Luton Town FC vs Yeovil Town (13th Aug 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:49 13th August 2016 Hard fought match ends in a draw for the Hatters

LUTON TOWN 1-1 YEOVIL TOWN

Luton were denied a second win this season in frustrating fashion as they drew 1-1 with Yeovil Town at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters had their chances to take all three points after Stephen O’Donnell’s first half thunderbolt gave them the lead, but Tom Eaves’ second half header earned Darren Way’s men a point.

Nathan Jones made three changes to his side after Wednesday’s EFL Cup win over Aston Villa as Dan Potts returned from suspension in place of James Justin, whilst Scott Cuthbert and Jordan Cook started in place of Jake Gray and Olly Lee.

The Glovers made just one change to their starting line-up after their midweek success against Walsall as Bevis Mugabi replaced Liam Shepard.

After an energetic start the first real chance came for Yeovil just before a quarter of an hour as Bevis Mugabe’s low cross was missed by Scott Cuthbert and fell to Matthew Dolan, but his shot from outside the box was acrobatically blocked.

Luton had their first opening just a minute later as Cook’s dangerous free-kick was met by the head of Glen Rea, but Artur Krysiak was there to keep him out.

Town’s first home game of the season was really opening up as from the corner the away side broke through Kevin Dawson, but after a smart pass to Ryan Hedges, the midfielder could only fire wide of Christian Walton’s far post in the Luton goal.

A break in play allowed the Kenilworth Road faithful to pay their respects to Luton fan Brett Webb, who died a short time ago, with a poignant minute of applause.

Five minutes later, O’Donnell put the Hatters a goal to the good with a screamer from right-back.

A cross from the left found its way to the Scot in acres of space on the right, who took his time before firing a 25-yard thunderbolt out of the reach of Krysiak into the top right-hand corner.

Luton almost doubled their lead shortly after as Cook’s defence splitting past found Jack Marriott, but he could only fire straight at Krysiak who made a comfortable save.

After going down earlier with injury, Yeovil were forced into their first substitution on 32 minutes as Alex Lacey was replaced by Tahvon Campbell.

Pelly Ruddock came agonisingly close to doubling the home side’s lead before half-time as the ball broke to him after some penalty-box pinball, but after buying himself a yard in the box couldn't find the back of the net.

O’Donnell was in the action once again before the break as he took the ball from Ruddock and drove into Yeovil’s box from the right, but Danny Hylton couldn’t poke his low cross home from just two yards out.

Luton weren’t done for the first half yet and after Ruddock picked up the ball on the edge of the box after a corner, he found Marriott whose cross-come-shot slid just centimetres wide of the far post.

Despite their domination, Luton were almost pegged back late in the half after Hedges’ forced a good save from Walton down to his right before the hosts manage to get the ball to safety.

Referee Nick Kinseley issued the first yellow card of the game on 49 minutes when Ryan Dickson prevented a Luton break by bringing down Cameron McGeehan.

However, Town were still on top and created their first chance of the second half when Walton’s punt forward was latched onto by Marriott, but he could only fire high and wide with his left foot.

Yeovil struck back with a chance of their own seconds later as Tom Eaves speculative effort was well saved by Walton.

Luton’s first change of the afternoon came just before the hour as the impressive Ruddock was replaced by Jake Gray, fresh off his first Luton goal during the week. The early League Two leaders rode their luck as some neat interplay involving Dickson set Yeovil into Luton’s box. After Campbell couldn’t finish with his back to goal, Dickson fired against a Luton defender before the quiet McGeehan was replaced by Jonathan Smith and Eaves became the second Yeovil player in the book after a foul on O’Donnell.

Luton’s next chance came somewhat fortunately to Hylton as the striker’s shot ballooned up off a Yeovil shin and looped a shade wide of Krysiak’s goal.

The game was now played end to end and after a pair of chances for Yeovil through Campbell and Mugabi before Marriott shot just wide of the far post once again.

Marriott became the only Luton man in the book 15 minutes from time when he dragged down Dawson.

Yeovil’s equaliser had been getting back into the game and Tom Eaves earned Yeovil a point. Dawson received the ball on the right and his high, hanging cross was met by Eaves, who placed a well controlled header into the top corner, well out of the reach of the despairing Walton.

Eaves was the second Yeovil player forced off with injury seven minutes from time and he was replaced by Omar Sowumni, whilst Luton made their final change as Jack Marriott was replaced by Isaac Vassell.

O’Donnell nearly gave Luton the three points as well as double his tally on 89 minutes when he fired inches over from range two minutes from time, but despite piling the pressure on the Yeovil rearguard in extra time, could not find a breakthrough.

