Stevenage vs Luton Town FC (20th Aug 2016)

PUBLISHED 18:23 20th August 2016 Attacking** display ends in disappointment for the Hatters**

STEVENAGE 2-1 LUTON TOWN

Luton Town’s unbeaten start to the season was brought to an end by Stevenage who pinched all three points at the death.

Cameron McGeehan’s deflected effort gave Luton the lead in the first half, before Hunte headed in for the hosts after the break and Godden scored the winner in the 96th minute.

It was a stirring first half from the Hatters, who created a lot of chances and could count themselves unlikely to have gone in at the break with just the one goal to their name.

Back in the side, Jake Gray, was unlucky not to find the head of Danny Hylton after an excellent run and cross from the left hand side after three minutes.

In his programme notes, Boro boss Darren Sarll said “Everyone knows the significance of playing Luton,” but it was certainly the Hatters who recognised the importance of the occasion in the first 45 minutes and with their first shot on target took the lead.

Cameron McGeehan drifted down the right hand side of the Stevenage final third without any real pressure.

He casually cut in and from twenty yards and fired the ball at goal, it took a deflection off a Boro defender, which wrong footed Jamie Jones in the Stevenage goal and bounced in to give Luton the lead after 15 minutes. That was McGeehan’s fourth goal in five games, with this strike coming against a back four made up of three ex-Hatters in Franks, Wilkinson and Henry.

From then on Luton had the bit between their teeth, with Danny Hylton a real thorn in the side of the Stevenage defence, as he taunted them with his strength and silky touch.

He was however guilty of missing a one-one which would have doubled his sides lead after 44 minutes, when Jack Marriott who was quiet for the opening exchanges of the game, really grew into the fixture from then on, fed the ball in spectacular fashion through to the former Oxford striker, but his strike drifted wide of the goal.

After the break, the hosts looked re-energised and brought the game level with 54 minutes on the clock.

Matt Godden made a strong run down the right hand flank, crossed the ball, which avoided everyone in the box, except for Connor Hunte at the back post who had the easy job of heading the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, which he did so comfortably.

Luton were a big toe away from taking the lead on the hour mark, after a smart flick over the defence from McGeehan was just out of reach for Hylton’s outstretched foot at the back post.

O’Donnell was somehow denied by the crossbar from a tight angle after a smart break from Luton. Marriott sent the ball over for Hylton after picking up a loose ball from a Stevenage corner, Hylton cut in but his shot wass blocked, it fell to O’Donnell who leathered the ball into the underside of the bar, but it bounced away from the goal.

As the game entered the closing stages, Stevenage substitute Kennedy was somehow denied by the woodwork, after his effort from 20 yards out bounced off the crossbar, down onto the post and was somehow scrambled away.

With 95 minutes on the clock, Olly Lee came within an inch of scoring, when he struck the ball onto where the bar meets the post.

The ball broke for Pett who galloped down the right hand side, passed it across to Godden who smashed it into the net to give Stevenage the win late on.

It was a frustrating result for Nathan Jones’ side, who looked most likely to earn the win in the last minute for the second time this week, but it wasn’t to be.

Full time score: Stevenage 2-1 Luton Town

Goal scorers: Hunte 54’ Godden 90+6’ | McGeehan 15’

Attendance: 3517 | Luton Town fans: 1674

Stevenage: Jones (GK), Henry ©, Wilkinson, Wells, Franks, McAnuff, Tonge, Lee, Hunte, Godden, Hyde

Subs: Day, Fox, Liburd, Pett, Kennedy, Gorman, Conlon

Luton Town: Walton (GK), O’Donnell, Cuthbert, Rea, Potts, Gray, McGeehan, Olly Lee, Cook, Marriott, Hylton

Subs: King, Smith, Pelly-Ruddock, Vassell, McQuoid, Justin, Famewo

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/gallery-stevenage-2-1-luton-town-3261011.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-OYrUN2AnQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVecpb-GQhc

League Two: Stevenage 2 Luton Town 1

Luton Town had to ensure stoppage time misery themselves this afternoon as they lost their unbeaten record at Stevenage, going down to a first defeat of the season courtesy of Matt Godden’s last-gasp winner.

