Luton Town FC vs Morecambe (6th May 2017)

PUBLISHED 20:50 6th May 2017 Hatters seal fourth spot with third successive win

LUTON TOWN 3 (Vassell 29, Marriott 74, 87_

MORECAMBE 1 (Rose (pen) 58)

Att: 8,399 (187 away)

The Hatters secured fourth place in the Sky Bet League Two table with a 3-1 final-day win over Morecambe at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, sending them into a play-off semi-final with Blackpool on the back of an impressive seven-game unbeaten run.

Isaac Vassell’s 13th goal of the season set the Hatters on their way to a third successive victory for the first time this term, and although Michael Rose levelled matters from the penalty spot just before the hour, substitute Jack Marriott netted twice in the closing stages seal the three points.

The only downside to the afternoon for manager Nathan Jones was a worrying looking injury to the Town’s young player of the year James Justin, who left the pitch on a stretcher in the second half after suffering a blow to his ankle.

Jones had insisted he would continue to select his strongest possible side and resist the temptation to rest players. He was true to his word, with just one change from last week’s win at Accrington and that being an enforced one, Luke Gambin coming in for Alan Sheehan, who missed out as a precaution after picking up an ankle knock in training.

Gambin was at the heart of the Town’s first chance, whipping in an inviting eighth-minute cross that Vassell just failed to connect with as the ball skipped through to keeper Barry Roche.

Gambin had the best chance of the opening period after some fine link play between Dan Potts, Ollie Palmer and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu down the left presented him with an opportunity 15 yards out, but his left-footer this time flew into the scoreboard at the Oak Road end.

Morecambe reminded the Town defence of the threat they could pose with their first real attack in the 21st minute, Antony Evans’ glancing header from Rose’s left-wing cross drifting inches wide of the far post.

Paul Mullin shot straight at Stuart Moore after Shrimps keeper Roche picked him out direct from a goal-kick on 28 minutes, but it wasn’t long before the Town had their noses in front, and it was that man Vassell who was in the right place at the right time.

Gambin pinged a corner in from the left that Potts met with a firm header down that Roche saved low, but only into the path of Vassell to poke over the line from a yard out.

Gray pinged a 20-yard shot just past the post on 31 minutes, then Vassell was presented with another great chance after Gray chested Mpanzu’s cross into his path, but his left-footed effort was turned behind for a corner that Palmer headed narrowly over.

Town were utterly dominant by this point, Palmer bringing one of numerous raking passes from Olly Lee down in an instant and sending a low ball across the six-yard box before Roche had to push a James Justin cross away from under his own crossbar.

Lee was at the heart of most of the dangerous attacks with his pinpoint passing switching the play right, left and dissecting the Morecambe defence through the centre – Gray gliding across the edge of the box before firing over the bar at the end of one such move.

Town took the single-goal advantage into half-time, and although Morecambe came out brightly after the break, there was little to trouble Moore and it was at the other end the next chance arose, Potts again meeting a Gambin corner – this time with his chest – but Roche claimed comfortably.

Vassell went on a trademark surging run down the left from deep inside his own half, only to be cynically tripped 35 yards from goal by Aaron Wildig, who went into ref John Busby’s notebook.

Glen Rea had the ball in the back of the net on 55 minutes, but his header was ruled out for a foul, and within three minutes Morecambe were on terms, Rose slotting home the penalty after Scott Cuthbert had tripped Mullin in the box.

A minute later Justin went down with a serious looking injury that required lengthy treatment before he was carried off on a stretcher, and as the teenage right-back was heading up the tunnel to a standing ovation, Potts sae another header from Gray’s corner headed off the line by Ellison.

The Town went in search of a goal that would restore their lead, and Mpanzu headed another Gray cross onto the roof of the net before Stephen O’Donnell – on as a replacement for Justin – drilled in a ball for Vassell to attack, and Roche could only parry his header away.

On 71 minutes O’Donnell was tripped on the very right edge of the area and Palmer saw his header, from Lee’s delivery clawed away by Roche as it headed for the top corner.

O’Donnell was impressing on the right and he played his part in the Town’s second, slipping a ball inside to Gray who then threaded it through for Marriott to race on to. The former Ipswich striker took the ball in his stride and slipped his 11th of the season through Roche’s legs from a tight angle.

Morecambe tried to respond as Ellison’s 81st-minute free-kick was drilled into the wall, the ball falling to Mullin who dug a shot out, but Moore turned it away brilliantly to preserve the lead – with Potts doing his bit from the resulting corner, hacking Kenyon’s header off the line.

