Luton Town FC vs Lincoln City (21st Sep 2013)

REPORT: TOWN 3-2 LINCOLN

The Hatters showed character and quality to twice come from behind to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory over Lincoln at Kenilworth Road.

Trailing twice to the Imps, John Still’s side were 2-1 behind with 13 minutes to go before their grandstand finish.

The Imps held a half-time lead through Alan Power’s 20th-minute strike but the Hatters, who had ended the first half on top, flew out of the traps in the second half and striker Mark Cullen headed an equaliser just 43 seconds after the restart.

But just when it looked as though the Town would take the game to the Imps, the high-flying visitors re-took the lead on 51 minutes through Ben Tomlinson’s close range header.

However, with the game within the Imps’ grasp the Hatters won it. Firstly a howler from Lincoln goalkeeper Paul Farman enabled Luke Guttridge’s low free-kick squirm through the keeper’s legs for the equaliser on 77 minutes. Then, three minutes later, Cullen scored his second: lashing home from six yards to spark Kenilworth Road into celebration.

The game’s ending seemed a million miles away in a first half dominated by the visitors. Strong and confident, the Imps enjoyed large periods of possession against a Town side missing Paul Benson through an ankle injury.

Cullen’s appearance in attack was the one change to the Hatters side from Tuesday’s win over Dartford and the striker had the first real chance of the game on nine minutes when his tame short was saved by Farman.

Half-chances fell the Town’s way in the opening exchanges but it was Lincoln who took the lead on 20 minutes. The Hatters failed to deal with a long throw and after the ball was half-cleared it fell at the feet of Power who sent a low finish beyond the unsighted Mark Tyler.

Lincoln sensed a second, and three minute later Tyler dealt with a shot from Tomlinson after the frontman has escaped the attentions of Andy Parry to burst upfield.

However, the Hatters ended the first half on top. Guttridge, influential as always, curled a shot goalwards that was plucked out of the air by Farman on 31 minutes and the midfielder came even closer to finding an equaliser four minutes before half-time with a curling effort that whistled inches wide of the post with Farman beaten.

But it didn’t take the Town long to get back on level terms after half-time. Guttridge was the architect, swinging in a fine ball from the left into Cullen’s path and from eight yards the former Hull striker sent a fine header arching past Farman.

With the home crowd now sensing a victory, the Imps had other ideas and re-took the lead much to Still’s frustration. Yet another long throw from the right worked its way into the six-yard box and Tomlinson was on hand to nod the ball past Tyler despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts to keep the ball out.

It could have been curtains for the Town three minutes later. Lincoln attacked with menace on the break and right-back Tom Miller swept a well-hit effort just past the post much to the relief of the Hatters defence. It would go onto be a costly miss.

With the Hatters running out of ideas, Still sent on Andre Gray and JJ O’Donnell for Jim Stevenson and Scott Griffiths and the duo’s introduction had the desired effect.

Gray almost linked up with Cullen on 74 minutes whilst Alex Lawless had a penalty appeal waved away after he went down in the box as the Town pressed for a leveller.

It seemed the Town needed a little bit of luck and on 77 minutes they did. Guttridge’s low free-kick from 30 yards arrowed through the Lincoln wall and sneaked between the legs of Farman for the equaliser and the midfielder’s fourth goal of the season.

Now the Hatters sensed blood. Cullen was denied a goal after a good stop from Farman following Gray’s pass but, from the resultant corner, the Town took the lead for the first time. O’Donnell’s right-wing flag-kick found Steve McNulty at the back post. His header was helped on by Ronnie Henry and Cullen was onto it, turning expertly before firing a shot high into the roof of the net.

It was an unbelievable turnaround, and despite some strong Lincoln pressure for a late leveller the Town held firm to celebrate a fine victory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPp-TuD2Sig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH3mOdHirD4

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/lincoln-gallery-2109-1067998.aspx

Recalled Cullen nets brace as Hatters come from behind to beat Lincoln City in tumultuous finish

Skrill Premier: Luton Town 3 (0) Lincoln City 2 (1)

Stand-in striker Mark Cullen was Town’s two-goal hero as the Hatters twice came from behind to beat in-form Lincoln City 3-2 in a tumultuous clash at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Lively Lincoln led 1-0 at half time thanks to Alan Power’s strike only for Cullen to level with his first-ever Luton goal just seconds into the second half.

A long throw again brought City’s second goal as Ben Tomlinson was allowed to head home from close range before Town battled back with a rousing performance in the last half hour.

Influential midfielder Luke Guttridge levelled when his 30-yard free-kick flew through the Lincoln wall and under Paul Farman and, as the game swung from end-to-end, the Hatters completed an exhilarating turnaround when Cullen slammed home an unstoppable second on the turn from a corner as Luton claimed back-to-back victories for the first time this season and moved up to eighth, eight points off of top spot.

Town were forced into one change from the team that beat Dartford on Tuesday, Cullen coming in for injured target man Paul Benson.

The Imps started well and fired a warning shot across Luton’s box on five minutes when Tomlinson’s header flashed across the face of goal.

Luton looked to respond as Mark Tyler’s brilliant clearance released Jake Howells and he drew calls for handball as he tried to beat his man. Cullen then lobbed the ball to the far post but Farman easily claimed with Guttridge lurking.

