Plymouth Argyle vs Luton Town FC (17th Jan 2015)

Hatters win on the road thanks to Drury strike

Plymouth 0-1 Town (Drury 22)

Andy Drury’s first goal of the season gave the Hatters an excellent away win against promotion rivals Plymouth Argyle.

The midfielder’s accurate curling shot mid-way through the first half gave the Town a well-deserved win on the road – their first away from Kenilworth Road since a 2-1 win at Hartlepool in October.

It was no more than a well-organised Hatters side deserved against an Argyle side who failed to seriously test Mark Tyler throughout the 90 minutes.

The Town made one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Shrewsbury nine days ago, as Shaun Whalley replaced Luke Rooney on the right-side of midfield. On the opposite flank Jake Howells made his 300th appearance in Luton colours.

In the opening exchanges the Hatters settled well, playing some patient football – something which would be a major characteristic of the Town’s display throughout the game.

However it was Plymouth who threatened first: Lewis Alessandra’s ninth-minute shot was blocked by Michael Harriman, before Reuben Reid then dragged a low effort wide of Tyler’s goal.

But the Town continued to play attacking football, utilising Whalley’s pace down the right and it was from that flank that Harriman’s cross was inches away from finding the head of Jayden Stockley – the striker denied a chance at goal by excellent defending by Kelvin Mellor, the Argyle right-back.

On 18 minutes another fine move from the Town saw Drury quickly send Whalley racing upfield. His decision to thread a pass through to Howells was a good one but, on his landmark day, the 23-year-old’s left-foot shot was blocked by home goalkeeper Luke McCormick. Moments later Luke Wilkinson then chanced his arm from 30 yards with a shot that bounced harmlessly wide.

There were hearts in mouths for the Hatters and their 802 loyal followers on 20 minutes when Reid rose above the Town defence to plant a header past McNulty but the officials had spotted an infringement and the goal was ruled out.

Two minutes later, however, the ball was in the net and it was the Town that got it. The Hatters may have been a tad fortuitous to win a right-wing corner, but the short routine led to Nathan Doyle blasting a low shot at goal from the edge of the area. His shot was deflected into the path of Drury and he took no time at all to pass the ball first-time into the bottom corner of the net past the dive of McCormick. It was the midfielder’s first goal of the season – and his first in Town colours for five years.

Tyler was called upon to make his first real save of the afternoon on 25 minutes when he turned around home debutant Olly Lee’s free-kick around the post.

On 28 minutes the Town had a goal of theirs then chalked off when Stockley’s tidy finish was ruled out following a marginal offside decision, and a minute later Tyler had to be alert to keep his eye on home captain Curtis Nelson’s header inside the penalty area.

But the Hatters continued to play some eye-catching passing and another counter-attack on 35 minutes saw Whalley run at the home defence only to see his low cross aimed for Howells cleared.

Argyle upped the ante, however, as the break approached. Reid cut inside from the left before blasting a shot well wide on 38 minutes before Wilkinson mopped up the danger on 41 minutes as the home side broke in numbers at pace.

The Town, though, ended the half with two more half-chances. Howells and Stockley combined on 43 minutes that led to Jonathan Smith’s low shot from the edge of the box held by McCormick, before Whalley failed to capitalise on a good position following a killer pass from Drury.

Plymouth made a change at the break but the Town weren’t far away from doubling the lead on 50 minutes when Drury’s cross seemed destined to find the head of Stockley – only for Nelson to head clear at the final moment.

Two minutes later Argyle then came close, substitute Tyler Harvey fizzing a shot from the edge of the box high and wide.

Argyle were dominating possession but were failing to get in behind the Town as the home side struggled to test Tyler. But after a period in which the Hatters held the hosts at arms’ length, Howells came once again to scoring when a well-hit left-foot angled drive from 20 yards was held well by McCormick with Stockley ready to pounce on any spillage.

As time ticked down the home side continued to frustrate their own supporters with a number of missed-placed passes. The Town, on the other hand, were happy to keep things ticking over: keeping it simple when in possession.

With six minutes left Plymouth woke from their slumber, winning a series of corners after Wilkinson had twice done well to clear the danger in the six-yard box – but the Town held on in the closing stages to record a fine away victory – their first since mid-October and their first at Home Park since 2006.

The win lifts the Town into fourth place in League 2 - and now lie five points off the top with a game in hand.

TOWN: Tyler; Harriman, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Smith, Doyle, Drury; Whalley, Howells, Stockley. Subs not used: Justham, Lacey, Wall, Robinson, Cullen, Walker, Connolly.

Attendance: 8,420, including 802 supporting the Hatters – fantastic.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-plymouth-0-1-town-2209739.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwQSCDtyQd4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi6AUJIsUB0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4PqFdvKOWo

League Two: Plymouth Argyle 0 Luton Town 1

Andy Drury scored his first goal of the season as Luton Town enjoyed a superb 1-0 win at promotion rivals Plymouth Argyle this afternoon, on what was Jake Howells’ 300th appearance for the club.

Drury struck in the 22nd minute, coolly slotting into the bottom corner after Nathan Doyle’s shot fell kindly into his path, to net a first Hatters goal since January 18, 2011.

