Luton Town FC vs Morecambe (7th Mar 2015)

Full report: Luton Town 2-3 Morecambe

The Town fell agonisingly to their first home defeat in six months as a late Luke Wilkinson own goal handed Morecambe all three points on a dramatic afternoon at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters were 2-0 down to goals from Jack Redshaw and Laurence Wilson inside a first half-hour that the Shrimps completely dominated.

But as half-time approached the Town halved the deficit when Cameron McGeehan headed home Michael Harriman’s right-wing cross.

After the break the Hatters rallied and after Lawless, Elliot Lee and Wilkinson came close to levelling Lawless did find an equaliser with a low shot with 14 minutes left to play.

And there only looked like one winner when, with 10 minutes left, Morecambe’s Ryan Edwards was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

However, as the Town went in search of a winner there was a late, cruel twist when Wilkinson diverted Kevin Ellison’s cross past Elliot Justham to stun Kenilworth Road and hand the visitors all the points.

The Hatters, though, were ultimately left to pay for a poor first half showing that saw the Shrimps race into an uncontested two-goal advantage.

Redshaw came close after just 90 seconds when his shot was held by Justham, but the forward did have the visitors in front on 19 minutes when he showed quick feet in the penalty area to drive a left-foot finish into the far bottom corner of the net.

And before the Hatters could muster a response it was 2-0 on the half-hour mark when Redshaw sped down the right and crossed for Wilson who, lurking on the edge of the penalty area, swept home a stunning strike beyond Justham.

Two goals behind, John Still made a change on 33 minutes, introducing Lawless for Scott Griffiths, but the Hatters came close to going further behind when Redshaw waltzed through the Town defence to shoot at Justham before Wilson came close with another long range effort on 40 minutes.

But the Town were handed a lifeline two minutes before the break when Harriman raced into oceans of space down the right to swing in a cross for McGeehan 15 yards out to get up and nod past Andreas Arestidou.

The Town ended the first half on top, sensing a quickfire second, and Harriman set-up a header for Cullen to nod wide at the near post.

After the interval the Hatters upped the ante. Lawless shot wide from just inside the box on 50 minutes before the resultant corner hit the back of McGeehan and struck the foot of the post.

Shaun Whalley warmed the gloves of Arestidou before Lawless came close once more, this time with a left-foot shot which looked destined for the bottom corner on 67 minutes.

Still introduced Elliot Lee on 68 minutes, but two minutes later Justham kept the Hatters in the game when making a fine block to keep out Redshaw after the forward had seized on a mistake from Wilkinson to race clear on goal.

But it was the Town that were on top as time ticked down and on 74 minutes the Hatters came mighty close to levelling when Lee’s header from Guttridge’s corner came back off the post before Wilkinson blazed a volley over the bar from eight yards out.

However over 8,500 Hatters fans finally celebrated an equaliser just two minutes later when Lawless levelled. Stephen McNulty’s looping header from a right-wing corner came back off the crossbar and, after the visitors failed to clear, Lawless rammed home a lot shot into the corner of the net to make it two apiece.

On level terms the Hatters now sensed a winner and their pursuit of three points was made a little easier when the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Edwards was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on McGeehan which sparked a 15-man brawl between the two sets of players.

With a man advantage the Hatters continued to up the ante and McGeehan curled over on 83 minutes.

But the fine margins in the game were painfully illustrated in the 86th minute. Harriman’s cross for Cullen was flicked on into Lawless’ path and his header from close range was somehow touched onto the post by Arestidou. The 10-man Shrimps then broke downfield and Ellison’s left-wing cross was met by Wilkinson, sliding in attempting to clear. You could hear a pin drop inside a gobsmacked Kenilworth Road.

That sucker punch knocked the stuffing out of the Hatters as six minutes of added time was shown, during which Cullen forced Arestidou into a save following Nathan Oduwa’s cross and that, sadly, was that.

Three defeats on the spin leaves the Town fifth in League 2, six points behind the final automatic promotion place.

