Luton Town FC vs Salisbury City (13th Aug 2013)

Luton 2-0 Salisbury

Hatters off the mark with routine home win

Second half goals from Solomon Taiwo and Luke Guttridge ensured the Hatters got off to a winning start to their campaign at Kenilworth Road.

After a frustrating first half the deadlock was broken by a 63rd-minute penalty from Taiwo and with visitors Salisbury tiring, Guttridge added a second nine minutes from time with a header from close range.

John Still made two changes, with Jon Shaw and Anthony Charles replacing Jake Howells and Alex Lacey, and the Hatters came mighty close to taking the lead inside 90 seconds when Mark Cullen, running on to an intelligent pass from Guttridge, curled a low shot inches wide of the post.

Three minutes later, as the Town pressed for an early goal, Shaw wasn’t far away from a reaching Shaun Whalley’s right-wing cross.

Salisbury were offering little in attack but on 19 minutes centre-back James Clarke headed over a decent opportunity from the hosts following a left-wing corner.

Chances were at a real premium as the first half wore on and Steve McNulty – appearing after his red card on Saturday had been overturned following an appeal – volleyed narrowly over the crossbar after the visitors had failed to clear a Town corner.

The Hatters engineered an intricate move moments before the break involving Whalley, Guttridge and Dave Martin but Shaw’s header, although on target, was comfortable for City goalkeeper James Puddy.

It was Salisbury that started the brighter after the break and the Hatters defence needed to be alert on 51 minutes following a goal-mouth scramble.

Lone visiting striker Dan Fitchett raced clear three minutes later only to send a weak effort well wide of the target, before Shaw did well to crane his neck onto a Jonathan Smith cross to test Puddy on 58 minutes.

Sensing the Town needed fresh impetus, Still sent on Andre Gray on the hour in the place of Cullen and three minutes later the substitute won a penalty that Taiwo coolly converted to send Puddy the wrong way.

With their tails up, the Hatters were now playing with some freedom with that goal in the bag and on 68 minutes Whalley was within inches of finding the bottom corner after Gray had sped clear of the City defence.

There was concern for the Town with 20 minutes left when Charles limped off and was replaced by Lacey but there was no let-up in the Hatters’ pursuit of a second goal.

Shaw almost got on the end of a superb left-wing delivery from Martin on 79 minutes but two minutes later Martin created the Hatters’ second when his cross from the right was met by the head of an unmarked Guttridge inside the six yard box to put the Town two to the good.

Whalley drove another shot inches wide with Shaw unable to make a connection when any touch would have made it 3-0 before Gray thundered a shot from range that Puddy could only gather at the second attempt.

By now the Hatters were pouring forward and it was almost three on 87 minutes when a dangerous Whalley cross from the right somehow missed Gray, Shaw and Howells all haring in to the box.

Town: Tyler; Smith, Griffiths, McNulty, Charles (sub Lacey 70); Martin (sub Howells 84), Taiwo, Guttridge, Whalley; Shaw, Cullen (sub Gray 60). Subs not used: Justham, Robinson.

Boss happy with first home win

John Still admitted he was relieved to see his side earn their first victory of the season following a 2-0 win over Salisbury at Kenilworth Road.

Goals in the second half from Solomon Taiwo and Luke Guttridge were enough for the Hatters to bounce back following Saturday’s defeat at Southport.

“I suppose I am relieved to be honest, I wanted that first win, especially at home and I’m delighted,” said Still.

“I thought we were efficient, and there will be lots of games where we’ll need to be efficient this season. We competed, and that’s the first thing you look for.

“We didn’t compete at Southport, we were poor on Saturday but tonight it was better. It wasn’t great but it’s still early days.

“The first six or seven games teams are always still sorting themselves out but we’ll keep getting better little by little.”

The manager introduced Andre Gray on the hour and three minutes later the substitute won the penalty that Taiwo converted.

And Still explained his reason for starting with last season’s leading goalscorer on the bench.

“Andre was a little bit behind in pre-season,” said the boss. “Jon Shaw and Mark Cullen were sharper and I think you owe it to the players and show them the respect that if they are in better form they should be playing ahead of those not in form.

“Andre’s come on in our last two games and done very well. He’s got his confidence and he’ll be ready to push on now.

