Southport vs Luton Town FC (10th Aug 2013)

Southport 1(Milligan 22) Town 0

Steve McNulty was sent-off and Shaun Whalley missed a penalty as the Town went down to Southport on the opening day of the Skrill Premier season.

The Sandgrounders’ winner came in the first half courtesy of a deflected free-kick from Jamie Milligan but the Hatters – reduced to 10 men just before the hour following McNulty’s red card – missed the chance to take a point when Whalley saw his penalty saved by home goalkeeper Danny Hurst.

The dramatic, if disappointing start to the season all began with injuries ruling out Ronnie Henry and Jon Shaw that meant Town boss John Still picked a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jonathan Smith at right-back and Jake Howells playing behind Mark Cullen in attack. Cullen was one of three players given their debuts for the Hatters, with ex-Sandgrounder Whalley and midfielder Luke Guttridge also given their bows. Centre-half Alex Lacey was given his first league start.

Sporting their new all white away kit, the Hatters were slow to get going and, after the game was stopped when a flare was thrown onto the pitch, Southport came close in the eighth minute when Chris Almond’s left-wing cross was headed wide by Danny Hattersley.

On 11 minutes Whalley got his first chance to run at his former employers having been picked out by a wonderful Guttridge pass, but the winger failed to pick out Cullen in the penalty area with his high cross.

Goalmouth action was at a real premium but on 22 minutes the hosts took the lead in fortunate circumstances. Guttridge conceded a free-kick 20 yards from his own goal and Milligan’s resultant set-piece clipped the Town wall and left Mark Tyler flat-footed and unable to prevent Southport from going 1-0 up.

Buoyed by that goal, Southport should have doubled their lead four minutes later when Almond’s low cross found Hattersley but his first-time side-foot shot lacked the power and Tyler was grateful to make a comfortable save.

The Hatters were struggling to create chances in the final third but on 34 minutes a dangerous left-wing cross from Dave Martin was headed goalwards by Cullen. The striker’s effort lacked the pace and direction but the ball fell to Whalley on the right and his rasping cross-cum-shot stung the fingers of Danny Hurst, the home goalkeeper.

That was as good as it got for the Town in the first half, with Cullen flicking a header at the near post from a Martin corner over the bar before Milligan twice went close with free-kicks from a similar position to his goal as the half came to a close.

Still reacted to his side’s indifferent first half display by making a change at the break, introducing last season’s leading goalscorer Andre Gray for Howells.

It was Southport though, that almost went 2-0 ahead 10 minutes into the second half when Tyler had to dive at full stretch to keep out Matty Challoner’s low effort from just inside the penalty area.

However, just as the Town had begun to force the hosts back with a period of possession, they were rocked by the dismissal of captain McNulty, who was given his marching orders shortly before the hour.

Lacey took over the captain’s armband and Anthony Charles replaced Martin as the Town reshuffled now a goal and a man down.

Tyler prevented Southport taking further advantage with a routine save following Paul Rutherford’s mazy run and shot before the goalkeeper pounced on the loose ball just after the hour mark after the Town failed to clear their lines at a corner.

The Hatters were struggling to find a way through the home defence but they spurned a huge chance to level with 15 minutes left on the clock. Gray was upended in the penalty area by Luke George but Whalley saw his resultant spot-kick well-saved by Hurst, diving away to his left. The keeper stopped Smith’s follow-up before the hosts managed to clear another effort from Whalley off of the line and away to safety.

Southport missed a number of chances as time ticked down as the Town pushed for a late leveller. A combination of good goalkeeping from Tyler and poor finishing gave the Hatters a chance in five minutes of added time but having failed to test Hurst once more it was the hosts celebrating an opening day victory.

Southport: Hurst, Challoner, Flynn, George, Fitzpatrick, Milligan, Brown, Chalmers, Rutherford, Almond, Hattersley.

Subs: Stevenson, Ledsham, Tames, Osawe, Akrigg.

Town: Tyler; Smith, McNulty, Lacey, Griffiths; Martin (sub Charles 59), Taiwo (sub Parry 72), Guttridge, Whalley; Howells (sub Gray 46); Cullen.Subs not used: Justham, Robinson.

Attendance: 2,210, including 839 from Luton.

Boss unhappy with defeat at Haig Avenue

Manager John Still admitted the Town’s opening performance of the season wasn’t good enough.

The Hatters lost 1-0 at Southport in a game that saw captain Steve McNulty sent-off and new signing Shaun Whalley miss a penalty against his former club.

“I think it was a fair result,” Still said afterwards. “I thought Southport had more energy than us in the first half and played with more intensity. They played to their strengths and we didn’t. We never got ourselves going in the first half.

“In the second half we played with more intensity but without looking convincing. It became much harder when Steve was sent-off but we had the chance from the penalty which didn’t go in, so you have to put in the ‘not good enough’ category.

“Whether or not the players thought their form in pre-season was good enough to just turn up here and win I don’t know.

“We’ve not played with any tempo or focus which have been doing and that’s disappointing.”

On McNulty’s dismissal shortly before the hour, Still said: “I’ve not seen it but we’ll have a look at the DVD.”