Mullin spurned another glorious chance to level four minutes from time when he skied his left-footer from 12 yards, and within seconds the Town had a two-goal cushion.

Mpanzu found Palmer, who slipped the ball to Marriott to the right side of the area and the striker did the rest, standing still and unleashing a low shot from 20 yards that beat Roche’s outstretched arm and nestled into the bottom corner.

Mpanzu went close in time added on to extending the lead, but the Hatters had enough already. Fourth place secured. A third win on the bounce for the first time this term and into the play-offs in fine form.

TOWN: Moore, Justin (O’Donnell 63), Rea, Cuthbert, Potts, Lee, Mpanzu, Gray, Gambin (D’Ath 78), Palmer, Vassell (Marriott 72). Subs: Smith, Banton, Famewo, King (GK)

Yellows: Potts, Cuthbert

MORECAMBE: Roche, McGowan (Duckworth 90+3), Kenyon, Edwards, Mullin, Molyneux, Ellison, Wildig (Hedley 88), Whitmore, Evans (Fleming 70), Rose (c). Subs: Nizic (GK), Wakefield, Turner, Jordan

Yellows: Wildig

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-football-league-two-morecambe-sky-bet-3707437.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7kxsniiJ4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dYXNXd7hqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDkT5c7BqSQ

PUBLISHED 20:45 6th May 2017 NATHAN JONES ON THE 3-1 WIN OVER MORECAMBE

The result means Town will play Blackpool in the play-off semi-finals

Town boss Nathan Jones thought his side were “excellent” as they ran out 3-1 winners over Morecambe at Kenilworth Road.

A pair of strikes from substitute Jack Marriott after Isaac Vassell had given Town the lead in the first half secured the Hatters their third successive victory for the first time this season.

A fourth-placed finish means Jones’ team will now take on Blackpool in the play-off semi-finals, after a particularly hectic day in Sky Bet League Two.

Jones said: “I thought we were excellent. The way that we went about the game was more pleasing than anything. We showed that we are self-motivated. It was intrinsic the motivation we had and I am pleased with that.

“Overall I am very pleased. First half I thought we were very good, we got the goal. Possibly with the amount of the game we should have been further ahead. So I was very pleased with the first half.

“Second half again we came out sloppy and allowed them through our own mistakes back into the game. We made it a little bit difficult for ourselves. Then we picked it up immediately and when we brought Jack Marriott on we had a real cutting edge.”

The Town could have won even more convincingly, with left-back Dan Potts especially getting his head on several corners throughout the 90 minutes and Glen Rea having a second-half header ruled out for an infringement.

“Dan is an excellent attacker of the ball,” said Jones. “At times we have others but when he has been available in recent weeks we have used him for that and in that role he was excellent. He defends really well and he is maturing.

“For one of the first times this season we have looked dangerous from set-plays and that was delivery, desire to get on the end and to be honest, we did score again, but I don’t know what the foul was for, apparently something was a foul.”

Vassell’s opener was his 13th for the season, and he tipped off a fine performance with an even more impressive celebration, following a cartwheel up with a backflip – although Jones wasn’t particularly impressed by his forward’s acrobatics.

“He won’t be doing that again, I can promise you that!” Jones insisted. “I had a player who did that, Kazenga LuaLua, and I am sure it took its toll because he had a couple of cartilage operations, so we will be curtailing that.

“Enjoy it, because if you want to see it again you’ll have to watch the replay on your phone, because I doubt he will be doing it again!”

Marriott at the double as Hatters defeat the Shrimps

League Two: Luton Town 3 Morecambe 1

Substitute Jack Marriott's late double ensured Luton made it three league wins in a row for the first time this season, as they saw off Morecambe at Kenilworth Road.

The forward, on for Isaac Vassell in the 72nd minute, took barely any time at all to make his mark, firing through keeper Barry Roche's legs, going on to add another with four minutes to go.

Victory ensured Town ended the season in fourth place, a position they were never realistically in danger of losing, setting up a play-off semi-final with Blackpool.

If Luton's finishing berth was safe prior to kick-off, who they would be facing over two legs certainly wasn't and would go on to changed hands five times over the course of the evening, four times in the first half as well.

With the Tangerines starting out as seventh, Stevenage, Carlisle and Colchester all spent a while there, before the Cumbrians hit back to win 3-2 at Exeter, and as Blackpool saw off Leyton Orient, it meant the top seven somehow finished exactly as it had started.

