Luton Town FC vs Tottenham Hotspur (15th Aug 2017)

REPORT: LUTON TOWN 2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR U21s 2

Hatters take extra bonus point with penalty shoot-out win over

Kenilworth Road witnessed a first tonight as the Hatters kicked off this season’s Checkatrade Trophy Southern Group H with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur U21s – then picked up a second bonus point with a penalty shoot-out victory

Luke Gambin and Josh McQuoid had netted the Town’s goals, either side of an unfortunate own goal from James Shea, making his Hatters debut in goal, and a Ryan Loft strike two minutes after half-time.

But at the end of 90 minutes, and with Spurs having missed two penalties under the new ABBA format, Gambin netted the Hatters’ fourth successful spot-kick out of four to ensure Nathan Jones’ lads were the winners who, maybe didn’t quite take it all, but finished the night with two points rather than one.

Jones had selected a side with a great mix of youth and experience, the likes of Akin Famewo and man-of-the-match Tyreeq Bakinson blending well with captain Johnny Mullins and Jordan Cook, while Danny Hylton and James Justin made their returns from injury, appearing for the first time this season.

There was debut too for Harry Cornick, signed from Premier League Bournemouth last week and given a first start in the striking role in which Jones is preparing to develop him, while 17-year-old Jack James made a terrific impression on his first senior appearance at right-back in the second half.

The Hatters started like a train, Cornick using his pace to reach the left byline and playing the ball back to Bakinson, who combined with Cook to set Elliot Lee up for a shot on the turn that was well blocked by Brandon Austin in the Spurs goal.

By the fourth minute the new-boy had worked his way to the same part of the pitch, sliding a ball across the six-yard box for Hylton, who was thwarted by Austin’s sliding block.

Cook was the next to have a crack, on five minutes, as a Gambin corner was only half-cleared, seconds before Lee’s attempted flick around the corner from Mullins’ knock-down went just wide of the post.

With 11 minutes on the clock, Lee, who had started brightly at the tip of the midfield diamond, fed Hylton, who took his shot early from 20 yards, but found Austin safely behind it to deny him once again.

Shea had to race off his line in the 14th minute to slide out of his area to deny Shilow Tracey a clear run on goal as he looked to get on the end of the excellent Keanan Bennetts’ through ball.

But five minutes later the Hatters had the lead, Gambin wriggling to find space after being fed in the area by Cornick and drilling his angled shot low into the bottom corner

Within two minutes the visitors were level, their captain Joe Pritchard allowed to drive unchecked towards the Town 18-yard box and arrow a low right-footed shot that came back off the post and hit the grounded Shea, trickling back over the line inside the post.

The visitors rattled the woodwork again in the 23rd minute, as Bennetts’ marauding run down the left finished with a low shot that came back off the far post.

Just before the half-hour the Hatters put together a superb flowing move that began with Justin at right-back and progressed across and up the pitch via Bakinson, Famewo, Shea, Senior and Gambin, before Justin delivered a right-wing cross that Hylton headed narrowly wide.

The Town were moving the ball well, and in the 33rd minute Cornick and Bakinson were at the heart of another burst down the left that ended with Gambin whipping in an inviting cross for Hylton to meet, but his downward header lacked power.

Cook, who had already sent a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide, was keen to keep trying his luck, but his 35th-minute attempted curler was saved by Austin.

Tottenham were proving a real threat at the other end though, Bennetts cutting in from the left and seeing a shot deflected just wide as Shea scampered across his line, before the Town keeper then had to get down low to deny Tracey after the former Ebbsfleet United youngster fashioned an opportunity on the right side of the box.

Jones made two changes at the break, replacing the returning duo Hylton and Justin with McQuoid and James, the second-year scholar who doesn’t turn 18 until next January.

Within two minutes of the restart Spurs had their noses in front, Miller pouncing on the loose ball on halfway and slipping Loft for a clear run on Shea, who couldn’t keep the former Stevenage loanee’s cool finish out.

The Town responded well, however, Cook feeding a ball through for Lee to get a shot in, which Austin smothered on 49 minutes.

Then, in the 51st minute, the two game changers combined for the equaliser, James reaching an excellent pass from Bakinson on the right byline and standing up a wonderful deep cross for McQuoid to power a header home at the far post.

Shea had to be alert on the hour, however, to race off his line once again as Miller looked to get on the end of his own throughball – as his team-mates made their way back from an offside position.

Miller, along with Bennetts on the left, was proving a real handful, and the diminutive midfielder attempted a shot three minutes that just wouldn’t bend enough into the top corner.

Tottenham boss Wayne Burnett had introduced Timothy Eyoma at right-back and with 66 minutes on the clock, the 17-year-old arrowed a shot from the right side of the area that flew narrowly over into the Oak Road.