After the joy late, late victory on Tuesday night, this time they were brought back down to earth as seconds after Olly Lee had hit the bar, Boro broke at pace before Godden coolly slotted past the exposed Christian Walton.

It hadn’t looked like Luton were capable of losing from a position of real authority at the start of the second half, leading through Cameron McGeehan’s deflected opening, but crucially not putting the outcome out of sight, with missed chances costing them dearly.

The visitors had made two changes, with Johnny Mullins suspended as Glen Rea came back in to partner Scott Cuthbert in central defence, while Jake Gray replaced Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who dropped to the bench.

Gray sent over an early cross that was inches away from Danny Hylton, as the hosts, who began attempting to adopt a more passing approach than in recent years, before eventually reverting to type, still had the usual danger from set-plays, Charlie Lee nodding wide.

Town led on 14 minutes though when McGeehan took aim from 25 yards and his left footer picked up a massive deflection to wrongfoot keeper Jamie Jones and dribble into the net.

The midfielder could have had another moments later, after Hylton raced through to collect his own clever flick, beating Dean Wells all ends up and then pulling the ball back, but McGeehan, completely unmarked, lost his footing at the crucial moment.

Hatters started to enjoy total control of possession, McGeehan going close once more, after a lovely build-up, his effort was blocked by the head of Wilkinson - while another sumptuous spell of passing football led to Dan Potts whizzing one wide on the overlap.

The visitors had to stay switched on though, as a rare foray from Boro saw Rea have to get in just ahead of Godden as the striker looked odds-on to level matters up from close range.

Luton searched for a second, Jordan Cook’s free kick cannoning into the wall, and from the rebound, Potts’ strike from distance was claimed by Jones.

Town missed another great opportunity on 41 minutes though, as Potts’ incisive pass was touched on by Hylton for Cook who shot first time, dragging his left-footer wide.

Boro then finally looked like they were capable of breaking Town’s back-line down with a brief spell of pressure, but Cuthbert in particular, was more often than not in the right place, making a number of crucial blocks.

Town should have had breathing space moments before the break though as Marriott’s wonderful reverse pass was perfect for Hylton, who looked to have done everything right, waiting for Jones to commit himself, as he opted for the spectacular, bending into the top corner, with his shot flying off target.

After the break, having had control of the game, Town were then pegged back on 56 minutes when Godden sent over a fine cross from the right and Connor Hunte was left all alone to score to with a downward header into the corner.

Marriott tried for an instant response, Jones saving easily, before Stevenage could have hit Luton with a quickfire second, Jake Hyde lashing over when well placed.

Hylton might well have put Town in front once more, but couldn’t connect with Cook’s dink over the top as the offside flag stayed down.

O’Donnell almost netted his second scorcher in the space of a week, seeing his fierce angled drive hitting the underside of the bar, while McGeehan would have turned the rebound in but for a wonderful sliding block by Ronnie Henry and then Cook shot straight at Jones from the edge of the box.

Boss Nathan Jones threw Isaac Vassell on for the quiet Marriott and he almost made an instant impact, tricking his way through only to see his shot blocked, while Mpanzu was also on, firing off target and then taking a heavy touch as great counter attack broke down.

That was to prove a feature of Town’s playing as the game wore on, with the visitors having all the best play, breaking on a number of occasions, but too often chose the wrong option as the moves came to nothing.

McGeehan blasted straight at Jones and then Mpanzu’s curler needed to be palmed aside by the increasingly overworked Boro keeper, who also palmed Hylton’s fierce attempt over after the Hatters striker showed great skill to beat his man not just once but twice.

From the corner, Cook’s delivery was headed goalwards with Henry pretty much lying prostrate on the ball to stop it crossing the line as Town screamed for a handball which wasn’t given.