Dolan’s free kick at the death clipped the top of the Luton bar, but the home side were forced to settle for their first draw of the season.

LUTON TOWN: Walton, O'Donnell, Mullins, Cuthbert, Potts, Rea, Mpanzu (Gray 58), McGeehan (Smith 65), Cook, Hylton, Marriott (Vassell 90). Subs: Smith, Gray, Lee, Vassell, McQuoid, King (GK), Justin.

Yellow: Marriott

YEOVIL: Krysiak, Mugabi, Lacey (Campbell 32), Butcher, Hedges, Dawson, Dolan, Lawless, Dawson, Eaves (Sowumni 83), Khan. Subs: Smith, Maddison (GK), Sowumni, Campbell, Lea, Bassett

Yellows: Dickson, Eaves

Att: 7,800 (303 Yeovil)

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

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/gallery-luton-town-1-1-yeovil-town-3245594.aspx

League Two: Luton Town 1 Yeovil Town 1

Hatters defender Stephen O’Donnell scored quite possibly the goal of his life, but it wasn’t enough to earn his side victory against Yeovil Town this afternoon.

With cries of ‘shooooot’ from the home faithful, the full back did just that, absolutely walloping his first-time 25-yarder into the top corner for only his second goal in Luton colours midway through the first half.

However, the exertions of Wednesday night’s EFL cup heroics against Aston Villa catching up with them, the Glovers hit back with 13 minutes to go, Tom Eaves rising highest to head past Christian Walton, for an equaliser the visitors deserved due to their spirited second half display.

Town boss Nathan Jones made three changes, as Dan Potts was available again after suspension, replacing James Justin, while Scott Cuthbert came in alongside Johnny Mullins at centre half, with Glen Rea pushing into defensive midfield for Olly Lee.

Despite scoring on his debut in midweek, Jake Gray dropped to the bench, with Jordan Cook back in, while both ex-Hatters Alex Lawless and Alex Lacey were in for the away side’s XI.

Despite bossing possession early on, with Yeovil clearly intent on being hard to break down, Hatters could create any worthwhile chances, as it was the visitors who threatened first, Matthew Dolan’s shot over by Johnny Mullins’ outstretched leg.

However, Glovers keeper Artur Krysiak then somehow kept the scores goalless, sticking out a hand to wonderfully tip Glen Rea’s powerful header over the top, with most of Kenilworth Road already clearing their throats to celebrate a goal.

From the following corner, Yeovil might have had an opener too though, breaking four on two with Ryan Hedges dragging wide of the mark.

However, out of nowhere, Town had the lead, through one of the most unlikely sources too, thanks to O’Donnell’s wonder strike.

With the deadlock broken, Yeovil started to venture further forward, Otis Khan shooting straight at Walton from distance, while Hedges was high and wide.

However, that created gaps for Hatters to work with, Jack Marriott stinging Krysiak’s palms from Cook’s incisive pass.

Former Hatter Lacey then saw his afternoon ended as after taking an early, nasty tumble over the hoardings when going shoulder to shoulder with Hylton, he struggled on manfully, eventually had to concede defeat.

Hatters looked for a killer second before the break and probably should have got it, an off balance Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu somehow hammering wide from eight yards, while Hylton couldn’t finish from a yard out, Bevis Mugabi managing to clear the danger in the nick of time.

Still Luton continued to press, Marriott’s angled drive flashing narrowly wide with centre half Johnny Mullins unable to apply the finishing touch at the far post.

Town’s passing wasn’t quite what it should have been at times, particularly out from the back and they almost paid the price on the stroke of half time, Hedge’s shot requiring Walton to divert clear.

After the break, some brilliant defending from Dan Potts prevented Yeovil making the most of a three on two situation, before Tom Eaves had the ball in the net, only to find the flag up for clear offside in the build-up.

Some simple but oh so effective link up play between Hylton and Marriott saw the latter collect a flick on and fire into the stands.

The Glovers were becoming far more of a threat now though, Eaves testing Walton from 20 yards, the keeper showing excellent handling once more.

Luton, who were clearly starting to tire the more the match progressed, almost had a pressure-relieving second, when Hylton’s effort deflected up and over Krysiak, but fell narrowly wide.

Walton continued his impressive display, making a brilliant save low down from Tahvon Campbell’s instinctive outside of the boot effort, while Town’s front two combined once more, with a similar result from Marriott.

Luton’s on-loan stopper Walton was called upon to deny Campbell yet again from further out this time, while Yeovil almost walked the ball in soon afterwards, until Ryan Dickson was denied by a brave Cuthbert block.

However, the pressure finally told with 13 minutes to go when a deep cross was met by Eaves with this time, Walton unable to keep the header out.