With just under a quarter-of-an-hour to go the Town almost profited from another raid down the right by out own teenager James, whose cross was deflected behind for a corner.

Cook delivered and Famewo got a head on it, with the ball eventually dropping at McQuoid’s feet, but Cornick’s flick from the striker’s chipped cross just eluded Lee at the far post.

Shea was keen to show his skills with his feet too, coming out of his box to lift the ball over an onrushing forward with his right foot, then spreading a terrific ball out to the left straight to Gambin’s feet.

The Hatters spurned two great chances to restore their lead with four minutes to go; McQuoid denied by a great block from Japhet Tanganga as he burst onto a pass from Cook, then James sending in another superb cross that the ex-Walsall man glanced inches wide.

Youngster James then got in again for a chance to cap an impressive debut in dream style, latching onto a great ball from Bakinson, but his shot was always on the rise.

With 90 minutes up, Spurs sub Kazaiah Sterling had a snapshot well held by Shea, and it was onto the shoot-out.

Lee went first for the Hatters, scoring, before Samuel Shashoua and Christian Maghoma went for Spurs; the former rattling the post but the latter netting to level things.

Cook and McQuoid then silenced the noisy Spurs following behind the goal in the Oak Road End with two more perfect efforts to make it 3-1, with Sterling netting and then Bennetts blasting over for the visitors to leave Gambin to make it 4-2 and put the bonus point out of Tottenham’s reach.

TOWN: Shea, Justin (James 46), Mullins ©, Famewo, Senior, Bakinson, Cook, Gambin, Cornick (Read 78), Hylton (McQuoid 46), Elliot Lee. Subs: Peck, Jones, Shamalo, Isted (GK)

Goals: Gambin 19, McQuoid 51

SPURS: Austin, Miller, Dinzeyi (Eyoma 52), Pritchard ©, Loft (Sterling 77), Maghoma, Tracey (Shashoua 81), Bennetts, Duncan, Tanganga, Skipp. Subs: De Bie (GK), Roles

Goals: Shea OG 21, Loft 47

REFEREE: Craig Hicks ATTENDANCE: 2,699 (404 away)

NATHAN JONES ON THE 2-2 DRAW WITH TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR U21

Town boss Nathan Jones felt it was "an excellent game" as his side drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur U21 before beating them on penalties to win an extra point in their first game in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The Hatters took the lead through Luke Gambin 20 minutes in before the visitors responded immediately as Joe Pritchard's shot hit the post but bounced in off keeper James Shea. Spurs went ahead just two minutes after the restart as Ryan Loft slotted home, but the score was levelled when Josh McQuoid headed in from Jack James' back stick cross.

With the scores level, Checkatrade rules dictated the game went to penalties, with Luke Gambin scoring the final one in a 4-2 victory for Jones' side.

The Hatters manager said: "I thought it was an excellent game. Tottenham are a good under-21 side, they came out and they play and they are a very sharp and they gave us a real good test out of possession.

"We started very well, we should have been a couple up, we had a couple of great chances. We finally took the lead and then sloppiness gave them an equaliser. But I thought it was a thoroughly entertaining game.

"[It was] a bit end-to-end for how a manager would like, I thought we had enough chances to have won the game, but we are very pleased. It was a very good run out.

"We were very, very attack minded. We started with two front men, we had a front man at number ten, we had a front man at the side of the diamond, we had Luke Gambin there as well. Effectively we had a real front five.

"I thought they worked really hard and as I said it was a good run out. It was a real good test for some of the younger ones as well. Which was very pleasing."

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1BIBTuBHvQ

Checkatrade Trophy: Luton 2 Spurs U21s 2 (Luton win 4-2 on penalties).

Spot kicks were the name of the game for Luton Town this evening as they beat Tottenham Hotspur U21s 4-2 in a revamped ABBA penalty shootout.

After the game finished 2-2, with both sides gaining a point, there was then a bonus point on offer for whoever came through from 12 yards.

Elliot Lee, Jordan Cook, Josh McQuoid and Luke Gambin were the super troupers for the Hatters, with Samuel Shashoua and Keanan Bennetts missing for the visitors.

Earlier, Town were able to give Danny Hylton and James Justin their first action of the season, with the pair playing 45 minutes, while there were Luton debuts for keeper James Shea and recent signing Harry Cornick as well.

Luton almost took the lead inside two minutes, with Cornick motoring away on the left as Tyreeq Bakinson and Cook combined to roll in Lee, who was was denied by a wonderful stop by Brandon Austin at full stretch.

It soon became apparent there was going to be goals, Hylton, Cook and Lee all going close in the opening five minutes.

Spurs weren't without their moments though, a glorious pass from Bennetts almost releasing Shilow Tracey, as Shea raced out of his area to block.

Luton then had the lead on 19 minutes, as Cornick found Luke Gambin in the box and he swivelled to drive into the bottom corner with his right foot.

