Luton Town FC vs Wrexham (14th Dec 2013)

Young Hatters march on in Trophy

Town 2 Cullen 15, Ashton (og) 78 Wrexham 0

A side showing 10 changes following last weekend’s 5-0 win at Alfreton maintained the winning thread as the Hatters knocked out FA Trophy holders Wrexham at Kenilworth Road.

Two goals from corners swung into the box by former Dragon Shaun Whalley did the damage – Mark Cullen heading the first before Neil Ashton’s second half own-goal – as the Hatters won for the eighth successive match on home soil in all competitions.

It was another indication of the Hatters’ strength in-depth as they dispatched an experienced Wrexham side who ran Oxford close in an FA Cup tie on Monday.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was the sole survivor of the Town’s starting XI last week but the Town showed few signs of inexperience as they dominated throughout to book a third round spot on the weekend of 11th January.

The Hatters started well and, after Whalley’s shot was kept put by Wrexham goalkeeper Andy Coughlin on 10 minutes, the winger set-up the opener. His left-wing corner arched towards the backpost and Cullen, having lost his marker, guided a header into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the campaign.

A goal to the good the Hatters were playing some terrific football going forward and Alex Wall was mighty close to doubling the lead on 20 minutes when he saw a shot blocked with force from the Wrexham defence at the end of a fine flowing move.

The Town came even closer two minutes later. Ian Rees, at 17 the youngest player on the pitch, almost capped a full debut to remember when his left-foot shot was deflected onto the foot of the post.

It was chance-a-minute stuff as the Hatters continued to press. Cullen volleyed wide on 25 minutes, Matt Robinson sent a shot scuttling wide a moment later before Ruddock rifled a shot from distance into the arms of Coughlin on 28 minutes.

By the time of the half-hour mark the Town’s dominance was epitomised by the corner count: 8-0 in their favour.

Wrexham had barely threatened Elliot Justham’s goal in the first 45 minutes and the Town almost snatched a second before the break but neither Cullen nor Wall could get on the end of captain Jake Howells’ dangerous, low left-wing cross that need just any touch for a goal.

In front at the break the Hatters thought they’d doubled their lead a minute into the second half but Wall’s strike was ruled out for offside, but slowly Wrexham worked their way back into the tie and Johnny Hunt’s vicious drive was well-blocked by Joe Davis.

However, back came the Hatters, and on the hour Wall was denied a tap-in after a last-ditch interception from Wrexham defender Leon Clowes cut-out Robinson’s low cross.

But on 65 minutes the visitors’ task was made tougher by the dismissal of midfielder Jay Harris, who trudged off for an early bath after picking up a second yellow card with a nasty challenge on Robinson.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Wrexham upped the ante. Player/manager Andy Morrell introduced himself as a substitute and within moments of his introduction, strike partner Andy Bishop headed wide from a left-wing corner.

However, with 12 minutes left the Town made the tie safe. Whalley’s corner from the right took a deflection off of Ashton, giving Coughlin no chance, to give the Hatters some breathing space.

Ashton came close to making amends with a header at the right end on 86 minutes but Anthony Charles, who completed the full 90 minutes in his first appearance back since late October, cleared the ball off of the line and that was the final chance as the Town completed a comfortable win to maintain their fine recent record.

Town: Justham; Longden, Howells, Charles, Davis; Robinson, Ruddock Mpanzu, Rees; Whalley, Wall (sub Banton 85), Cullen.

Subs not used: C. Smith, Amu, Chabata, King.

Attendance: 1,617, including 89 from Wrexham.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/wrex-gallery-141213-1235624.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeyeBU2yG1M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkZqwe4I5bw&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

Impressive Hatters knock out holders Wrexham

FA Trophy second round - Luton Town 2 Wrexham 0

A hugely impressive performance from Town’s supposed second string was easily more than good enough to knock holders Wrexham out of the FA Trophy this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

As promised, Hatters boss John Still made wholesale changes to his side, 10 in fact, with only Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu retained from the side who hammered Alfreton Town 5-0 last weekend.

Anthony Charles made his first start for almost two months, while there were full debuts for youngsters Ian Rees and Brett Longden.

Conversely, Wrexham showed exactly how seriously they were taking the competition, with just two alterations to the side who had played in the FA Cup against Oxford.

Despite the freshness of Town’s XI, it was they who were by far the more cohesive in the opening period, with some lovely one touch passing football as Red Dragons’ Andy Coughlin was easily the busier keeper, saving from skipper Jake Howells and Shaun Whalley.

Luton were then rewarded for their excellent start as they took the lead on 15 minutes as Whalley’s corner reached the unmarked Cullen at the back post.

Although back-pedalling and off balance, he managed to somehow direct his looping header over the flat footed Coughlin and into the net.

