Shrewsbury Town vs Luton Town FC (30th Aug 2014)

Report: Shrewsbury Town 2-0 Luton Town

The Town fell to their second defeat of the season as two goals from Jordan Clark helped Shrewsbury complete a comfortable victory.

The Hatters struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities, with home goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler saving their best effort from Matt Robinson’s arrowed drive from the edge of the box just before half-time.

However, on an afternoon to forget for the Town, Robinson was sent-off with seven minutes to go as the Hatters wait for their second win of the season continued.

Showing two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Accrington – with Luke Guttridge and Jim Stevenson replacing the injured Andy Drury and Alex Lacey – the Town began backed by 1,000 supporters.

However, those fans and John Still watched on in horror as the home side took the lead in the third minute. A glorious pass over the Town defence from Shrewsbury centre-half Connor Goldson found Clark in acres of space and he has time to slot past Mark Tyler.

With their tales up, the home side – fresh from knocking Premier League Leicester out of the League Cup in the week – looked dangerous as they went in search of a quick second.

Paul Benson and Mark Cullen came close to reaching a low cross from Luke Rooney on nine minutes as the Town aimed for a quick equaliser. Rooney then volleyed wide following a corner on 12 minutes, but a minute later Still replaced the midfielder and sent on Alex Lacey as the Town went with three centre-halves in a change of a shape.

Lacey nodded straight at home keeper Leutwiler on 18 minutes from a Guttridge corner before Tyler had the easy task of keeping a low shot from home striker Scott Vernon two minutes later.

Shrewsbury were enjoying a lot of the ball, passing it confidently around the New Meadow pitch and chances continued to fall their way as the Town were pinned back. Vernon saw a shot blocked, Ryan Woods blasted over and then wide during a four-minute spell.

The home side continued to pass the ball around neatly. Striker James Collins fired over on 29 minutes before he tested Tyler with a curling shot from the edge of the box a minute later that Tyler did well to catch with the ball destined for the top corner.

Collins side-footed a shot straight at Tyler on 33 minutes but as half-time approached the Town began to find their stride. Stevenson’s clever ball through found Cullen but his cross looking for Benson was cleared.

Then, two minutes before half-time, the Town created their best chance of the first half. Luke Wilkinson strode upfield with the ball and Robinson rifled a well-hit shot from the edge of the penalty area that Leutwiler kept out, diving acrobatically to his left.

After the break the Town were indebted to a stunning save from Tyler to keep the score 1-0 on 57 minutes. Vernon’s cross from the right was perfect to the back post but Collins’ header from point blank range was somehow tipped over by the Hatters goalkeeper. It was a breath-taking save.

A minute later Still sent on striker Ross Lafayette for Cullen as the Town looked for a way back into the game. It resulted in a decent spell for the Hatters failed to Leutwiler into action.

Tyler then kept out a Woods effort from distance on 66 minutes before Guttridge was replaced by Pelly Ruddock Mpaznu in the Hatters’ final change two minutes later.

But any hope the Hatters had of earning a point diminished on the 70-minute mark. Clark’s free-kick from the right seemingly slipped through Tyler’s fingertips, under pressure from Collins, and the ball dropped agonisingly over the line.

Shrewsbury were sensing blood as the Town were reduced to rare forays in attack. Vernon smacked the crossbar with a poke at goal before heading the rebound over the bar with the goal gaping.

It was all the hosts as Tyler then tipped over Collins’ fine half-volley on 79 minutes but the Town’s hope of securing a point all but evaporated with seven minutes left when Robinson was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Cameron Gayle.

As time ticked down Tyler made another save, this time from substitute Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro’s shot from a tight angle and that was the final chance as Shrewsbury comfortably held on to secure all three points.

Town: Tyler; Howells, Connolly, McNulty, Wilkinson, Robinson, Stevenson; Rooney (sub Lacey 13), Guttridge (sub Ruddock Mpanzu 68), Benson, Cullen (sub Cullen 58).

Subs not used: Wall, Miller, Williams, Justham.

Attendance: 5,888, including 1,037 backing the Hatters.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/shrewsbury-gallery-3008-1886053.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tardUR7dtm4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4md5Lrkllvc

League Two: Shrewsbury Town 2 Luton Town 0

Luton Town suffered a thoroughly disappointing and demoralising defeat to Shrewsbury Town at the Greenhous Meadow this afternoon.

Hatters were behind early on in the contest to Jordan Clark’s neat finish and never seriously threatened a comeback, while they were reduced to 10 men late on when Matt Robinson was sent off.