Spurs weren't behind for long though, two minutes in fact, as Joe Pritchard took aim from 20 yards, his drive slamming into the post and then rebounding in off the unfortunate Shea.

Town's number two had the woodwork to thank though moments later as the impressive Bennetts set off from around half way, bamboozling Cook and Justin to toe poke across goal, hitting the base of the post.

Cook had a go from a free kick 25 yards out that didn't miss by much, while a lovely move by Luton saw Gambin find the overlapping Justin, whose cross was headed wide by Hylton.

Luton's striker did the same on the half hour from Gambin's delivery, although Town amost were left red faced once more, Bennetts' cross flicking off Mullins head and flying inches wide.

Bennett wasn't too wide moments later, before Shea was called upon to make a decent stop from Tracey's low drive after he fashioned a shooting opportunity.

In the second half, Hylton and Justin made way for the previously out of favour McQuoid and U18s full back Jack James, who became yet another academy graduate used by Jones since taking over.

However, Spurs hit the front just 60 seconds in, as Ryan Loft was sent clear and showed great composure to beat Shea.

Luton did restore parity on 54 minutes when James got to the byline and sent over a cross for McQuoid to power his header past Austin and make it 2-2.

As the game wore on, Spurs' started to bring out some of the party tricks, through William Miller and Bennetts, but Town stood firm and might have snatched it, Lee unable to divert a cross.

With five minutes to go, Hatters had a great chance to win it, as a quick break saw McQuoid blocked by a wonderful challenge from Japhet Tangana, with James's cross glanced narrowly wide by Cook.

However, most fans were looking forward to penalties by then, and they got their wish, with Luton being the winners' who although didn't quite take it all, bagged an extra point.

Hatters: James Shea, James Justin (Jack James 46), Jack Senior, Johnny Mullins (C), Akin Famewo, Tyreeq Bakinson, Jordan Cook, Luke Gambin, Harry Cornick (Arthur Read 77), Elliot Lee, Danny Hylton (Josh McQuoid 46).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Jake Peck, Ciaren Jones, Michael Shamalo.

Spurs: Brandon Austin, William Miller, Jonathan Dinzeyi (Timothy Eyoma 52), Joe Pritchard (C), Ryan Loft (Kazaiah Sterling 77), Christian Maghoma, Shilow Tracey (Samuel Shashoua 81), Keanen Bennetts, Dylan Duncan, Japhet Tangana, Oliver Skipp.

Subs not used: Jack Roles, Samuel Shashoua, Jonathan De Bie.

Booked: Cook 90. Referee: Craig Taylor. Attendance: 2,699 (404 Spurs).

Hatters MOM: Tyreeq Bakinson. Kept things simple.

Jones delighted by Town's Checkatrade Trophy display

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left mightily enthused by his side’s display in their 2-2 Checkatrade Trophy draw against Tottenham Hotspur’s U21s at Kenilworth Road last night.

The Luton chief made 11 changes to the side who lost 1-0 at Barnet on the weekend, as goals from Luke Gambin and Josh McQuoid saw the tie finish level, with Town claiming an extra bonus point for winning the ensuing penalty shootout.

Jones said: “I thought it was an excellent game, a real entertaining game for those who turned up, well done to them for turning up and supporting the competition,

“Both sides looked to play attractive football, we came out of the blocks flying, should have been a couple up early on, but we didn’t and then we got it.

“We let them back in with poor defensive play, but I thought it was a wonderful test for both sides.

“They’ve entered it and I think they’ll appreciate the test we gave them and they gave us a test, especially out of possession, I thought it was a real entertaining game and I’m pleased.”

Hatters had looked capable of running up a cricket score in the opening five minutes, with shots flying at the Spurs goal, before Gambin put them ahead.

However, once Spurs settled, the proved more than a match for the Hatters, leading 2-1 at the start of the second half, until Luton pegged them back through McQuoid.

Jones said: “We came out of the blocks and put pressure on them and we counted six chances, then we finally got it as you think it’s not going to come as they started to come into it.

“We just needed that clinical edge, but at least it shows we can create chances against whoever we play.

“I was really pleased as I thought we finished the game really well, finished strongly, had a lot of opportunities, especially down the right hand side where we slid people in.

“We just needed a little bit more of a clinical edge and we would have won the game in normal time.”

Elliot Lee, McQuoid, Jordan Cook and Gambin were then on target from the spot to ensure Hatters finished with an extra point, as Jones added: “It was important to get the extra point as one, it shows we can keep our nerve from the penalty shoot out, so we’ve got some real good penalty takers.

"I’ve no idea how each of them went in, but I know we’ve got three good penalty takers, in Elliot, Josh and Cookie as they’re penalty takers for the first team anyway, or have been in the past.

“I’m proud of my boys and credit to Tottenham, they gave us a real good game as did we.”