitter, Chris Bush, Kingsley James (Rob Purdie 59), Rod McDonald, Luke Graham (C), Dan Walker, Chris Sharp (Sam Smith 62), Michael Rankine, Jonathan Brown, Jame Edge. Substitutes not used: Rhys Evans, Dominic Collins, Cory Williams.

Booked: McGeehan 37; Guttridge 39; James 43; Bush 54; Robinson 73.

Referee: D Handley Assistant Referees: C Wade and M Taylor Fourth Official: A Quelch

Attendance: 7,111 (Hereford 156.

Star Hatter: Andre Gray. On-fire striker is simply unplayable at the moment.

Still believes Hatters delivered a statement in Bulls thrashing

Hatters boss John Still felt yesterday’s stunning 7-0 hammering of Hereford United at Kenilworth Road sent out a message to Town’s fellow Skrill Premier title rivals, writes Mike Simmonds.

With Cambridge in FA Trophy action against Grimsby Town, while third placed Alfreton Town’s clash with Aldershot was postponed, Luton extended their lead to a daunting nine points.

Still said: “That’s what we said before the game. The teams that are interested in promotion, our result will be the first result they look at.

“It can give them a lift or it can just tread on them a little bit and I think we just trod on them a little bit.”

Town’s second half demolition job meant that they now have a goal difference of plus 45, a massive 19 better than nearest rivals United.

Still continued: “Goal difference can be worth a point at the end of the season, it’s how we would like it, but we’ve got to keep going.”

The way in which Hatters comprehensively dismantled the sorry Bulls after the interval came as no surprise to Still, who knew his team had it within their armoury.

He said: “I think we’re capable of doing that if you get a tempo up and are scoring goals.

“It was fantastic, we work so hard with the ball in training, touch pass, pass move, pass move, and it’s great when I see it comes off, it gives me a lot of pleasure.”

Striker Andre Gray was the main beneficiary of Town’s eye-catching forward play once more, netting his third hat-trick of the campaign to make it 22 goals for the season.

Still said: “He was fantasti, I think he’ll be he first to admit we make chances and at the moment he’s right on top of it.

“Him and Paul (Benson) are a handful, to be fair to the front three, (Jake) Howells was brilliant again, Benno he’s the catalyst of what we do.

“We’ve now got Jon Shaw coming back, Alex Lawless coming on at the end, so our options are fantastic.”

No repeat of Kidderminster absence as Still is discharged from hospital

Hatters boss John Still admitted he almost missed Town’s stunning 7-0 thumping of Hereford in the Skrill Premier yesterday as he was supposed to still be in hospital, writes Mike Simmonds.

But the manager, who had not attended Thursday’s press conference, stated there was no way he was not going to be at Kenilworth Road, as the last time he was absent, Hatters had hammered Kidderminster Harriers 6-0.

Speaking after the game, Still said: “I’m really, really pleased, I might not sound as pleased as I am, but I’ve been in hospital for two days, so I shouldn’t have come.

“It was a little procedure I had to have and I wasn’t supposed to come out until tonight, but the last time I wasn’t well, one of the things that led up to this operation, we won 6-0 and I didn’t want to miss this one, in case we did.

“Terry (Harris) and Hak (Hakan Hayrettin) kept telling me we won 6-0, well we won 7-0 today Hak, Terry, because I was here.”

There was no sign of Town’s eventual dominance to come at the interval as the teams were only separated by Andre Gray’s strike.

But Still always knew the first half was a case of staying in the game, before they got the best of conditions after the break.

He continued: “I was happy to play the first half a little bit contained, we didn’t have to be adventerous, we just had to give ourselves the opportunity to go and attack in the second half, which is what we did.

“I knew it would be a bit easier for us second half, there wasn’t as much swirl going that way as there was the other way.

“We just had to make sure we were right in this game and play how we have to play.

“Sometimes you have to accept you’ve got to play long as it’s too difficult to find the right pass.

“They did that and I was well satisfied at half time and said this half we’ll be able to pass and move much easier, touch pass.

“I think that part of our game second half was first class.”

Town boss has no idea who bagged the seventh!

Luton manager John Still didn’t have a clue who netted Town’s seventh goal during their 7-0 thumping of Hereford United in the Skrill Premier yesterday, writes Mike Simmonds.

When Matt Robinson’s excellent free kick was parried up into the air by Bulls keeper Daniel Lloyd Weston, both Jon Shaw and Alex Lawless converged to net the rebound, with the pair wheeling away in celebration.

Still said: “They were arguing amongst themselves over the goal and I can’t tell you, l honestly I don’t know.”

With both players seeming to confirm it was Lawless’ goal afterwards, Still was left impressed with the accuracy of midfielder Robinson’s set-piece effort in the build-up to the strike.

He continued: “It was a terrific free kick from Robbo. He’s been banging on for ages about he can score from free kicks, but he was lying, because he couldn’t.

“Fortunately we had other players around it who could pick it up.”

Hatters now have a week off before travelling to Nuneaton next Saturday and Still appreciates the break before what will be a busy end to the season.

He added: “That will be fine, we played Macclesfield on Tuesday and Saturday and we can get back on the training ground and get some more work done, because we’re going to get into Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday Tuesday now.

“We just need to sharpen up one or two players, particularly the new players and do a bit of work on the Luton way, so that will help us.”