Oxford United vs Luton Town FC (7th Feb 2015)

Full match report as Hatters held at the Kassam Stadium

The Town made it eight games unbeaten in League 2 with a point in an entertaining game with Oxford.

Jayden Stockley put the Hatters in front on 36 minutes but the home side levelled two minutes before the break when Johnny Mullins slotted past Mark Tyler.

The second half was an end-to-end affair with the home side close to going ahead only for the Hatters to hold firm.

After riding the Oxford storm the Town could have snatched a winner in the final moments with substitute Alex Wall going closest with a fierce free-kick in injury-time well saved by home goalkeeper Ryan Clarke – but in the end both sides can be happy with a point.

The Hatters made one change to the side that beat Cambridge last weekend with new signing Ryan Hall given his debut, replacing Scott Griffiths in the side with Jake Howells dropping to left-back.

And the Town, and Hall, started well and the new signing was unlucky not to fire the Hatters ahead in the sixth minute. Shaun Whalley flew down the right to cross to Hall at the back-post but his shot from inside the six-yard box was well saved by Ryan Clarke in the Oxford goal. Stockley then saw his follow-up blocked by a defender for a corner.

The Hatters were having the better of the opening stages but slowly the home side came into the game but chances were few and far between in the opening 25 minutes.

However, the Town were indebted to a fine save from Tyler on the half-hour when Patrick Hoban raced onto an accurate pass which split the Hatters defence, but the home striker was denied by the gloves of Tyler, standing tall in his six-yard box.

But on 36 minutes the deadlock was broken when Stockley opened his account in Luton colours. It came after a lengthy period of patient Town defending. Whalley’s shot from the right was going well wide until Stockley stuck out a leg to divert the ball low and beyond Clarke.

Hurt by going behind it was the hosts that pressed as half-time approached. Pinball in the Hatters’ penalty area on 42 minutes saw Alex MacDonald drag a shot across goal – but a minute later it was one apiece.

The Town failed to clear their lines as Oxford attacked down the right and the ball fell kindly to defender Johnny Mullins who took one touch before guiding a low shot beyond Tyler.

Now buoyed by equalising the hosts went in search of a quickfire double before the break but the Town held onto go in level at the interval.

After the break Oxford tried to continue from where they left off at the end of the first half but Danny Hylton and Hoban could not find the target following crosses from the left and then the right respectively.

But the Town were being put under some intense pressure and it was hearts-in-mouths time for Hatters followers when Tyler parried behind a goal-bound shot from MacDonald that took a bobble at the last second on 57 minutes. And two minutes later the hosts thought they were in front when Hoban slid home past Tyler only for the flag of the linesman to chalk the goal off.

Still United pressed and Callum O’Dowda missed a decent chance to make it 2-1 shortly before the hour when toeing a shot straight at Tyler.

Under pressure, John Still made a double substitution on 59 minutes, sending on Nathan Oduwa for his senior debut, and Mark Cullen.

After all the Oxford pressure, it was the Town’s turn to attack and Andy Drury was denied a strike at goal on 62 minutes by an excellent last-ditch tackle by Joe Skarz.

MacDonald then dragged a shot wide for the hosts on 67 minutes before the Town made their final change with 20 minutes left on the clock when goalscorer Stockley was replaced by Wall for his first League appearance since scoring the winner at Stevenage in October.

Oxford introduced James Roberts at the same time and the hosts’ introduction forced Tyler into a smart save after the striker had weaved past several Town defenders to get a shot away.

Oduwa then showed his undoubted promise and talent with the ball at his feet on 71 minutes when bursting through to fashion a chance for the Hatters and having been on the ropes earlier in the half it was the Town who were now looking for a winner and with 10 minutes to go Cullen sent a header inches wide of the post.

As time ticked down it was the Hatters that upped the ante and Wall came close to giving the Town the lead with three minutes left when he hammered a free-kick from 30 yards at goal which Clarke did well to stop. The rebound sat up for Cullen but he couldn’t force the ball over the line.

Four added minutes were shown in which Jonathan Smith shot wide and Stephen McNulty and Jake Howells fired over – and was that – the Hatters had to be content with a point to make it eight games unbeaten in League 2.

TOWN: Tyler; Harriman, Howells, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle, Smith, Drury; Hall (sub Odewa 59), Whalley (sub Cullen 59), Stockley (sub Wall 68). Subs not used: Lacey, Justham, Guttridge, Robinson.

ATTENDANCE: 7,541, including a magnificent 2,264 backing the Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKO743qduAQ

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-oxford-1-1-town-2254167.aspx

Boss on Oxford draw

John Still was happy to pick up a point from the Town’s draw at the Kassam Stadium.

The Town led thanks to Jayden Stockley’s first goal in Luton colours on 36 minutes before the home side levelled two minutes before half-time.

And although both sides came close to winning the game in the second half the boss was satisfied with a share of the spoils.

“I think that’s a fair result,” Still said afterwards. “I think both clubs will think a draw is the right result.

“I thought we scored when we were in the ascendancy which was good but I was a little bit disappointed with the goal we conceded.

“I felt we were reasonably comfortable in the first half; in the second they were brighter than us and that’s why we made the changes. After that we grew into the game and finished the stronger.”

League Two: Oxford United 1 Luton Town 1

Striker Jayden Stockley netted his first goal for the Hatters as they extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 1-1 draw against Oxford United this afternoon.

The visitors handed an instant debut to winger Ryan Hall as Scott Griffiths missed out meaning Jake Howells dropped to left back, with deadline day signing Nathan Oduwa on the bench.

Hatters came out of the blocks quickly as Nathan Doyle rifling over on 43 seconds after being teed up by Andy Drury

Luton then had a marvellous opportunity after six minutes when Shaun Whalley’s cross rebounded for Hall, and from eight yards out, his fierce low drive drew a superb reaction stop from Ryan Clarke as Stockley’s rebound deflected behind.

