Luton Town FC vs Kidderminster Harriers (28th Dec 2013)

Six of the best for the Town as they go top

Town 6 Guttridge 27, 86, Benson 52, Howells 55, 70, Griffiths 79 Kidderminster 0

The Town stormed to the top of the Skrill Premier after hitting Kidderminster for six at a packed-out Kenilworth Road.

Two goals each for Luke Guttridge and Jake Howells plus further strikes from Paul Benson and Scott Griffiths made it 10 home wins on the spin and extended the unbeaten league run to 17 matches.

The result, allied with Cambridge’s 0-0 draw at Nuneaton, lifted the Town to top spot for the first time this season.

In front of a season’s best 8,488, the Town didn’t always have it all their own way. Indeed up until Guttridge’s 27th-minute opener it had been an open game.

Harriers, who came into the game without an away win since mid-October came close to taking the lead and only a stupendous save from Mark Tyler kept out Joe Lolley’s top-corner-bound shot on 20 minutes as visitors pressed in an end-to-end first third of the match.

The Town, though, began to dominate and Guttridge fired the Hatters ahead. He played a smart one-two with Benson to tee-up Matt Robinson for a shot. Robinson’s effort was well-saved by Danny Lewis, the Kiddy keeper, but Guttridge was on hand to control and fire home his eighth goal of the season from eight yards.

With their noses in front, one almost became two on 36 minutes for the Hatters but Lewis pulled off a superb one-handed save to prevent Lawless’s low shot from putting the Hatters further in front.

Loan star Pelly Ruddock was forced off in the latter stages of the first period and was replaced by Howells, and the Town substitute wasted no time in making an impact in the second half. After running down the left Howells clipped an inch-perfect cross into the path of Benson and the 34-year-old’s head did the rest, rising to nod past Lewis for his 10th goal for the Town.

2-0 on 52 minutes it was 3-0 three minutes later. Andre Gray found Benson with impudent flick of a pass but Benson, haring into the box, was brought down by Chey Dunkley. The result was a penalty and a red card for the visiting defender. Howells stepped up to beat Lewis from 12 yards.

Tyler made another excellent save on the hour, this time denying Michael Gash’s 25-yard volley, but a man up and three goals up the Town were in cruise control, and Benson should have made it 4-0 on 66 minutes but could only head wide of the target from six yards after Robinson’s fine right-cross.

Shots were raining in on the Harriers goal from all angles but the Hatters did make it 4-0 with 20 minutes left to play when Benson’s header from a cross from Gray found its way to the feet of Howells, and he tucked home a finish high into the roof of the net. All four of Howells’ goals this season have come against Kidderminster.

Lawless rifled a shot over the bar on 74 minutes as gaps continued to appear in the Kiddy defence, and the Town made it 5-0 with 11 minutes left when Griffiths rose to head Guttridge’s left-wing free-kick. It was his first goal for the club.

By now it was ole stuff from the Town, and Guttridge finished off a fine passing move in the 86th minute to complete the scoring and cap a fine afternoon’s work which ensured the Hatters start 2014 at the top of the table.

TOWN: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, McNulty, Davis; Robinson, Ruddock (sub Howells 45), Guttridge, Lawless; Gray, Benson (sub Cullen 80).

Subs not used: Wall, Mawson, Justham.

ATTENDANCE: 8,488 (203 Kidderminster)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOQwMm6gVDw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfUr0iZin0k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-TdfxNP88o

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/kiddy-gallery-2812-1260358.aspx

Hatters hit Harriers for six in Christmas cracker to go top of the league

Skrill** Premier: Luton Town 6 (1) Kidderminster Harriers 0 (0)**

Awesome Luton completely overran 10-man Kidderminster as they thumped their promotion rivals 6-0 with a scintillating performance to go top of the Skrill Premier table, writes Mark Wood.

With former leaders Cambridge United being held to a goalless draw at Nuneaton, Town surged past them with a breathtaking performance that overwhelmed their Midlands rivals, meaning the Hatters top the Conference at the end of 2013.

Braces from substitute Jake Howells and Luke Guttridge, plus strikes from Paul Benson and a first for the club from Scott Griffiths, gave boss John Still, missing the game through illness, and stricken midfielder Jonathan Smith the perfect ‘get well’ soon messages.

The sold out home ends were rocking at the end of this Christmas cracker as Town ran riot following the dismissal of Chey Dunkley for a professional foul on Benson nine minutes into the second half.

Town made just one change from the side that won 2-1 at Barnet on Boxing Day as leg break victim Smith was replaced by Matt Robinson in the starting XI, with Alex Wall coming on to the bench.

Promotion rivals Harriers, meanwhile, named former Town favourite Amari Morgan-Smith in their side as the two teams clashed in front of a season high crowd of 8,488.

With boss Still at home ‘nursing an illness’, Town started brightly and Callum Gittings was the first man into the book after only two minutes as he cynically brought down Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu as he broke down the wing.

A clever short free-kick followed and Alex Lawless’ dipping drive flashed just over the bar.

However, the ref evened the bookings up moments later as Benson was harshly booked for leaving his foot in on Dunkley.

A series of cheap free-kicks followed before Mpanzu burst through the middle and his shot was heavily deflected with Griffiths just unable to profit.