A poor defensive mistake by Nat Brown let Cullen in, but he scuffed his shot straight at the keeper before Jonathan Smith’s ridiculously ambitious long range effort went harmlessly wide.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 20 minutes when Tom Miller’s long throw was only half cleared as far as Power on the edge of the box and his low drive through a crowded area took a slight nick as it bulged the far corner.

And it was almost 2-0 moments later when Andy Parry misjudged the bounce from a throw and Tomlinson raced downfield, but could only fire into Tyler’s midriff under the close attentions of Steve McNulty.

The Hatters though still had their moments and almost equalised on 24 minutes when Jim Stevenson eked out a cross and Cullen found Guttridge on the edge of the area, but his thumping volley flew inches wide.

The Imps forced a string of first half corners against a lacklustre Luton side with one dangerous one bouncing right across the face of goal after half an hour.

Town had looked flat for much of the encounter but almost found a way back into the game when Guttridge tricked his way into the box and, after seeing his first shot blocked, curled tamely at Farman.

The hosts were being overrun in the middle and offering little in attack, with few of the decisions going their way against a powerful Lincoln side.

But Luton were desperately unlucky not to level on 41 minutes when great work by Smith saw him pick out Cullen on the edge of the box. He teed up Guttridge and the attacking midfielder cleverly stepped inside his man but curled just wide.

Town finished the half much the better of the two teams and had an equaliser chalked out for offside on the stroke of half time. A lovely passing move worked its way to the offside Stevenson on the edge of the area and, although Cullen netted the rebound when Farman couldn’t hold his effort, the flag was already up as the Hatters trailed 1-0 at the break.

But it took the Hatters just 43 seconds to level in the second half. Guttridge found space on the left and lifted the perfect cross in for the unmarked Cullen to power home his header.

Playing with far more confidence Scott Griffiths dragged wide only for Lincoln to retake the lead in all too familiar fashion on 51 minutes. Another Miller long throw was allowed to bounce across Town’s six-yard box and Tomlinson nipped in through Luton’s statuesque defence to head goalwards. Tyler got a hand to it and then desperately clawed the ball away at the second attempt, but not before the ball had snuck across the line as the assistant signalled for a goal.

Now in the lead Lincoln proceeded to play some great counter-attacking football with overlapping full-back Miller to the fore. And it was he who should have made it 3-1 moments later when a swifts Imps counter saw played in on the overlap but he dragged just wide with only Tyler to beat.

The Imps looked quite a force on the counter as Jon Nolan’s superb long-range effort dipped just over on 65 minutes before Andre Gray and JJ O’Donnell were both given warm receptions as they replaced Stevenson and Griffiths respectively.

Town started to ramp up the pressure as calls for a penalty were waved away when Alex Lawless was bundled over by substitute Todd Jordan and a Cullen blockbuster fizzed wide.

And they got their reward on 77 when Cullen won a free-kick 30 yards out and Guttridge’s low free-kick went through the wall and under the body of Farman as Kenilworth Road erupted.

It was a mad few minutes for Luton as they almost snatched the lead two minutes later. Gray did well to latch on to O’Donnell’s ball over the top and his cross ran to the unmarked Cullen at the far post but Farman came charging out to just turn the ball round the post.

But the Hatters were not to be denied as they took the lead from the subsequent corner. Steve McNulty headed down and Ronnie Henry and Gray combined to turn the ball on for Cullen to bury an unstoppable effort into the top corner on the turn.

Unbowed, Lincoln continued to threaten as Jordan flashed a header from a corner just over on 87 minutes before Nick Wright got in behind in the last minute but lashed miles over.

In-between Solomon Taiwo replaced two-goal hero Cullen, who received a great reception, but City refused to give up as they strived for a late equaliser.

Last man McNulty made a great sliding tackle to deny the onrushing Wright in the closing minutes as Tyler then saved well at the feet of Tomlinson as the striker threatened to turn in a cross.

At the other end Gray almost got in behind, but it was the Hatters who held on to triumph in a topsy-turvy encounter that was marred slightly at the end as skipper Henry and a member of the crowd exchanged words and the Luton full-back had to be ushered away by his team-mates to celebrate.

Hatters (4-5-1): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells, Scott Griffiths (JJ O’Donnell 67), Mark Cullen (Solomon Taiwo 88), Andy Parry, Luke Guttridge, Ronnie Henry (C), Jim Stevenson (Andre Gray 65). Substitutes not used: Elliot Justham, Shaun Whalley.

Imps (4-5-1): Paul Farman, Tom Miller, Sean Newton, Andrew Boyce, Mamadou Fofana, Alan Power (C), Danny Rowe (Todd Jordan 63), Ben Tomlinson, Jon Nolan, Nat Brown, Luke Foster (Nick Wright 81). Substitutes not used: Waide Fairhurst, Dan Gray, Bohan Dixon.

Booked: Sean Newton 68.

Referee: A Bromley. Assistant Referee: K Marshallsay and J Richardson. Fourth Official: R Smith.

Attendance: 6,203 (Lincoln 227).

Star Hatter: Luke Guttridge. Another mesmeric midfield display topped off by his superb 30-yard free-kick which levelled the scores at 2-2.