Boss Nathan Jones stuck to his words by playing his strongest side available, Alan Sheehan missing out with an ankle injury for Luke Gambin the only change.

Gambin sent over two dangerous early crosses, the first just eluding Isaac Vassell, while the diminutive midfielder fluffed the best chance of the opening 20 minutes, as found by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's cut back, he skied his effort badly over from 12 yards.

Morecambe's Antony Evans sent a stooping header narrowly wide as the Shrimps looked to prove they weren't here to make up the numbers, while Paul Mullin's shot was easy for Stuar Moore.

Town then had a sloppy five minutes where they continually gave possession away, before they were then back on it and ahead on 29 minutes.

Dan Potts' towering header from Gambin's corner was blocked on the line and Vassell tapped home a 12th of the season, before celebrating with a perfect cartwheel and backflip to demonstrate some wonderful gymnastic ability previously unseen from the forward.

Jake Gray whistled inches wide as Luton searched for a second, although they were kept honest at the back, Ryan Edwards striding out from defence and sending a skimming effort narrowly wide.

Vassell looked to double the advantage, his close range attempt deflected behind by the outstretched leg of Aaron Wildig, while Gray certainly wasn't afraid to have a crack either, firing over from a tight angle.

After the break, Glen Rea thought he had made it 2-0, heading home another dangerous Gambin corner but referee John Busby's whistle had blown seconds before it hit the net for a mystery infringement.

With Town looking like they were going to add a second at any moment, the Shrimps were level on 57 minutes.

Cuthbert uncharacteristically left a ball over the top and when Paul Mullin broke into the area, the captain, desperate to atone for his error, hauled the striker down for a clear penalty.

Michael Rose stepped up to confidently send Moore the wrong way and Town's afternoon took a further turn for the worse when James Justin went down clutching his ankle and had to be stretchered off, Stephen O'Donnell entering the fray.

While Justin was being taken away, veteran Kevin Ellison was in the right place to head Potts' header off the line as the full back won corner after corner in the air ahead of his markers.

Stung by the equaliser, Town weren't knocked out of their stride too much, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu glancing over the top and Vassell's powerful effort unconvincingly pawed away by Roche.

The Shrimps keeper then produced a truly wonderful stop on 71 minutes as he somehow clawed away Ollie Palmer's close range header from Olly Lee's free kick.

Game-changer Marriott was then introduced and from a lightning break involving O'Donnell and Gray, he was sent clear to fire past Roche for his first home league goal since September 24 against Doncaster.

Moore made sure there wasn't another leveller, superbly turning aside Mullin's attempt after Ellison's free kick wasn't cleared, while the unmarked Mullin missed a great chance, slamming over the top.

With Luton always dangerous on the break, it was from another such counter they put the game to bed, as Marriott found the bottom corner from 20 yards to double his tally for the afternoon.

Luton now have a week off to recuperate before the real action starts once more, as they head to Bloomfield Road to face a bang in-form Blackpool side.

Hatters: Stuart Moore, James Justin (Stephen O'Donnell 63), Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C), Glen Rea, James Justin, Olly Lee, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jake Gray, Luke Gambin (Lawson D'Ath 78), Dan Potts, Ollie Palmer, Isaac Vassell (Jack Marriott 72).

Subs not used: Craig King, Zane Banton, Akin Famewo, Jonathan Smith.

Shrimps: Barry Roche, Aaron McGowan (Michael Duckworth 90), Alex Kenyon, Ryan Edwards, Paul Mullin, Lee Molyneux, Kevin Ellison, Aaron Wildig (Ben Hedley 88), Alex Whitmore, Antony Evans (Andrew Fleming 70), Michael Rose (C).

Subs not used: Liam Wakefield, Dan Nizic, Rhys Turner, Luke Jordan.

Booked: Potts 45, Wildig 52, Cuthbert 57.

Attendance: 8,399 (187 from Morecambe).

Referee: John Busby.

Jones: No more aerial acrobatics from a grounded Vassell

Luton forward Isaac Vassell has warned not to repeat his acrobatic goal celebrations again by boss Nathan Jones.

The 23-year-old took to the skies to perform an excellent cartwheel and even more impressive backflip after notching his 13th strike of the season from close range against Morecambe yesterday.

However, Jones pointed to injury problems suffered by a player at his former club Brighton when doing the same thing, for one of the reasons why he will be keeping his summer recruit from Truro City on terra firma in the future, saying: He won’t be doing that again, I promise you that.