Town continued to impress in the first half, playing the better football with one lovely exchange through the midfield leading to Wall’s shot blocked earning warm applause.

Midfielder Rees was unlucky not to mark his first start with a goal as after Wall leapt well to win a long free kick, he saw his close range effort deflected on to the post and behind.

The visitors’ defence remained indecisive as a long ball from Elliot Justham was left along and Cullen slid his shot wide of the post

Matt Robinson then displayed the confidence coursing through the Town, winning possession and unleashing a shot that was wide of Coughlin’s goal.

The chances didn’t stop there either as Whalley wasted a decent opportunity and when the ball broke to Mpanzu, he fizzed an effort into Coughlin’s gloves.

Wrexham finally had a modicum of pressure for the closing moments of the half, but never looked like testing Justham, who surely couldn’t believe what a quiet afternoon has was having.

After the break, Hatters should have been 2-0 up as Wall was criminally caught offside when Town fashioned a two on one break and despite slotting home Whalley’s cross, it was ruled out by the linesman’s flag.

Robinson broke away and was brought down inches from the box, earning Jay Harris a booking, but Whalley shanked the free kick wastefully off target.

Hatters kept up the pressure as Whalley’s low corner was missed by Charles and hit Cullen’s chest only to rebound narrowly over the bar.

Wrexham’s chances were then made even harder as Harris was dsmissed just after the hour, sliding in to foul Mpanzu in full flight and after playing advantage, referee D England went back to caution the Wrexham midfielder, thus ending his afternoon.

The visitors boss Andy Morrell brought himself into the fray to try and force a leveller, and his side missed a great chance to level when Andy Bishop’s close range header flew wide.

Hatters had a crucial and richly deserved second on 77 minutes though when another Whalley corner was met by Neil Ashton who had just taken the captain’s armband and although Charles was in close proximity, it was the visiting defender who had the final touch.

Ashton almost reduced the arrears, beating Justham to a long free kick, but Charles was on hand to nod clear off the line as Town made serene progress to the third round, something that few would have believed was possible prior to kick off.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Brett Longden, Jake Howells (C), Joe Davis, Anthony Charles, Matt Robinson, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Ian Rees, Shaun Whalley, Alex Wall (Zane Banton 85), Mark Cullen.

Subs not used: Charlie Smith, Arel Amu, Tinashe Chabata, Craig King.

Wrexham: Andy Coughlin, Stephen Wright, Neil Ashton, Joe Clarke, Jay Harris, Andy Bishop, Dean Keates (C Robbie Evans 76), Johnny Hunt (Andy Morrell 71), Leon Clowes, Joe Anyinsah (Rob Ogleby 61), Mark Carrington.

Subs not used: Joslain Mayebi, Andy Morrell, Steve Tomassen, Robbie Evans.

Referee: D England. Assistant referees: J Hayes, A Neil. Fourth official: A Da Costa.

Attendance: 1,617 (89 Wrexham).

Bookings: Longden 43, Harris 56. Sent off: Harris 65.

Hatters MOM: Matt Robinson, all action display from the young midfielder.

Still always had faith in Hatters’ young stars

Hatters boss John Still admitted he always believed his fledgling side could knock holders Wrexham out of the FA Trophy this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

Still made wholesale changes to his team, retaining just Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu from the XI who hammered Alfreton last weekend.

Opponents Wrexham made just two alterations to their side, demonstrating how seriously they wanted a trip to Wembley once more, but found Hatters far too strong for them as Town eased through.

Still said: “It was absolutely terrific. I said all along that I want to try and develop a young group of players here and that’s what we’ve done.

“I thought they were more than worthy of winning, I really did. I thought 1-0 at half time was an injustice as we were better than that.

“I made a point to the players, one thing I couldn’t do, my profession doesn’t allow me, is pick a team that I think will lose.

“I’ve got to pick a team I believe will win, and I believed the team I picked today would win, and it did.

“It’s easy to say that now, but I really believed that the team could win. I thought it had enough about it, had lots of energy, enough pace, enough raw talent and I just felt that for most of the game we were in control.”

Town chose a hugely inexperienced midfield three, with Matt Robinson alongside Ruddock Mpanzu and youth teamer Ian Rees on his full debut, but they had too much for the likes of seasoned campaigners Dean Keates and Jay Harris, who was sent off for two bookings.

Still added: “We looked at the way they play, one sitting there and try to dictate the play, and tried to take that away from them,.

“I don’t think they could handle Robbo, his energy levels were too great.

“Harris and Keates are decent footballers, but Robbo made them run and Pelly made them run and Reesy made them run.

“We had too much legs and energy in midfield. All three players could all play, but they could all run, and that helped us dominate the play.

“But that’s today, we’ve got other games to come. I’m just delighted with that and now we’ve got to look forward.”