Portsmouth away next Saturday with almost 3,000 Hatters in attendance. Join us, won’t you? #COYH

Town: Justham; Harriman, Griffiths (sub Lawless), McNulty, Wilkinson; Smith (sub Lee), McGeehan, Whalley (sub Oduwa), Howells, Guttridge, Cullen. Subs not used: King, Lee, Drury, Stockley.

Attendance: 8,667, including 94 from Morecambe.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-town-2-3-morecambe-2320854.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2fbBIjswLI

League Two: Luton Town 2 Morecambe 3

Luton Town suffered a first home league defeat since early September after Luke Wilkinson’s late own goal gifted visiting Morecambe victory at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

There looked to be little danger when Kevin Ellison sent over a cross on 86 minutes, but with the ball rolling into Elliot Justham’s gloves, Wilkinson stuck out a boot to divert it into the net.

The hosts had hauled themselves level from 2-0 down after just 29 minutes with goals from Cameron McGeehan and Alex Lawless, with Morecambe also reduced to 10 men with 10 to go, before Wilkinson’s intervention sparked disappointing scenes at the final whistle.

As boss John Still left the field, he took exception to something said by a home supporter, with skipper Steve McNulty also involved, as stewards had to lead the Town captain away.

Earlier, Luton made two changes as they looked to stop a run of three defeats from four, with both strikers Elliot Lee and Jayden Stockley dropped to the bench for Shaun Whalley and Mark Cullen.

Although Still had commented in the week he was looking to improve on Town’s recent habit of starting poorly, there was no evidence of that early on, with Hatters woeful in the opening 30 minutes once more.

The visitors had a decent opportunity as Jack Redshaw ran free from McNulty’s attentions, only to fire straight at Justham when he could have advanced further.

McGeehan then escaped an early bath on five minutes, sliding in late on Laurence Wilson with a poorly judged tackle, but referee Carl Berry dished out a yellow under pressure from the visitors to make it red.

Justham was tested once more, claiming Andrew Wright’s header, but Morecambe then deservedly took the lead after 18 minutes, when the diminutive Redshaw showed fantastic skill to dance past his marker and fire across Justham into the corner.

Town’s efforts at getting back into the game were nondescript. and matters went from bad to worse on 29 minutes when the Shrimps had a second to their name.

Although no doubting the quality of the unmarked Wilson’s half volley from outside the box that fizzed past Justham, Redshaw looked offside in the build-up as McNulty in particular remonstrated with the linesman.

Morecambe should have had a third as they sliced open Luton with all too much ease once more, and with Town’s ponderous defence backing off, Redshaw cut through only to shoot straight at Justham.

Still reacted to the his side’s lacklustre display, taking Scott Griffiths off for Lawless, with Howells dropping to left back, but the Shrimps remained the more likely, Wilson’s attempt from range not dipping in time.

With Town’s supporters frustrations growing by the second, with their first passing move of any note, Town had a lifeline as Smith spread the play for Michael Harriman.

He who delivered a cross that McGeehan arrived on to head powerfully past Andreas Arestidou at full stretch.

Hatters almost were back on level terms by the break as Smith fired well over, before Harriman reached the byline and sent over another excellent cross that Cullen nodded behind.

Town came out with more intent in the second period as Lawless picked up an error by Redshaw in his own box and saw a low drive deflected inches wide.

From the corner, Cullen missed his flick header, with the ball hitting McGeehan who had turned his back and going just past the post.

Whalley’s ambitious first timer was easy for Arestidou, with Redshaw always a pest at the other end. sending an effort at Justham as Luton once again stood off.

Hatters were then thankful to Justham for a crucial stop as Wilkinson’s calamitous error was seized upon by Redshaw, but Town’s stopper was out quickly to block with his legs.

Sub Elliot Lee forced Arestidou to tip his free kick over, before from a corner, he then nodded against the post with Wilkinson hooking the follow up awkwardly over.