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/southport-gallery-100813-983647.aspx

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157635025474625/

http://vimeo.com/72133311

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

http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Sport/Luton-Town-FC/Football-Southport-v-Luton-Town-in-pictures-20130810182358.htm

Skrill Premier: Southport 1 (1) Luton Town 0 (0)

A massively frustrating afternoon for the Hatters saw 10-man Town go down to a 1-0 defeat at Southport on the opening day of the Skrill Premier League at Haig Avenue today, writes Mark Wood.

Jamie Milligan’s hugely deflected free-kick midway through the first half proved decisive, while skipper Steve McNulty was sent off shortly before the hour when, following the most innocuous of challenges on Luke George, he was sent off for supposedly kicking out.

Luton improved in the second half after a lacklustre first, but their misery was compounded when substitute Andre Gray was fouled in the box late on by George, with the last man only receiving a caution, and former Southport winger Shaun Whalley then saw his penalty saved by keeper Danny Hurst as his former club held out for a hard-fought victory.

Town had been dealt a blow before kick-off as captain Ronnie Henry and striker Jon Shaw were both ruled out through injury as Jonathan Smith started at right-back with summer signing Mark Cullen leading the line and Jake Howells playing just in behind.

It took a while for the game to get going as Chris Almond robbed Smith on eight minutes but Danny Hattersley could only direct his header wide.

Having been on the backfoot Luton finally threatened three minutes later when Luke Guttridge’s fine raking ball out of defence released Whalley on the right, but his chipped cross was just out of the reach of Cullen at the far post.

A series of questionable refereeing decisions went Southport’s way and culminated with the hosts taking the lead on 22 minutes when skipper Milligan’s 20-yard free-kick took a massive deflection off the wall and looped past the wrong-footed Mark Tyler.

And the Sandgrounders went close again moments later when Almond again beat Smith and squared for Hattersley who slid straight at Tyler.

The blue touch paper was almost lit on 33 minutes when McNulty ushered Hattersley and the ball into touch before the pair went head-to-head, but only a warning for both from the official was forthcoming.

The Hatters finally started to respond as Cullen was unable to get enough on David Martin’s cross and Whalley’s bash from a narrow angle was well battered away by Hurst in the Southport goal.

Winger Almond was a constant threat for the hosts as Solomon Taiwo was booked for a poor challenge on the wideman with Milligan firing just wide from the resulting free-kick.

It was a disjointed first half display from Luton as Scott Brown whistled over from range and Milligan curled another free-kick just wide as the decisions continued to flow Southport’s way.

Southport made the better start to the second half too as Hattersley got clear four minutes in but could only skew harmlessly wide.

Matty Challoner fired through McNulty’s legs but his effort was well saved by Tyler before Town’s skipper was sent off at the other end moments later for allegedly kicking out at George following an aerial tussel. As a result Anthony Charles replaced Martin to shore up the Luton defence as Guttridge too was booked.

The hosts continued to force the game as Paul Rutherford fired straight at Tyler on the hour, while Cullen did well to clear the danger with the ball pin-balling around in the box on 63 minutes.

Town should have levelled with 16 minutes to go when Lacey, making his first league start, chipped the ball forward and centre-half Matty Flynn inadvertently headed it into Gray’s path, but Town’s top scorer from last season could only skew wide when one-on-one with the keeper when he should have scored.

Brown threatened at the other end but his effort was easy for Tyler before Luton wasted an even better chance of an equaliser from the spot on 75 minutes.

Gray raced on to a long ball over the top and George’s desperate lunge sent him tumbling as the referee pointed to the spot but only brandished a yellow card to the last man.

However, Hurst guessed the right way as he palmed away Whalley’s spot-kick before twice saving follow-ups from Smith. And when the ball was finally squared for Whalley in the six-yard box Brown was in the right place to clear off the line.

Southport went close to sealing victory in the closing stages as Lacey was robbed at the back, but substitute Yamen Osawe ovverran the opportunity.

A jinking run by the impressive Almond saw him lay it on a plate for sub Karl Ledsham in the last minute but he somehow rolled wide, while Steven Tames’ blast was beaten away by Tyler with Osawe dragging the follow-up past the post.

Town forced a series of corners at the death but couldn’t net an equaliser as Lacey’s header flew wide as Town made a disappointing start to this season’s new campaign.

Sandgrounders (4-2-3-1): Danny Hurst, Matty Challoner, Matty Flynn, Luke George, David Fitzpatrick, Jamie Milligan (C), Scott Brown, Aaron Chalmers (Karl Ledsham 81), Paul Rutherford (Yamen Osawe 88), Chris Almond, Danny Hattersley (Steven Tames 85). Substitutes not used: David Stevenson, Steve Akrigg.

Hatters (4-4-1-1): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty (C), Solomon Taiwo (Andrew Parry 72), Jake Howells (Andre Gray 46), Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen, David Martin (Anthony Charles 58), Luke Guttridge, Shaun Whalley, Alex Lacey. Substitutes not used: Elliot Justham, Matt Robinson.

Booked: Taiwo 37; Guttridge 58; George 75.

Sent Off: McNulty 56.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh.

Assistant Referees: Barry Lamb and Anthony Moore.

Fourth Official: David McNamara.

Attendance: 2,210 (Hatters 839).

Star Hatter: Luke Guttridge. Combative midfielder battled hard throughout.