Luton Town FC vs West Ham United (5th Dec 2017)

MATCH REPORT: HATTERS 4 WEST HAM UNITED U21s 0

Free-scoring Hatters hit four more to progress to Checkatrade Trophy third round

Two days after booking a place in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, the Hatters made it through to the same stage of the Checkatrade Trophy with a comfortable 4-0 victory over West Ham Under-21s at Kenilworth Road tonight.

Lawson D’Ath, Aaron Jarvis and Kavan Cotter all netted their first goals for the club – a first in professional football for the latter pair – before Jordan Cook charged down Hammers keeper Nathan Trott’s attempted clearance for the fourth in injury-time.

The win over the Premier League club’s academy side, managed by former Town boss Terry Westley, took the squad’s winning run to five matches in all competitions, and eight unbeaten in total, as momentum continues to build on all three fronts in league and cup.

The four goals made it 43 in total in the 11 Checkatrade Trophy ties Town have been involved in since the start of last season, and the Hatters have now hit 21 in that recent five-game winning sequence, with nine different scorers on target in the last two at Gateshead and here.

At the other end, goalkeeper James Shea kept his first clean sheet in a Luton shirt - the club's 12th of the campaign, with five coming in the last seven - as the feel-good factor rages throughout the club.

Jones changed his starting line-up completely from the win at Gateshead 48 hours earlier, but selected a strong side featuring three changes from the starting line-up that won 2-1 at AFC Wimbledon in the final match of Southern Group F on October 31st, when Andrew Shinnie scored twice for the Town.

Cook came in after missing that match through suspension, while Cotter was in midfield after being recalled from his youth loan at Evo-Stik South side Hitchin Town, and Jarvis was selected up front with teenage defender Frankie Musonda as captain.

Luke Gambin started brightly for the Town, tricking his way into the right side of the area on six minutes and crossing for Jarvis, but the ex-Basingstoke man couldn’t quite connect with his left-footed swing.

The same pair combined again ten minutes later as Gambin won the ball inside his own half and set Jarvis away, only for the striker’s progress to be halted by a perfectly timed sliding challenge by Hammers centre-half Alex Pike on the edge of the box.

Gambin was in the mood to impress, but his 17th minute shot from 25 yards was well off target, just before Sead Haksabanovic headed Ben Johnson’s right-wing cross wide as the visitors showed their first sign of attacking intent.

Cook had a glorious chance to put the Hatters ahead in the 21st minute when Cotter picked him out with an inch-perfect pass over the top, but after a great first touch, the striker’s left-footed effort was dragged wide of the far post.

The Town put a cracking move together in the 26th minute when Cook found Gambin in the box and, after trying to engineer some space with his quick feet, the Malta international fed Mpanzu on the left of the area.

The midfielder’s low cross-shot was half-saved by Hammers keeper Nathan Trott, who needed left-back Joe Powell to react smartly to nick the ball away from Jarvis as he prepared to pounce in the six-yard box.

The Hatters had the lead in the 28th minute and inevitably it came from a great piece of skill from Gambin out on the right, the former Barnet winger twisting the left-back up and curling in a lovely cross that D’Ath rose to meet for his first goal in Luton shirt, heading into the top corner from close range.

Gambin was keen to get on the scoresheet himself, and after taking a pass from Cook on the left, he skipped past a couple of defenders before letting fly with a shot that was deflected safely into Trott’s arms, before setting Jarvis clear, only for the striker’s attempted chip over the keeper to be thwarted by Trott’s fingertips at full stretch.

West Ham looked to respond in the 36th minute when Domingos Quina hit a free-kick from right on the edge of the area, but that was safely tipped over by the watchful Shea, whose only task up to that point had been to keep warm.

The Hatters went in at the break a goal to the good, but within two minutes of the restart West Ham signalled their intent when striker Toni Martinez tested Shea again at his near post, although once more the Town keeper was up to speed and he turned the ball behind for a corner.

Town were soon back on the attack, and after Cotter had seen a volley go flying over the bar, Cook did the same from close range after Mpanzu had headed a Gambin free-kick into his path.