Luton were then on level terms when McNulty reached another set-piece and looped a header against the bar, with the rebound fired low into the net by Lawless as Kenilworth Road erupted.

A melee ensued on 81 minutes as Ryan Edwards cleaned out McGeehan and was shown his marching orders for a second booking, while Andrew Fleming was lucky not to follow him in the aftermath as he raised his hands.

With the bookings totting up, Town looked for a winner, but no-one appeared to want to take the initiative, McGeehan eventually putting one over the top.

The woodwork came to the Shrimps rescue when Lawless reached Cullen’s flick only to see his close range header kept out by a combination of Arestidou and the post.

Morecambe then stunned the majority of the 8,667 crowd with Wilkinson’s error, but still Town had opportunities to claim a point.

Spurs youngster Nathan Oduwa crossed and McGeehen headed over, while the flying winger went over twice in the area, with nothing given.

Leading scorer Cullen missed a huge chance when Oduwa’s cross broke to him, but he scuffed straight at the keeper as Hatters dropped to sixth in the table, losing more ground on the top three positions.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths (Alex Lawless 33), Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Jonathan Smith (Elliot Lee 69), Cameron McGeehan, Jake Howells, Luke Guttridge, Mark Cullen, Shaun Whalley (Nathan Oduwa 73).

Subs not used: Andy Drury, Fraser Franks, Craig King, Jayden Stockley.

Shrimps: Andreas Arestidou, Shaun Beeley (Padraig Amond 90), Jamie Devitt (Paul Mullin 74), Mark Hughes (C), Ryan Edwards, Jack Redsaw (Alex Kenyon 82), Andrew Wright, Kevin Ellison, Andrew Fleming, Laurence Wilson, Andy Parrish.

Subs not used: Ryan Williams, Alan Goodall, Aaron McGowan, Tom Stewart.

Referee: Carl Berry.

Booked: McGeehan 4, Beeley 64, McNulty 66, Redshaw 68, Edwards 71, Fleming 81, Hughes 84, Lee 84, Oduwa 90, Wilkinson 90.

Sent off: Edwards 81.

Attendance: 8,667 (94 Morecambe).

Hatters MOM: Alex Lawless - His introduction gave Luton hope and he was so close to snatching what might have been the winner.

Hatters skipper Steve McNulty has invited any disgruntled supporters to go and see him personally at the club’s training ground after an incident at Kenilworth Road following the 3-2 home defeat with Morecambe this afternoon.

On completion of the post-match huddle, a clearly upset boss John Still was involved in a heated discussion with a fan who was critical of the team’s performance, before McNulty waded in to support his manager.

Speaking afterwards, the Town captain said: “This negativity around the place, I just don’t understand it.

“It’s just a small minority but I don’t understand where they’re coming from or what they’re getting out of it.

“If someone had offered us this position at the start of the season, with 11 games to go and (being) in the mix for an automatic promotion place, I think we’d have taken it.

“I don’t understand the negativity but I invite any of them down to the training ground if they do it the right way and get in touch with the club.

“If they want to come down, we’ll sit down and we’ll have a proper chat about it.

“There’s no point in shouting from behind the rails. It’s not helping anyone but it’s just a small minority. We thanks everyone else that is getting behind the team. It’s disappointing to be talking about that at this late stage in the season.”

Hatters have seen their promotion hopes take a significant blow in recent weeks, falling to four defeats from five and McNulty thinks the negativity amongst supporters has been creeping in.

He added: “You could feel it sneaking in over the past couple of weeks.

“I don’t see what they’re getting out of it. It’s stupid and it’s a small minority, but I don’t understand what they get out of shouting at us when we’re going off the pitch. We all need to pull together at this time of the season and have a right go at getting in that top three.

“If they’re going to be like that then I don’t see the point in them coming. We’ve got a lot of young lads in the team and that will bother them. It doesn’t bother me.

“People can stand there and say what they want to me but we’ve got a lot of young players that it will affect and they will go into their shells so we need to knock that on the head and all pull together.”