“He’s one of the players who can light the blue touch paper for us. We need just need to stay solid and let our attacking players do what they can do. During pre-season we showed we can score goals and keep clean sheets – and hopefully we can get carry that on now.

“In the last two games we’ve not played very well but Mark Tyler’s not had a real shot to save.”

Still confirmed afterwards the Anthony Charles – who he promoted to the starting XI ahead of Alex Lacey because of his experience – was withdrawn with a shoulder injury. “I don’t think it looks very good,” said the boss who was awaiting a full prognosis on the defender’s problem.

The Town play a development game against Peterborough tomorrow with Alex Lawless expected to play on his return from injury.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/salisbury-gallery-990558.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8Ins-tRUKE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZe_YMrAU1c

Skrill** Premier**** - **Luton Town 2 Salisbury City 0

Supersub Andre Gray re-energised the Hatters as he inspired them to a 2-0 win over Salisbury City in their first home game of the season at Kenilworth Road this evening, by Mark Wood.

Turgid Town had struggled to get going in the Skrill Premier encounter before the striker’s 61st-minute introduction as he instantly won a penalty, coolly converted by Solomon Taiwo, before the impressive Luke Guttridge made sure of victory with a close-range header.

Town made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Southport on Saturday as Anthony Charles was preferred at centre-half to Alex Lacey and the fit-again Jon Shaw led the line with Jake Howells dropping to the bench.

Luton almost took the lead after just three minutes when Guttridge’s cute pass released Mark Cullen on the edge of the box and he curled inches wide.

Lovely skill from Shaun Whalley then saw him skip past his man and cross for Shaw, but Glenn Wilson did superbly to thwart him.

Town were playing some lovely stuff as David Martin left the ball behind him when in behind the full-back, while Cullen was just outmuscled as he tried to burst on to Guttridge’s through ball.

After a frustrating lull for the Hatters, skipper Steve McNulty, who had Saturday’s red card rightly rescinded before kick-off, almost gave them the lead on 37 minutes but his snap volley flew just over.

The home supporters grew increasingly restless in the second half as Dan Fitchett rolled wide for the visitors.

Town finally mustered their first effort on target just before the hour when Jonathan Smith whipped in a good cross and Shaw headed straight at Will Puddy.

Gray’s introduction drew cheers from the crowd on 61 minutes and he made an immediate impact as he burst into the box and, just like on Saturday, a lunge by the last defender, James Clarke, drew a penalty. This time Taiwo stepped up and calmly stroked into the bottom right-hand corner.

Gray almost doubled Luton’s lead moments later when Martin’s pass released him in the box and Puddy closed the angle to save well.

After a lengthy spell of treatment, Charles was forced off on 71 minutes and replaced by Lacey, while Salisbury, who had named three former Hatters in their starting XI, brought on ex-Town striker Warren Feeney late on.

Hatters made sure of victory with nine minutes to go when Taiwo did superbly to win a free-kick on the right and Martin whipped it in as the unmarked Guttridge thumped home his header.

There was almost a third moments later when Gray burst through and, as the keeper blocked his pull-back, Whalley could only drive wide with Shaw just unable to turn home from close range.

Gray’s firm drive was well held with five minutes to go as the Hatters finished strongly.

No-one could quite connect with a dangerous late Whalley cross and, although five minutes of injury time were added, Salisbury never looked like hitting back.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty (C), Anthony Charles (Alex Lacey 71), Solomon Taiwo, Jon Shaw, Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen (Andre Gray 61), David Martin (Jake Howells 84), Luke Guttridge, Shaun Whalley. Substitutes not used: Elliot Justham, Matt Robinson.

Whites (4-4-2): Will Puddy, Luke Ruddick, Callum Hart, James Clarke, Glenn Wilson (C), Theo Lewis, Clovis Kamdjo, Rob Sinclair, Stuart Sinclair (Chris McPhee 51), Ben Wright (Warren Feeney 77), Dan Fitchett (Elliott Frear 87).

Substitutes not used: Ricky Wellard, Brian Dutton.

Booked: Taiwo 33; Hart 43; Clarke 62.

Referee: P Rees. Assistant Referees: A Ricketts and R Cox. Fourth Official: L Marshallsay.

Attendance: 6,520 (92 Salisbury).

Star Hatter: Luke Guttridge. Influential throughout, some great passes and scored the crucial second.