Luton Town FC vs Staines Town (3rd Dec 2013)

REPORT: TOWN 2-0 STAINES 3rd December 2013

Town 2 Parry 48, Whalley 72 Staines Town 0

The Town booked a second round meeting with FA Trophy holders Wrexham after a 2-0 win over Staines at Kenilworth Road.

Stubborn Staines had held out for 48 minutes before Andy Parry broke the deadlock, chesting the ball down before volleying home from six yards.

And fellow former Southport man Shaun Whalley doubled the Hatters’ lead when he flicked a header into the corner of the net on 72 minutes.

It was no more than the young Hatters deserved after a dominant display against their Skrill South opponents who had kept the Town at bay for 90 minutes on Saturday.

Showing three changes to the side from the weekend, with Parry, Alex Wall and Charlie Smith all given starts, the Town began on the front foot against a Swans side win just one victory away from home all season.

Wall was the focal point for the Town in the first half. The striker’s pace and power was causing the visitors plenty of problems and he fired two shots at goal in the opening 15 minutes which fired a warning shot to the Swans.

Jack Turner, the Staines hero from the first game where he denied the Town with a string of fine saves, almost gifted the Hatters a soft opener when he allowed a shot from Wall to slip through his fingers. The ball rolled goalwards but the keeper managed to claw back the ball much to his relief.

Mark Cullen deflected a Pelly Ruddock cross into Wall’s path but his shot from six yard bounced over the crossbar on 26 minutes and a minute later Cullen’s drive was blocked behind for a corner.

As half-time approached the Town upped the ante. Whalley danced through the Staines defence to rifle a shot goalwards that Turner saved well.

However, three minutes after the restart the Hatters were in front. Smith’s curling free-kick was flicked towards the unmarked Parry, and he coolly volleyed home from inside the six yard box having taken the ball down on his chest. It was his fourth goal of the season.

The Town were now sensing blood and Cullen flicked a header wide on 53 minutes before Ruddock was unlucky not to win a penalty when he was sent sprawling in the box having galloped up the line and into the area following Whalley’s slide-rule pass five minutes later.

Matt Robinson almost served up a second on a plate for Wall and Cullen on 58 minutes but neither forward could find the all-important touch.

But with the Hatters beginning to turn to screw, Turner saved a Whalley free-kick on 69 minutes and three minutes later Whalley did find the net, changing his body shape well to turn and head past Turner from eight yards for his second goal in Luton colours.

By now the Town were looking dangerous with every attack and Turner denied Cullen once more with a really smart stop on 72 minutes and the goalkeeper prevented the striker again with nine minutes left.

As time ticked down Staines tried in vain to find a late consolation but found Elliot Justham a hard barrier to pass and, with holes appearing in the visitors’ defence, the Town came close to adding to their tally in the closing stages. Substitute Zane Banton twice went close with fine efforts and Whalley tested Turner with the final kick.

Town: Justham; Chabata, Howells, Davis, Parry; C. Smith (sub Rees 82), Ruddock, Robinson, Whalley; Wall (sub Banton 62), Cullen Subs not used: Barnes, Amu, Mendy.

Attendance: 911 including 47 from Staines.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/staines-replay-gallery-1213900.aspx

CHALLENGE ON TWO FRONTS

Hatters capable of winning non-league double says first team coach

Hakan Hayrettin believes the Town’s strength in depth can help them challenge for both the Skrill Premier and the FA Trophy.

Goals from Andy Parry and Shaun Whalley were enough to beat Staines in Tuesday night’s first round replay to book a second round date with Trophy holders Wrexham a week on Saturday.

And first team coach Hayrettin, who was part of the Wycombe Wanderers side that won the Conference and Trophy double in 1993 under Martin O’Neill, thinks the Hatters can do the same this season.

“Is it possible for this football club to win the league and the FA Trophy? Yes it is because we have a squad the manager believes is capable,” said Hayrettin after Tuesday’s 2-0 victory.

“I was involved in this situation at Wycombe. It was a large and young squad and the philosophy is the same as it is here.

“John came into the dressing before the game and said that he’s not looking to change the team for the next round should we get through and that was a great incentive for them so these players have a great opportunity against Wrexham now.

