Luton Town FC vs Wrexham (25th Feb 2014)

Hatters run riot again. Luton Town 5-0 Wrexham

The Hatters stormed 14 points clear at the top of the Skrill Premier with a thumping 5-0 win over Wrexham.

The Town were 4-0 up at half-time after a stunning first half display in which Luke Guttridge scored twice and Andre Gray and Paul Benson scored once.

The Hatters managed a fifth midway through the second half through a Jake Howells penalty to make it back-to-back 5-0 wins following Saturday’s triumph at Nuneaton.

Showing an unchanged side for the fourth match running the Town could have been behind as early as the first minute if it wasn’t for an early glaring miss by Wrexham striker Rob Ogleby. However, a minute later the Town were ahead when Benson and Howells combined to tee-up Guttridge to slide a right-foot finish beyond Wrexham goalkeeper Andy Coughlin.

It got better for the Hatters just six minutes later as a breathless start to proceedings continued. Fraser Franks was the architect, side-footing a pass into the path of Gray. He bundled his way past three Wrexham defenders before coolly slotting home is 24th goal of the season.

The Town kept coming forward ominously so. Pelly Ruddock was urged to shoot by the Kenilworth Road crowd on 15 minutes following a fine flowing move. This time his shot was held by Coughlin.

Two minutes later, though, the majority inside Kenilworth Road were on their feet again as Guttridge made it 3-0 with his second of the night. Benson, Gray and Howells were again involved in a superb one-touch move that Guttridge finished with aplomb into the bottom corner of the net.

The Hatters were playing some breathtaking football but Wrexham, managerless after Andy Morrell’s decision to quit the day before the game, were still creating chances. Brett Ormerod should have scored on 19 minutes when poking over a shot from close range before defender Joe Clarke’s cross-cum-shot from the right two minutes later clipped the top of the Town crossbar.

Back came the Town. Ruddock’s shot was blocked on 26 minutes before Gray’s effort – after a swift counter-attack from Howells – was also charged down by the Wrexham defence on 29 minutes.

However, the Hatters didn’t have long to wait for yet another goal to celebrate when Benson got in on the act seven minutes before half-time. Gray’s cross was headed straight into the path of Ronnie Henry and his unselfish cross was met by Benson who side-footed home his 15th of the season and fourth in three games.

By now the Town were sensing blood and a fifth before half-time. A wonderful move in first half stoppage time almost led to a fine goal and the Hatters continued in the same vein after the break.

Half-chances came and went as Wrexham tightened up defensively after a ramshackle first 45 minutes and John Still made his first substitution on 64 minutes when Jon Shaw replaced Benson. Within six minutes of coming on, Shaw’s header freed Howells before he was upended by Mark Carrington in the penalty area and Howells dusted himself down to slot home his seventh of the season to make it 5-0.

The crowd thought the Town had a sixth on 80 minutes only to realise Shaw’s rasping low drive had hit the side-netting following another slick build-up involving Ruddock and substitute Alex Lawless, and it wasn’t until the first minute of stoppage time that Wrexham tested Mark Tyler for the only time – a comfortable save following a piledriver from Clarke.

Cambridge’s defeat at Braintree meant the Hatters could celebrate going further clear at the top. It was a 24th game unbeaten and a 12th successive home league win at Kenilworth Road, not to mention 17 goals in the last three games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLQO9GJ8Jy4

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/wrexham-gallery-2502-1383240.aspx

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

Hatters run riot against managerless Wrexham

Rampant Hatters went goal crazy yet again tonight as they crushed managerless Wrexham 5-0 at Kenilworth Road, writes Mark Wood.

With nearest challengers Cambridge United losing 1-0 at Braintree, Luton stretched their lead to 14 points at the top of the Skrill Premier.

The win extended Town’s record unbeaten run to 24 games as Luke Guttridge’s brace, goals from Andre Gray and Paul Benson, plus a second half Jake Howells penalty overwhelmed the visitors.

Town named an unchanged team for the side that thrashed Nuneaton Town on Saturday, while Wrexham made four changes following the departure of manager Andy Morrell on Monday.

The visitors had a great chance after just 25 seconds when Neil Ashton’s cross ran to the unmarked Rob Ogleby at the far post, but his point-blank range effort was well saved by Mark Tyler.

Luton snatched the lead with their first attack on three minutes when Howells and Benson combined beautifully and Guttridge skirted the edge of the area before firing home.

Horrendous defending handed Town their second six minutes later when Ashton missed a number of opportunities to clear as Gray battled his way through into the box and stroked past the exposed Andy Coughlin.

Another error allowed Guttridge to break through the middle, but Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu could only curl tamely at the keeper.

An unbelievable start from the Hatters continued with a third on 17 minutes when Gray and Benson linked superbly and Guttridge raced through to finished confidently.

Wrexham still had their chances as Brett Ormerod somehow spooned over from a couple of yards out and Joe Clarke’s cross over the motionless Tyler flicked off the bar.

Mpanzu and Gray, after good work by Howells, both had efforts blocked, while Johnny Hunt feigned a foul under a non-existent Ronnue Henry challenge in the box as play continued.

A pile-driver from Gray brought a brave block before a corner dropped to Fraser Franks on 42 minutes and his volley was cleared as Luton walked off 4-0 to the good.

Gray threatened in the opening moments of the second half as he surged to the byline and Scott Griffiths’ dangerous cross was cut out.

Town proceeded to play some champagne football, even looking to move the ball out of their own box at times.

Hunt was the first man into the book for a cynical trip on Mpanzu, while Griffths and Howells had efforts repelled from a corner, before Jon Shaw replaced Benson.

A quiet second half was enlivened when Mark Carrington tripped Howells in the box and he netted the resulting spotkick with 20 minutes to go.

Shaw was close to his first goal of the season when his shot rippled the side netting with 10 minutes left.

Joe Clarke’s low long-range effort was straight at Tyler in stoppage time as Town recorded their 12th-straight home league win.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty, Jake Howells, Scott Griffiths, Cameron McGeehan, Luke Guttridge (Matt Robinson 77), Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson (Jon Shaw 64), Andre Gray (Alex Lawless 72), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Substitutes not used: Anthony Charles, Elliot Justham.

Red Dragons (4-3-3): Andy Coughlin, Neil Ashton, Danny Livesey, Joe Clarke, Brett Ormerod, Dean Keates (Joe Anyinsah 66), Steve Tomassen, Rob Ogleby (Andy Bishop 72), Johnny Hunt, Robert Evans, Mark Carrington.

Substitutes not used: Joslain Mayebi, Stephen Wright, David Artell.

Booked: Hunt 59; Ashton 90+3.

Referee: J Amey. Assistant Referees: A Howson and M Hutchinson. Fourth Official: J Smith.

Attendance: 7,526 (Wrexham 124).

Star Hatter: Luke Guttridge. Pulled all the strings and his finishes oozed confidence.