“I had a player, Kazenga Lualua, who did that and I’m sure it took its toll as he had a couple of cartilage operations, so we’ll be curtailing that, trust me.

“Enjoy it, because if you want to see it again you’ll have to replay it on your phones as I doubt he’ll be doing that again.”

Vassell himself admitted it came about to prove a point to his disbelieving team-mates, although agreed to shelve it, unless he popped up with the crucial goal at Wembley in the play-off final should Town get there.

He said: “I’ve been saving that one in the locker. I told the lads I was going to show them something and I’ve been telling them I could do it but they didn’t believe me, so I just thought I’d bring it out now in the last league game.

“It’s just a one off, maybe if there’s a winner at Wembley you might see it again but until then I don’t think so!”

Hatters to face Blackpool in League Two play-offs

Luton Town will face Blackpool in the League Two play-offs after a final day of high drama this evening.

The Tangerines had started the afternoon in seventh place, but moved up to sixth due to Carlisle losing at Exeter, as Stevenage went seventh.

However, Carlisle then jumped above Boro after drawing level with the Grecians, before they were both leapfrogged by Colchester, who had moved ahead against Yeovil.

It was looking more and more like Luton would be heading to the U's, until the Cumbrians not only drew level at St James' Park, but went 3-2 up, meaning they returned to their initial sixth place, and with Blackpool defeating Leyton Orient 3-1, it ensured they stayed in that all-important seventh spot at the final whistle.

On his immediate reaction to their next opponents, Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “Beautiful, we couldn’t affect who we were playing. all we could affect was finishing as high in the league as we wanted to and we finished fourth.

“We’ve got Blackpool. There were a lot of turns and twists and turns but it will be a very, very difficult game.

“They’re a good side, a real potent side but, also, they know that we’re a real good side.

“Anything can happen in the play-offs, they’re so tight. I envisage two tight games and hopefully we can come out and I’m standing here on the night of the 18th and let’s hope we’re going to Wembley.”

Jones admitted he hadn’t been considering what might have happened during the game at all, with the situation out of his hands, saying: “We concentrate on what we do, we can’t say ‘we hopes it’s Stevenage, we hope it’s this, hopes it’s that,' it doesn’t make a difference to us.

“All I was concerned about was finishing fourth and finishing strongly and rightly so as I think we’re, over a season, we’ve been at least the fourth best team in this league, and we’re going into it in good form.

“We didn’t take our foot off the pedal, didn’t rest anyone, we did everything right and we’re looking forward to the games coming up.”

Town will travel to Bloomfield Road for the first leg next Sunday at 6.30pm as on the timing of the fixture, Jones added: “It’s what it is. We can prepare for that by adjusting training times, it’s not ideal, but is the same for Blackpool.

“We’ll get up there early, we’ll prepare well, we’re looking forward to it. It’s a great occasion for us.

“A year ago we were here celebrating a 4-1 victory (against Exeter), but that was us done. There was a lot of hope and a lot of expectation over what the next season may bring.

“But it’s this season now and we really have something to play for.”

Luton Town 3 Morecambe 1

Sub Jack Marriott came off the bench against Morecambe this evening to score twice and earn Luton a third win a row for the first time this season.

And on a last day packed full of drama it was Blackpool, who started the day in seventh, who finished there as well to wind up as the Hatters' play-off opponents.

That particular position changed no less than five times during the course of the evening though as Stevenage, Carlisle and Colchester all took it in turns to claim seventh place too.

But first, the Kenilworth Road action. Luton took a first half lead when Dan Potts' original effort was cleared off the line, but Isaac Vassell was there to follow up from close range.

Morecambe pulled level after the break through an uncharacteristic mistake by Scott Cuthbert, who brought down Paul Mullin in the area, and Michael Rose equalised from the spot.

Enter Marriott, who just two minutes after coming on for Vassell latched onto a superb through ball from Jake Gray to put the Hatters back in front.

And then, after Mullin had squandered a golden opportunity to pull Morecambe level once more, Marriott put the icing on the cake of a brilliant passing move before firing into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Keepers Stuart Moore and Barry Roche both made world class stops, Moore pulling off a complete reflex save to keep out Mullin from close in, and Roche clawing away a goalbound Ollie Palmer header from point blank range.

The only down point for Luton was Young Player of the Year James Justin being stretchered off late on with what appears to be ligament damage, to be replaced by Stephen O'Donnell.