Luton Town FC vs Oxford United (27th Sep 2014)

Luton Town 2 (Wilkinson 2, Howells 66) Oxford United 0

The Town made it four matches unbeaten and kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet to continue their rise up the League 2 table in a comfortable win over Oxford United. The Hatters made the perfect start when birthday boy Luke Wilkinson headed in Jake Howells’ cross after just 80 seconds on his 24th birthday.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu almost doubled the Town’s advantage moments later, but it wasn’t until the second half that the Hatters made the game safe when Howells tucked home a rebound after his penalty was saved by Oxford keeper Sam Long.

That goal was enough to knock the stuffing out of an Oxford side who had missed a series of opportunities to equalise, and it enabled the Hatters to see out the victory which moved them up to 10th place in the table and level on points with the team in the final Play-Off place.

With a sickness bug and injury robbing the Town of a number of players, John Still was forced into four changes with winger Shaun Whalley making his first league start for the Town since October last year, and midfielder Nathan Doyle given his debut in central midfield. Howells and Jonathan Smith were also recalled after overcome injury.

A 9,000-plus crowd ramped up the atmosphere in the two clubs’ first meeting since February 2009 and the Town gave their followers the perfect start by taking the lead with their first chance. Howells curled in a lovely free-kick from the right and Wilkinson rose majestically to plant a towering header beyond Long. Kenilworth Road rejoiced.

The frenetic start continued, and the Hatters spurned a glorious chance to double their lead just 30 seconds later when Ruddock sliced a shot wide after Whalley had helped the ball on from the penalty spot. That miss could have proved costly as Oxford slowly but surely worked their way back into the game. Highly-rated young midfielder Callum O’Dowda tested Mark Tyler with a low shot from distance on 15 minutes as the U’s began to show signs of recovery from their disastrous start.

The Hatters almost gifted United a goal on 27 minutes when Alex Lacey – playing at right-back in the absence of both Curtley Williams and Paul Connolly – allowed Brian Howard to steal in on his blind side but, to the defender’s relief, the Oxford man’s shot was blocked.

United continued to press. Tyrone Barnett almost set-up Danny Hylton but he mis-kicked moments later before Brian Howard saw a free-kick clip the Hatters wall.

However, as half-time approached, back came the Town. Mark Cullen tested Long with a fierce drive from an acute angle, but Oxford then threatened on 37 minutes when O’Dowda’s well-hit effort whistled over Tyler’s crossbar.

After the break it was the visitors who started strongly and Tyler came to the Hatters’ rescue on 57 minutes with a superb save to keep out Barnett’s deflected shot from the edge of the box. A moment later, however, Barnett spurned an even better chance when he headed O’Dowda’s perfect left-wing cross from six yards.

The miss proved costly for United as on 66 minutes the Town made it 2-0. Johnny Mullins’ inexplicable handball handed Howells the chance to score from the spot and although Howells’ effort was saved by Long, diving to his right, the Hatters man was first to the loose ball to poke home.

It was the first time the Town had scored twice in a game at Kenilworth Road and, with a two-goal cushion, the Hatters kept Oxford at arms’ length as they watched the visitors play in front of them.

Half chances came and went for both sides but in truth at 2-0 it was game over. However, Tyler had the final say with another save when this time in the right place at the right time to catch Barnett’s header from inside the penalty area in the dying moments.

It meant the Town kept yet another clean sheet to make it 382 minutes since conceding. Up to 10th in the table and within touching distance of the Play-Offs…as Terry Harris said afterwards “the train is off and running.”

TOWN: Tyler; Lacey, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle (sub Drury 67), Smith (sub Stevenson 72), Ruddock Mpanzu; Howells, Whalley (sub Lafayette 51), Cullen. Subs: Guttridge, Robinson, Walker, Justham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g3STQj7SN0&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

League Two: Luton Town 2 Oxford United 0

Luton Town recorded back to back wins for the first time since they returned to the Football League with a 2-0 triumph over Oxford United this afternoon.

The hosts are starting to gather some real momentum too as they are now four games unbeaten, with three victories in there, while Town’s back-line have also kept four successive clean sheets.

Luton boss John Still made four changes to his side as Nathan Doyle was handed his debut, while Shaun Whalley came back in for his first start since Southport on November 26, 2013.

Jake Howells and Jonathan Smith were back too, with Andy Drury and Luke Guttridge dropping to the bench, while Curtley Williams failed to recover from his ankle injury and Alex Wall missed out.

Hatters made the perfect start to proceedings as from a free kick on 80 seconds, Howells swung his delivery over and Luke Wilkinson rose highest to loop a header over George Long for his first goal since March 2013.

It should have been 2-0 moments later as Whalley teed up Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and faced with just Long, he somehow thundered wide.

After dominating the opening 10 minutes with a performance of high intensity and pressing all over the pitch, Luton then stepped off slightly and Oxford enjoyed a period of possession.

Callum O’Dowda cut inside to test Mark Tyler from range, with the keeper holding on low down.

Luton then had another let off when Alex Lacey tried to leave a cross into the box and Brian Howard’s was blocked by a covering defender.

Howard also came close from a free kick on the edge of the D, when his effort deflected off the wall and behind, while he tried again while on the run from further out, but was well wide.

Town’s attacks had become more sporadic until Cullen raced on to Whalley’s flick and Long had to turn over his cross shot.

Oxford continued pressing with youngster Callum O’Dowda impressing, the teenager arrowing narrowly over and then sending over a cross that Wilkinson cut out.

Danny Rose then had a decent sighting moments before half time, sending a free kick disappointingly over, while Howard’s effort was closer, although still not worrying Tyler.

After the break, Oxford started well once more, while with Town struggling to keep hold of the ball upfront, Whalley was replaced, as Ross Lafayette came on to partner Cullen.

Town were indebted to Tyler to keeping them level on 57 minutes as Barnett let fly after shrugging off McNulty and his shot took a deflection, only for the Luton keeper to adjust his body and palm away.

The forward then had no-one to blame but himself as O’Dowda’s cross was on a plate for Barnett, but from six yards, he glanced wide.

The on-loan Peterborough man was incredibly lucky to stay on the pitch moments later after a terrible challenge on Doyle, which was somehow only deemed a yellow by referee Mark Haywood.

From the free kick though, Luton had a penalty as Alex Lacey pumped the ball in the box and Johnny Mullins stuck out a hand.

Howells stepped up and as at Cambridge last week, saw his effort saved by Long, only to bundle the rebound over the line as Hatters scored two for the first time at Kenilworth Road this term.

Hatters then contained their opponents with a modicum of ease, although Tyler did make one more super stop on the whistle, as he was in just the right place to claim Barnett’s powerful header.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Alex Lacey, Scott Griffiths, Luke Wilkinson, Steve McNulty, Nathan Doyle (Andy Drury 67), Jonathan Smith (Jim Stevenson 73), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Shaun Whalley (Ross Lafayette 51), Jake Howells, Mark Cullen.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Luke Guttridge, Matt Robinson, Charlie Walker.

Oxford: George Long, Tom Newey, Johnny Mullins, Jake Wright (C), Danny Hylton (Junior Brown 68), Josh Ruffels, Callum O’Dowda, Michael Collins (Danny Rose 24), Joe Riley, Tyrone Barnett, Brian Howard (Alex Jakubiak 76).

Subs not used: Michael Raynes, Carlton Morris, Alfie Potter, Max Crocombe.

Referee: Mark Haywood.

Booked: McNulty 50, Barnett 63.

Attendance: 9,101 (868 Oxford)

Hatters MOM: Luke Wilkinson. Defender was such a solid presence at the back and popped up with his first goal too.