Boss John Still had made two changes as Andy Drury missed out with a rib injury, while Alex Lacey was dropped to the bench.

Luke Guttridge came in after his game-changing display at Accrington and Jim Stevenson made his full Football League debut.

Scott Griffiths didn’t make the squad due to his hamstring injury as Jake Howells remained at left back, with Ricky Miller on the bench for the first time.

After slamming his players for a poor start against Stanley last weekend, Town then made an even worse one as they were behind with just three minutes on the clock.

Having escaped the danger from one Connor Goldson long ball when Scott Vernon dallied, the skipper then sent over another raking pass which comprehensively beat Town’s defence.

This time Jordan Clark made no mistake, racing away to coolly slot under the advancing Tyler.

A shell-shocked Hatters tried to claw their way back into the game as Luke Rooney’s dangerous cross was missed by Mark Cullen and Paul Benson at full stretch.

The winger then went it alone when a corner was headed high into the air, before his afternoon was ended in baffling circumstance on 13 minutes.

As he had done against Accrington, Still opted to change formation, bringing Lacey on for the visibly disappointed Rooney, who spread his arms out in annoyance when passing his manager.

That saw Town move to a 3-5-2 formation, with Lacey part of the new-look back-line, but the hosts remained on top as Vernon shot straight at Tyler from distance.

Luke Wilkinson bravely threw himself at a goalbound drive to deflect behind for a corner, but the Shrews kept on probing as Clark teed up Ryan Woods to sidefoot wide of the mark.

Whereas Benson and Cullen struggled to link up in the opening half, Vernon and Collins were having no such issues, with one neat move seeing the latter fire well over, while his next effort, a curler, was claimed by Tyler.

The home striker was having all the opportunities, as found unmarked in the box, he then scuffed low at Tyler when he should have done better.

With Shrews bossing possession, Hatters were reduced to long balls from defence and the odd counter attack.

They did finally retain the ball long enough to show some quality as Stevenson sent Cullen away on the flank and his cross was turned behind for a corner that ultimately led to nothing.

Hatters then started to enjoy some territory and Robinson let fly from 25 yards, with Jayson Leutwiler springing to his left to parry.

Shrews then almost added a second on the stroke of half time as Collins glanced a left wing cross narrowly wide.

After the break, Luton threatened an immediate response as the towering Jermaine Grandison only just reached Cullen’s lofted cross ahead of Benson.

Hatters were then indebted to a stunning Tyler stop to keep them level. The visitors were sliced open through the middle and when the ball was worked wide, Vernon crossed on to the head of Collins, but somehow Tyler clawed the ball over from a yard out.

Vernon then glanced off target, but the introduction of Ross Lafayette for Cullen just before the hour, appeared to pep up both Town’s players and travelling contingent.

Guttridge was then forced off after a heavy challenge left him rather worringly hobbling around the pitch and moments later it looked like it was game over on 70 minutes.

Shrews won a free kick on the right which was swung under the bar as Tyler blotted is copybook by fumbling it into the net.

Town’s stopper appealed to referee Peter Bankes that he was impeded by Collins, but the cries fell on deaf ears and the goal stood.

It could and should have got worse for Hatters as Vernon volleyed against the bar from a yard and then headed the rebound over.

Collins had a snapshot turned over by Tyler, before Luton were reduced to 10 men with eight minutes to go as Robinson was shown a straight red for a lunging challenge on Cameron Gayle

Home sub Jean-Louis Akpa Akrpo waltzed through and saw his attempt repelled by Tyler, while fellow replacement Andy Robinson blasted over as Town trooped off a well beaten side.

Shrews: Jayson Leutwiler, Jermaine Grandison, Mickey Demetriou, Ryan Woods, Connor Goldson (C), James Collins (Josh Ginnelly 90), Scott Vernon (Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro 77), Cameron Gayle, James Wesolowski, Nathanial Knight-Percival, Jordan Clark (Andy Robinson 86).

Subs not used: Callum Burton, Mark Ellis, Anthony Griffiths, James Caton.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Paul Connolly, Jake Howells, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Matt Robinson, Jim Stevenson, Luke Rooney (Alex Lacey 13), Luke Guttridge (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 68), Mark Cullen (Ross Lafayette 58), Paul Benson.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Alex Wall, Ricky Miller, Curtley Williams.

Booked: Connolly 90. Sent off: M Robinson 82.

Attendance: 5,888 (1,037 Luton)

Star Hatter: Alex Lacey, good response after he was subbed early last week.