Luton boss Nathan Jones had thrown all his subs on by now, and it was Gray who almost put the hosts back in front, wide from the edge of the box, before O’Donnell fancied another scorcher, but this term his swerving attempt wouldn’t come down in time.

The Gloves almost snatched it at the death too, Dolan sending a free kick into Walton’s midriff and then seeing his late set-piece skim the top of the bar.

Although dropping points, Luton remained top of the table, with no side able to string two wins together, will be looking to stay there when Newport County visit Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.

Hatters: Christian Walton, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Scott Cuthbert, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Jake Gray 58), Jordan Cook, Cameron McGeehan, (Jonathan Smith 65), Danny Hylton, Jack Marriott (Isaac Vassell 86).

Subs not used: Craig King, Josh McQuoid, James Justin, Olly Lee.

Yeovil: Artur Krysiak, Matthew Dolan, Bevis Mugabi, Alex Lacey (Tahvon Campbell 32), Kevin Dawson, Alex Lawless, Tom Eaves (Omar Sowunmi 83), Otis Khan, Ryan Dickson (C), Matt Butcher, Ryan Hedges.

Subs not used: Nathan Smith, Jonathan Maddison, Joe Lea, Ollie Bassett.

Bookings: Dickson 47, Eaves 70, Marriott 77, Potts 90.

Attendance: 7,800 (303 Yeovil).

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt the exertions from Wednesday night’s superb win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup played a huge part in Town’s 1-1 draw against Yeovil Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Although Luton had the lead through Stephen O’Donnell’s wonder strike after 26 minutes, they were pegged back in the latter stages, with Tom Eaves’ header earning the Glovers a point.

Jones said: “We weren’t anywhere near where we have been lately, our energy and so on, but it’s been a big week for us in terms of Plymouth away and then the massive euphoria and the energy it took to win the game on Wednesday night.

“It showed, we’ve had a day less as we lacked a real spark about us and on the whole, I’m reasonably pleased with a point, but we were nowhere near where we normally need to be.”

“We looked lethargic in terms of how we played, no energy in our press, you could see in Pelly-Ruddock (Mpanzu), Cameron (McGeehan) were way, way, way off where they normally are energy-wise, same with the front two.

“It was like a slugging match at the end, one end, one end, one end. It reminded me of a boxing match, both teams tried to win it, both teams were still going for it, it was a little too open for my liking, but that’s the way it is.

“I’m proud of them as they gave me everything and after the week we had it was a decent point.”

On O’Donnell’s stunner, Jones continued: “It was a great strike and we’ve probably had a lot of easier chances than that to have taken the lead, as we had situations first half.

“They came, they set up, they sat in early, we tried to break that down, we couldn’t, but it was a great strike though and I’m glad we had that otherwise it could have been a tricky afternoon.”

However, despite the point ending Town’s 100 per cent start to the campaign, Jones declared himself happy with his side’s opening week as they remained at the top of the table.

He added: “It was important that we didn’t lose, I would have liked to have won a game, but we’re just at the end of a big week and you could see we were jaded in how we went about our work, so I’m glad that we didn’t lose the game.

“It’s been a very good week though, we’d have taken two wins and a draw at the start of the week and after the euphoria of Wednesday, they (Yeovil) had a day extra rest and that probably showed late on in the game.”

Luton Town 1 Yeovil Town 1

Luton were left to rue a raft of missed first half chances as they ran out of steam and ideas in the second half as they conceded a late equaliser against Yeovil Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

Stephen O'Donnell's wonder strike looked to have set the Hatters on their way to victory as they bossed the first half, but they fell away in the second and it was no surprise when Tom Eaves looped home a header with 12 minutes left to earn the Glovers a point.

However, Town stayed top of the embryonic League Two table as no side in the division were able to make it two wins in a row.

With captain Alan Sheehan still missing Scott Cuthbert was given the captain's armband. He was one of three changes from Wednesday night's memorable victory over Championship Aston Villa as Dan Potts returned from suspension and Jordan Cook came back into midfield, while ex-Hatters Alex Lacey and Alex Lawless started for Yeovil.

There was early concern for Lacey as he tumbled into the Oak Road end following, but thankfully after several moments he popped back up.

Only a brilliant one-handed stop from Artur Krysiak kept out Glen Rea's powerful header from Cook's free-kick on 17 minutes as Town were desperately unlucky not to snatch the lead.

From the subsequent corner the visitors countered at pace to leave them four against two as Christian Walton must have been relieved to see Ryan Hedges' low drive drift past the far post.

Luton grabbed the lead on 26 minutes though with a wonder goal from O'Donnell. As a low cross ran to him almost 30 yards out he let fly with a right-footed thunderbolt that left Krysiak with simply no chance.