The lead was doubled in the 56th minute when the Hatters put a fine 11-pass move together, moving the ball around from left to right and back again in their own half in order to draw the West Ham defence out, before Jarvis took Akin Famewo’s long pass forward in his path and produced a superb finish on the half-volley from the edge of the area that gave Trott no chance.

It was a wonderful way for the 19-year-old to open his account in senior football, and just after the hour, Gambin chanced his arm from distance before, in the 65th minute, sending in another left-wing free-kick that Cook met with a firm header that Trott kept out.

Shea had seen little of the action, but when he did he was in top form, keeping out a blast from Hammers sub Grady Diangana at point-blank range before another replacement, Jahmal Hector-Ingram, dragged a right-footed shot just wide of his near post.

Quina sent an 82nd-minute bullet of a drive just over Shea’s bar as the Hammers sought a way back into the tie, but Cook could have put it to bed in the 85th minute when his low shot was saved by Trott with his feet.

Seconds later the game really was over when Cotter drilled home from 15 yards after Senior’s left-wing cross had been headed half-clear by the visitors’ defence.

And then the Town got a fourth when Cook closed Trott down in his own six-yard box and the Hammers keeper’s attempted clearance rebounded off the Town forward and into the empty net.

TOWN: Shea, Justin, Musonda ©, Famewo, Senior, Mpanzu, Cotter, D’Ath (Read 88), Gambin, Cook, Jarvis. Subs: Potts, O Lee, Rea, Berry, E Lee, Isted (GK)

Goals: D’Ath 28, Jarvis 56, Cotter 86, Cook 90+1

WEST HAM: Trott, Haksabanovic, Martinez, Quina, Pike, Samuelsen, Makasi (c), Powell, Akinola (Hector-Ingram 70), Johnson, Coventry (Diangana 53). Subs: Matrevics (GK), Scully, Lewis, Wells, Costa Da Rosa

Yellows: Quina

REFEREE: Darren Drysdale

ATTENDANCE: 1,670 (108 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmexN9myDcA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DESLeVu0HAI

NATHAN JONES ON THE 4-0 WIN OVER WEST HAM UNDER-21S

Town boss Nathan Jones labelled the 4-0 win over West Ham Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy a 'good night for the club' as the Hatters reached the second knockout stage of the competition.

Lawson D'Ath opened the scoring with a fine header from Luke Gambin's cross, before Aaron Jarvis half-volleyed home in spectacular fashion for the Town's second.

Kavan Cotter then fired past Nathan Trott from the edge of the box before Jordan Cook rounded off the scoring when he closed down Trott's attempted clearance, deflecting it into the back of the net.

Jones said: "I am pleased with the result, they have some wonderful footballers, but I thought we were professional tonight. At times we didn't defend as well as we could have.

"But to make 11 changes, to give players a chance – most of ours were under-21s as well. Against a Premier League side to beat them 4-0 was very good. I am pleased with Cookie, I thought he was was excellent all night, Jarvis took his goal fantastically well and young Cotter scored as well. It's a good night for the club. We have been able to make 11 changes and still win a game 4-0.

"We go about these games in the right way and we see what test we are going to get. I thought at times we were very good. We managed the game well, we knew they were a good footballing side, they want to press you.

"We changed slightly in our approach and we got in from that. I thought we scored three good goals and one that we earmarked if they want to be very expansive and the keeper wants to play in his own six-yard box, then we will press them."

Jarvis off the mark as Hatters hammer the Hammers

Checkatrade Trophy, second round: Luton Town 4 West Ham United U21s 0

Striker Aaron Jarvis scored his first goal for the club as Luton continued their impressive cup form this season with a 4-0 win over West Ham U21s this evening.

The 19-year-old, making only second start since signing from non-league Basingstoke in August, had his big moment just 11 minutes into the second half, as he raced on to Akin Famewo's clearance and rifled a cracking left-foot finish into the corner of the net.

The strike came after Lawson D'Ath had also opened his account for the Hatters, while Luton once again added further gloss to the scoreline late on, youngster Kavan Cotter the third player to get off the mark for Town, Jordan Cook completing the rout in stoppage time.

Jarvis was one of 11 changes made by boss Nathan Jones for the tie from Luton's 5-0 victory at Gateshead on Saturday, with Cotter also in for only his second start, Cook partnering Jarvis upfront.