Victory was no more than Luton deserved either as they controlled the game for long periods, with a display of real quality both defensively and when in possession, as the Plymouth fans turned against their shot-shy side early in the second period.

Winger Shaun Whalley replaced Luke Rooney as Town made just one change to the side that drew with Shrewsbury, meaning that 23-year-old became the club’s youngest ever player to reach the milestone of 300 games, while a depleted Plymouth could only name four substitutes.

After a quiet opening, Pilgrims’ top scorer Reuben Reid had the first real chance as he turned Luke Wilkinson and dragged wide of Mark Tyler’s far post.

Town looked more than happy to knock the ball around patiently in the midfield areas, searching for an opening, with Whalley the most likely outlet on the right.

The winger showed just what he is capable of producing, displaying quick feet to find a yard of space and whip over a delightful cross that full back Kelvin Mellor only just beat Jayden Stockley too.

Debutant Olly Lee rifled wide from range for the hosts, as Luton came close to breaking the deadlock after counter-attacking with real precision.

Drury fed Whalley whose incisive pass put Howells through on goal but on the angle, his shot was deflected away by Luke McCormick’s legs, with the keeper then comfortably gathering Luke Wilkinson’s speculative 30 yarder.

On 20 minutes, the hosts were denied what looked like a perfectly good goal as Mellor’s cross was nodded home by Reid, for what can only have been an infringement in the area.

After the reprieve, Luton had another slice of luck as they were awarded a corner when it looked like the final touch had come off Wilkinson.

However, with Plymouth slow to react to the set-piece, Hatters worked the ball to Doyle, whose effort deflected into the path of Drury and the midfielder showed real class to sidefoot past the motionless McCormick.

Lee’s long range free kick was parried behind by Tyler, with Hatters finding themselves denied a second goal when it had looked like Stockley had timed his run to perfection, only to be flagged offside before beating McCormick.

Tyler’s handling was back to its exemplary best in claiming Curtis Nelson’s downward header and Reid skewed well wide after beating Michael Harriman.

In the latter stages of the half, Argyle bucked their ideas up as Hatters started to look less somewhat less secure at the back, but chances flashed across the goal with no-one able to get a touch.

Town still had opportunities of their own though, as they weren’t just content to sit on the lead, Howells and Stockley combining as Smith took aim, tamely shooting at McCormick.

In the second period, Hatters continued their pleasing on the eye attacking nature as a lovely passing move saw Drury on the right and Stockley looked odds on to head home his cross only for Curtis Nelson to intervene.

Town then gifted Argyle a chance as they tried to run the ball out for a goal kick, but Lee picked their pockets although lacked composure, shooting wildly past the post.

Still Luton looked the more confident in possession and Howells was close once again as his low drive was held by McCormick, while Scott Griffiths burst into the area only to lose his footing at the vital moment.

The closing stages saw Argyle’s fans on the backs of their players as pass after pass went astray, with Town defending their penalty area with real authority,

When the hosts did break down the flanks late one, Luke Wilkinson was on hand to make some vital clearances, as Luton stood firm to claim a marvellous away triumph and their first victory of 2015.

Results elsewhere went in Hatters’ favour too as Wycombe and Burton both drew, while although Shrewsbury triumphed, Newport lost at Cambridge, meaning Town climbed back into fourth, the ideal end to a special day for Howells.

Argyle: Luke McCormick, Kelvin Mellor, Ben Purrington, Lee Cox (Tyler Harvey 46), Curtis Nelson (C), Lewis Alessandra, Reuben Reid, Dominic Blizzard (Nathan Thomas 58), Carl McHugh, Tom Flanagan, Olly Lee.

Subs not used: James Bittner, Jamie Richards

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths, Luke Wilkinson, Steve McNulty (C), Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith, Andy Drury, Shaun Whalley, Jake Howells, Jayden Stockley.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Alex Lacey, Mark Cullen, Matt Robinson, Paul Connolly, Charlie Walker, Alex Wall.

Referee: Keith Hill.

Booked: Doyle 64, Lee 67, Smith 86.

Attendance: 8,420 (Luton 802).

Still felt Hatters were deserving winners at Plymouth

Hatters boss John Still felt his side thoroughly deserved their 1-0 victory at promotion rivals Plymouth Argyle yesterday.

Andy Drury’s goal on 22 minutes proved to be the deciding strike as a classy Luton performance saw the visitors keep their opponents at arms length for the majority of the encounter.

Still said: “It was really good. We’re playing against the top sides and performed very well in all of them, but I think this is the best and even the most partisan Plymouth supporters would believe we deserved to win.

“I thought we were very controlled, very organised, always had a threat going forward, and our game was first class.

“Sometimes performance and result don’t go together. But we’re playing well enough, making opportunities, playing against the top sides at the moment and we’ve done fantastic again.”

The result saw Hatters climb back into fourth place and are just five points off leaders Wycombe with a game in hand.

On whether his side can gain a second successive promotion, Still added: “I say all the time, as long as go out and play like Luton play and give everything we’ve got every game, wherever we end up this season, I’ll be proud.

“We’ve come up and made an impact. Will that impact be enough to get us up? We’ll have to see. But we’re producing I think very good performances.

“We have some big players to come back into the team, so we’re hoping the second half of the season is going to be equally as good as we’ve produced so far.”