Otis Khan's effort was straight at Walton at the other end while Cook's through ball found Jack Marriott and his deflected effort was well saved.

Injury finally forced Lacey off, while Marriott's powderpuff effort was easy for the keeper.

Great work by Cameron McGeehan earned Luton a corner with five minutes to go and super desire and strength saw Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu win a loose ball and surge into the box, but he somehow blasted wide with the goal gaping.

On the stroke of half time O'Donnell pulled the ball back dangerously from the byline as Danny Hylton couldn't force the ball home. Marriott then dragged a great chance wide from another corner while Hedges forced a good low save from Walton as Town went in 1-0 up at the break, but it should have been more.

Brilliant defending from Potts thwarted Eaves, before the linesman's flag denied the Glovers as the away fans thought they had equalised.

Marriott then raced on to Hylton's flick-on but fired wide, while Eaves' low drive forced a good save from Walton.

Livewire striker Marriott then teed up McGeehan whose powerful drive drew loud appeals for handball, but nothing was given.

Yeovil looked increasingly dangerous as the game opened up, but another half chance went begging as Hylton headed Marriott's cross wide.

Desperate defending saw Cuthbert bravely block Ryan Dickson's close-range effort as the ball bounced around dangerously in the box.

Hylton's massively deflected shot bounced agonisingly wide on 66 minutes with the keeper beaten, while Tahvon Campbell's prod was again well saved by Walton.

With Luton playing on the break Marriott again rolled wide from another Hylton flick. Town's players looked increasingly tired as they were forced on to the back foot and the Glovers equalised with just 12 minutes left when Eaves rose highest to loop his header into the top corner.

O'Donnell whizzed an effort just over the bar from range with two minutes left, while Hedges' last gasp free-kick skimmed the top of the bar as the game finished all square.

Luton Town: Christian Walton, Stephen O'Donnell, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Scott Cuthbert (C), Cameron McGeehan (Jonathan Smith 65), Danny Hylton, Jordan Cook, Jack Marriott (Isaac Vassell 86), Glen Rea, Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu (Jake Gray 58).

Substitutes not used: Olly Lee, Josh McQuoid, Craig King, James Justin.

Yeovil Town: Artur Krysiak, Matthew Dolan, Bevis Mugabi, Alex Lacey (Tahvon Campbell 32), Kevin Dawson, Alex Lawless, Tom Eaves (Omar Sowunmi 83), Otis Khan, Ryan Dickson (C), Matt Butcher, Ryan Hedges.

Substitutes not used: Nathan Smith, Jonathan Maddison, Joe Lea, Ollie Bassett.

Referee: Nick Kinseley.

Attendance: 7,800 (330 Yeovil).

Passionate Luton manager Nathan Jones admitted the glut of early season games looked to have sapped his players' energy in the second half against Yeovil.

Yesterday's 1-1 draw was Town's third game in eight days and the Hatters boss felt his side lacked their usual spark as a result, despite creating a number of good chances - particularly in the first half.

He said: "I felt first half we had chances. We had plenty of chances, it was just our play really, we looked a little bit lethargic in terms of how we played. We had no energy in the press.

"You could see Pelly Ruddock (Mpanzu), Cameron (McGeehan), were way, way, way off where they normally are energy-wise, the same with the front two because it's relentless the fixtures and they don't lighten up, it's ridiculous."

Following Wednesday night's epic 3-1 victory over former Premier League giants Aston Villa in the League Cup, Luton had 24 hours less to prepare than the Glovers who had beaten Walsall 2-0 in the same competition.

That difference was evident in the second half as the Hatters looked like a boxer pinned on the ropes, looking to land a telling blow on the counter.

Jones continued: "It showed we'd probably had a day less because we lacked any real spark about us. I'm reasonably happy with the point in the end because we could have gone the other way, because it was like a slugging match at the end. One end, one end, one end…

"On the whole I'm reasonably pleased with the point in the end but, as I said, we were nowhere near where we normally need to be."

However, he was proud with his side's valiant efforts as they extended their unbeaten start to the season to remain top of the table.

Jones was full of praise for Stephen O'Donnell's wonder strike midway through the first half, but was disappointed they couldn't put away one of the other far more simple chances they created.

He added: "It was a great strike and I've said we've probably had a lot more easier chances than that to have taken the lead. We had situations in the first half and so on, but it was a great strike. I'm glad we had that otherwise it could have been a tricky afternoon.

"They came, they set up, they sat in early. We tried to break that down, but we couldn't apart from that. But I'm proud of them because they gave me everything and, as I said, after the week we've had, it's a decent point."