An end-to-end encounter with few clear chances followed as Morgan-Smith was booked for deliberate handball as he charged down a Ronnie Henry cross.

In an open start it was the Harriers who had the first real chance on 20 minutes when the highly-rated Joe Lolley created room and his 20-yard drive destined for the top right-hand corner was brilliantly turned over by Mark Tyler.

Town again broke at the other end as Lawless chipped Mpanzu through, but his touch was just too strong as Danny Lewis came out to smother with Andre Gray in support.

Guttridge couldn’t quite divert a dangerous Henry cross, before the Hatters finally broke the deadlock on 27 minutes.

Guttridge and Benson combined brilliantly on the left as the ball ran perfectly for Robinson. The young midfielder saw his shot superbly palmed away by Lewis, but only right to Guttridge who controlled before firing into the unguarded net.

Some inconsistent refereeing drew the ire of the home crowd before Robinson played in Benson, but his dangerous cross was cut out.

Luton were given a let off on 34 minutes when Joe Davis could only slice his clearance from Lolley’s cross into the six-yard box into the air, but Jack Byrne’s tame header was straight at the keeper.

At the other end the Hatters almost made it 2-0 two minutes later with a lovely flowing move. Guttridge’s flick sent Gray away and his backheel ran perfectly for Lawless, but his low shot was brilliantly turned past the post by Lewis, with Davis hooking an acrobatic effort just wide from the resulting corner.

The Hatters went close again five minutes before the break when the outstanding Mpanzu burst forward and whipped in a delightful cross but Guttridge’s header dipped just over.

Hesitation on the edge of the Luton box let Harriers in moments later, but Steve McNulty was on hand to cut out Lolley’s dangerous low cross.

Town though were dealt a big blow on the stroke of half time as injury forced off the impressive Mpanzu off as he was replaced by Howells.

The home side started the second half in lively fashion and almost doubled their lead two minutes in when Benson headed down Griffiths’ free-kick but Gray’s sharp, low, drive flashed just wide.

Howells saw his 50th-minute effort deflected behind before Luton did deservedly double their lead two minutes. Howells teased his cross to the far post and Benson looped his header over the despairing dive of Lewis.

And things got even better seconds later when Gray did superbly on the right and flicked the ball inside for Benson to power into the box where he was brought down by last man Dunkley.

The linesman flagged for the penalty and after discussions with his assistant, referee N Kinseley showed an original red card to Josh Gowling before finally finding the right man and dismissing Dunkley.

Sub Howells then kept his cool to power his penalty high into the left-hand side of the net.

Luton were now in complete control as Gray warmed Lewis’ midriff and Robinson fired wide, before Tyler had to pull off another great save to beat away Michael Gash’s ferocious 25-yard half-volley.

Benson almost played in Gray but sub Lee Fowler put an important foot in.

Guttridge saw his blast deflected comfortably at Lewis before it should have been 4-0 on 66 minutes when Robinson arrowed in a pinpoint cross in for Benson but he could only send his header just wide from a few yards out when he should have found the corner.

But Luton did make it four on 70 minutes when Gray lifted his cross to the back post and Benson headed back across goal for Howells to lift into the roof of the net from close range.

The Hatters proceeded to play some great stuff as they overran Harriers’ 10 men with Lawless sending another effort just over.

Guttridge picked up a booking for an unnecessary foul with 13 minutes to go, before a fifth did arrive on 79 minutes when Griffiths got the run on Kiddy’s defence to head home Guttridge’s free-kick.

Benson received a huge round of applause as he was replaced by Mark Cullen with 10 minutes to go.

Harriers defender Kyle Storer and Cullen exchanged overly-ambitious efforts, while Lawless’ long-range strike was well fielded by Lewis.

And things got even better for Luton with four minutes to go as they swept the length of the field with a stunning team move that culminated in the unselfish Howells, on a hat-trick, threading through Guttridge to stroke home his second of the day.

The victory was Town’s eighth consecutive home win for the first time since 1996 as they stretched their unbeaten league run to 17 games to top the table for the first time this since as they ended 2013 on a high.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Steve McNulty, Alex Lawless, Scott Griffiths, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Jake Howells 45+1), Joe Davis, Luke Guttridge, Matt Robinson, Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson (Mark Cullen 80), Andre Gray. Substitutes not used: Alex Wall,, Elliot Justham, Alfie Mawson.

Harriers (4-3-3): Danny Lewis, Lee Vaughan, Kyle Storer, Chey Dunkley, Jack Byrne ( Dior Angus 87), Michael Gash, Danny Jackman, Callum Gittings, Joe Lolley (Lee Fowler 61), Amari Morgan-Smith (Marvin Johnson 67), Josh Gowling. Substitutes not used: Jamie Grimes, Nathan Vaughan.

Booked: Gittings 2; Benson 4; Morgan-Smith 17; Guttridge 77; Vaughan 78.

Sent Off: Dunkley 54.

Referee: N Kinseley. Assistant Referees: J Richardson and G Ions. Fourth Official: L Marshallsay.

Attendance: 8,488 (Kidderminster 203).

Star Hatter: Luke Guttridge. Simply outstanding.