It was Cook who had the first real opportunity on 22 minutes, found by Cotter's searching ball from deep, he took it on his chest and dragged across goal on the angle.

Midway through the half, Jarvis almost grabbed the opener, as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's low shot was parried by keeper Nathan Trott, the striker just unable to divert the loose ball home.

Town were ahead after 27 minutes though, as the impressive Luke Gambin, who was starting to run the show, producing a box of tricks to twist and turn his man, sending over a delicious cross that D'Ath headed beyond Trott.

Jarvis was denied shortly afterwards, racing away to a ball forward and with Trott having slipped, went for the lob, the keeper recovering to palm upwards, Alex Pike back to head the loose ball away.

James Shea was called upon after 36 minutes to preserve the lead, palming Domingos Quina's free kick over the top. In the second period, Toni Martinez, a £2.4million signing from Valencia back in 2016, tested Shea from an acute angle, his snap shot parried behind.

Town then should have made it 2-0 on 55 minutes, Cook guilty of a glaring miss from eight yards out, volleying wildly into the stands.

However, Luton did double their advantage just moments later, Jarvis marking his night in style with a clinical finish. Gambin tried to get the goal his display deserved, rifling over from 20 yards, while his free kick saw Cook head at Trott.

The Hammers, managed by ex-Luton boss Terry Westley, finally threatened as they game wore on, Shea getting his body behind Grady Diangana's close range blast, Quina whizzing narrowly over too.

Luton might have had a third, Cook denied by the legs of Trott, before a great moment for youngster Cotter, blasting home from close range after Jack Senior's cross dropped at his feet.

Cook then added a comical fourth in stoppage time, as Trott dithered and dallied with the ball virtually on his line, the Luton attacker charging the clearance into the net.

It puts Town through into round three of the competition, although boss Jones has far bigger fish to fry before then, starting with Notts County in a bona fide top of the table clash at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

Hatters: James Shea, James Justin, Jack Senior, Akin Famewo, Frankie Musonda, Kavan Cotter, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Gambin, Lawson D'Ath (Arthur Read 88), Aaron Jarvis, Jordan Cook.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Dan Potts, Olly Lee, Glen Rea, Elliot Lee, Luke Berry.

Hammers: Nathan Trott, Sead Haksabanovic, Toni Martinez, Domingos Quina, Alex Pike, Martin Samuelsen, Moses Makasi (C), Joe Powell, Tunji Akinola (Jahmal Hector-Ingram 70), Ben Johnson, Conor Coventry (Grady Diangana 53).

Subs not used: Rihards Matrevics, Anthony Scully, Alfie Lewis, Ben Wells, Bernado Costa Da Rosa.

Booked: Quina 38.

Referee: Darren Drysdale.

Attendance: 1,670 (108 Hammers).

Hatters MOM: Luke Gambin – midfielder ran the show in the first half.

Jones left impressed as free-scoring Luton turn the screw against West Ham

Town boss Nathan Jones was left hugely satisfied after his side netted another hatful of goals by putting four past West Ham U21s in the Checkatrade Trophy this evening.

Lawson D'Ath, Aaron Jarvis and Kavan Cotter all opened their accounts for the club, with Jordan Cook on target in stoppage time, as Luton have scored 21 times in their last five matches.

Jones said: "It’s a fantastic result, it was probably slightly more comfortable than it should have been, the fourth goal was a little bit harsh on them, but I thought at times we were very good.

“We played with a good tempo, we were able to make 11 changes and still be very, very competitive, a lot of people have had good minutes there tonight and we’re pleased, especially with the result and a four goal margin.

"I thought we were decent, we moved the ball well, we got in, probably should have been more than one ahead at half time, as we had a few little situations where we should have been better.

"Jarvo was unlucky, the keeper pulled off a great save from him when he tried to lob him and then Pelly’s (Mpanzu) had a shot which the keeper’s spilled and Jarvo’s just missed it.

"So we were just close to going further ahead but then we knew we needed to turn the screw a little bit and really put them under pressure.

"We thought if we went a little bit more direct, we would get joy against their back four in terms of our front two and we did that.

"I thought everyone out there got a real good 90 minutes and I was pleased.”