However, chances for either side then dried up completely as the game was devoid of absolutely any incident, so it came as something of a surprise when it burst into life on 30 minutes.

First, Oxford missed a marvellous opportunity when Danny Hylton sent strike partner Patrick Hoban through as he beat the offside trap but dallied and Mark Tyler stood up well to block for a corner.

Play then went up the other end with Hall’s shot charged down, but Luton wrested the initiative in terms of territory as they started to crank up the pressure which led to an opening goal.

There was an incident of controversy in the build up as from an Oxford clearance, Luke Wilkinson appeared to clearly foul Hylton, but nothing was given.

The home supporters murmurings understandably grew even louder when the ball was worked wide for Whalley and his cross shot was touched goalwards by Stockley, just about beating the despairing dive of Clarke to trundle in off the post.

Oxford didn’t let their heads drop though as they dominated the final five minutes of the half, with Alex MacDonald firing across goal and Steve McNulty having to head over his own bar from the trick Callum O’Dowda’s cross.

From the corner, Town couldn’t clear their lines and Jonny Mullins drove into the bottom corner to bring the scores level, with McNulty booked for his actions in the aftermath.

A clever free kick saw Hoban have a fine opportunity to immediately make it 2-1, but skied well over the bar.

The second period saw Oxford easily enjoy the better of proceedings, with Luton under the cosh for some time.

First MacDonald headed over at the back post, while Josh Ruffels volleyed over from another set-piece.

With the bit between their teeth, MacDonald almost embarrassed Tyler as his low shot took a nasty bobble and was just pushed behind.

The U’s should have been 2-1 ahead though when Mullin again was left completely unmarked, but fluffed his lines, heading badly wide from close range.

Oxford were convinced they did have a second moments later as Hoban diverted Hylton’s cross shot into the roof of the net, but he had been flagged offside.

O’Dowda was next to come close, tamely poking at Tyler when a decent connection would have left Town’s stopper in real trouble.

Although Hatters looked to have finally weathered the storm, MacDonald served a warning as he found space to fire wide of the mark.

Town chief John Still rang the changes, with Mark Cullen and Spurs youngster Oduwa brought on, as was striker Alex Wall, for his first league action since netting a winner at Stevenage on October 4.

Oxford threw on James Roberts who almost made an immediate impact, tricking his way past Town’s defence, with Tyler coming to the rescue once more.

Hugging the left flank, Oduwa started to get into his stride as he was handed the ball at ever chance to try and isolate full back Sam Long, hurdling a nasty challenge that saw the sub booked.

His directness could prove a vital asset in Luton’s promotion push though, venturing into the box and firing over, before a deep cross saw Cullen head off target.

The Hatters definitely had the better of the final stage, with Oduwa causing havoc at times.

A free kick 30 yards from goal was thundered through the wall by Wall, but Clarke just about managed to keep it out, as an offside Cullen couldn’t turn home the rebound.

Oduwa had two penalty appeals turned down, the second as he was brought down just outside the area, while Jonathan Smith swerved an ambitious effort wide meaning Town were held to a second successive 1-1 away draw.

The result saw Luton remain in fourth place, but they fell six points behind new leaders Burton, who won 3-1 at Cheltenham.

Town are still four points off third though, now occupied by Shrewsbury, who drew with Southend, although still have a game in hand over all the top three side.

U’s: Ryan Clarke, Joe Skarz, Richard Brindley (Sam Long 73), Johnny Mullins, Jake Wright (C), Patrick Hoban, Danny Hylton, Alex MacDonald (James Roberts 67), Josh Ruffels, Callum O’Dowdan, Michael Collins.

Subs not used: Danny Rose, Max Crocombe, Josh Ashby, Sam Humphreys, Chey Dunkley.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Jake Howells, Luke Wilkinson, Steve McNulty (C), Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith, Andy Drury, Shaun Whalley (Mark Cullen 59), Ryan Hall (Nathan Oduwa 59), Jayden Stockley (Alex Wall 69).

Subs not used: Elliott Justham, Luke Guttridge, Matt Robinson, Alex Lacey.

Referee: Richard Clark.

Booked: McNulty 44, Skarz 64, Collins 72, Long 74.

Attendance: 7,541 (2,264 Luton).

Hatters boss John Still was satisfied his side extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 1-1 draw at Oxford on Saturday.

Jayden Stockley had put Luton in front with his first goal for club, turning in Shaun Whalley’s shot, but the hosts hit back just before half time when Johnny Mullins netted a leveller.

Still said: “It was a fair result. I thought around the time we scored, we took the ascendancy and I was pleased with that, perhaps disappointed with the goal we conceded, but they kept it in there, fair play to them.

“The second half they started quick. Gradually we grew into it and changed our shape a little bit as I thought that was the right thing to do.

“We grew into it and finished strong, so I think both sides will be pleased with the result.”

The boss was pleased to see AFC Bournemouth forward Stockley get off the mark in his fifth game for Luton, while he also saw Alex Wall and Nathan Oduwa impress in second half cameos, with Wall almost netting a late winner.

Still added: “He (Stockley) worked his absolute socks off, but I just thought we’d try something different and went with two up front.

“Alex gives us that unorthodox bit and gives us what he does with the free kick, he’s got that in his locker.

“So when we changed our shape, we probably got more into the game and pressed them back.

“The two new players we brought in (Oduwa and Ryan Hall), will get better and fitter, plus the ones behind who are getting fitter.

“Hopefully we can get a bit more fitness into Pelly (Ruddock Mpanzu), into Gutts (Luke Guttridge), into Alex Lawless and if we can do that, that will make us a little bit stronger.”