“The manager believes in the squad. He installs that desire into players. When he talks they listen. When he gives them an opportunity they take it.”

Having drawn at Staines on Saturday a similarly youthful side were on duty at Kenilworth Road and their display heartened Hayrettin.

“This performance has given the manager a few headaches for Saturday,” said the coach. “It was a mature performance, more professional in the second half.

“Tinahse [Chabata] and Charlie [Smith] were given starts at Zane [Banton] and Ian [Rees] came on and all of them acquitted themselves really well.

“All of the players in the squad, and a number of those youth team players, are capable of playing in the first team – and that’s the way we approach any game.

“We played in our usual way and got the result we deserved. The players were mentally prepared and yes, it was a mature performance but it was only because we did things right.”

Goals from Parry and Whalley see Luton remove stubborn Staines

FA Trophy Round One: Luton Town 2 (0) Staines Town 0 (0)

Hatters earned an FA Trophy second round tie at home with Wrexham after making heavy weather of Skrill South side Staines Town tonight, writes Mike Simmonds.

Second half goals from Andy Parry and Shaun Whalley were enough for the Hatters, who made three changes to the side from the weekend as Charlie Smith was handed his full debut, while Alex Wall and Andy Parry came in.

A lacklustre first half failed to ignite the sparse crowd, with most of Town’s opportunities falling to returning striker Wall.

First he scuffed wide when well placed, and his robust approach fashioned another chance that the Swans’ hero from Saturday, Jack Turner, saved with his legs.

The keeper then had an almighty let off when he failed to gather Wall’s tame drive, and with the ball rolling towards the line, pounced on it just in the nick of time to snatch it away at the last moment.

Staines looked a decent outfit when in possession as Louie Theophanous went on skilful run and fired at Justham from 20 yards.

Hatters should have been 1-0 in front midway through the half but Wall fluffed a glaring chance as Mpanzu spun his way past a defender and crossed, only for the forward somehow blaze over from a few yards.

Turner was quick to resume his role of denying Town, as he flew to his right to tip Whalley’s curler behind before the break.

In the second half, Hatters finally broke the deadlock after over 135 minutes of football when Smith’s whipped free kick flicked off a head and Parry showed wonderful technique to chest and volley into the net, finally ending Turner’s resistance.

Town should have had a penalty on 56 minutes when Whalley sent Mpanzu scampering clear, but despite clearly being hauled down, referee Nick Kinseley gave nothing.

Hatters finally killed off their plucky opponents in the 71st minute though when Smith’s cross was flicked home by Whalley for a rare headed goal.

The Swans were then almost back in the game immediately as Sanchez Ming tricked his way past Howells, and saw a fierce drive punched away by Justham, who then stopped Oluwole Akinsanya’s rebound.

The visitors then missed an even better chance when Max Worsfold tamely shot straight at Justham after going through one-on-one.

For the first time in the tie, Luton’s extra fitness and quality finally shone through in the final 15 minutes, with the athletic Mpanzu running the show in midfield.

A delectable flick from Whalley sent Mark Cullen clear, but once again Turner won the duel with his legs.

Young midfielder Ian Rees came on for his Hatters debut and late sub Zane Banton was inches away from capping an exciting display with a first Town goal, arrowing just wide with two delicious strikes from distance, while another effort was again excellently repelled by Turner at full stretch.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Tinashe Chabata, Jake Howells, Andy Parry, Joe Davis, Matt Robinson, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Charlie Smith (Ian Rees 82), Shaun Whalley, Mark Cullen, Alex Wall (Zane Banton 61).

Subs not used: Arnaud Mendy, Arel Amu, Ben Barnes.

Swans: Jack Turner, Sanchez Ming (Erivaldo Felix 80), Jordaan Brown, Lewis Ferrell (C Stephane Ngamvoulou 70), Chris M’Boungou, Jerel Ifil, Ashley Lodge, Bajram Pashaj (Dan Brown 60), Louie Theophanous, Max Worsfold.

Subs not used: Kyle Merson, Luke Neville.

Bookings: Howells 10; M’Boungou 47.

Referee: N Kinseley Assistant referees: R Cox, C Husband Fourth official: M Holmes.

Attendance: 911 (Swans 47).

Star Hatter: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.