Stevenage showed they were still a threat in the closing stages though, Tom Pett narrowly wide , as they then tried to almost walk the ball in, Hatters frantically getting back to clear.

Despite former Hatter Luke Wilkinson getting booked for time-wasting from his own goal kick, Stevenage showed they had it in them to win it it they wanted to, Ben Kennedy’s swerving effort from the angle beating Walton, only to crash against first bar and then post, before Cuthbert cleared away.

Boro then went down to 10 men for the last five as Tom Conlon had to go off injured, but again almost stole victory as a deep free kick was met by Fraser Franks whose header clipped the top of the bar.

Back came Town though, Potts’ header too close to Jones, while Lee then saw his wonderful curling attempt crash against the bar and from the rebound Stevenage claimed the winner, with a quickfire break and Godden curling home in stoppage time.

Lee them almost levelled in the very last second, as he took aim, before just missing the target, as Town fell to a first ever defeat at Stevenage, dropping to third in the table, with Morecambe going top.

Stevenage: Jamie Jones, Fraser Franks, Luke Wilkinson, Jobi McAnuff (Tom Pett 46), Jake Hyde (Ben Kennedy 57), Michael Tonge, Dean Wells, Connor Hunte (Tom Conlon 76), Charlie Lee, Matt Godden, Ronnie Henry (C).

Subs not used: Chris Day, Andrew Fox, Rowan Liburd, Dale Gorman.

Hatters: Christian Walton, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts, Glen Rea, Scott Cuthbert, Olly Lee, Jake Gray (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 59), Jordan Cook, Cameron McGeehan (Josh McQuoid 90), Danny Hylton, Jack Marriott (Isaac Vassell 67).

Subs not used: Craig King, Jonathan Smith, James Justin, Akin Famewo.

Bookings: Hylton 37, Wells 60, Lee 66, Wilkinson 85.

Attendance: 3,517.

Stevenage 2 Luton Town 1

Luton suffered a crushing taste of their own medicine as Stevenage's Matt Godden scored a 96th minute winner to end the Hatters' unbeaten start to the League Two campaign.

It was almost a carbon copy of what the Hatters did to Newport in midweek – a sucker punch in the same minute with same score inflicted by the same number of players – ten, after substitute Tom Conlon limped off with a ligament injury in the 90th minute.

It meant Town's first ever defeat at Broadhall Way and they only have themselves to blame for missing a glut of chances.

They took the lead through a deflected Cameron McGeehan shot on 15 minutes but they failed to turn the screw to cap some fantastic play.

Still, there was little sense that the game would end as it did when, for 53 minutes, Luton looked a cut above, while Boro seemed incapable of anything but capitulation.

That all changed early in the second half once lapse marking gifted Connor Hunte an equaliser.

And then, in a blood-and-thunder local derby ending, Boro twice battered Luton's bar and Olly Lee smashed Stevenage's only for the hosts to race straight up the other end and deliver the killer blow.

It knocked the Hatters off the top of the table, dropping to third, but it had all been so different in the beginning.

The Hatters had lift-off with with their first shot at goal – even if it was courtesy of a deflected McGeehan shot. It was the midfielder's fourth of the season and third in two games and everything pointed to a comfortable afternoon, even more so once Luton began to turn on the style, passing their way through Stevenage in calculating fashion.

Danny Hylton was at the heart of the equation but something didn't add up as he was squandered Town's best chances.

Before that, he, somewhat fortuitously, set up Jordan Cook who saw a curling effort just evade the far post, but then, having picked up his customary yellow card – when he stood in front of keeper Jamie Jones, who kicked the ball straight at his backside – the striker then passed up a glorious chance to hand the Hatters a comfortable half time lead.

Jack Marriott measured up a stunning reverse pass through-ball to his strike partner but, one-on-one with Jones, he lifted his chance wide of the top corner. That miss proved costly early in the second half when Godden's deep cross found Hunte at the back post and it was honours even.

Half chances came and went for Marriott and Stevenage's Jake Hyde before Hylton failed to get a boot to Cook's precision dink over Boro's backline.

Forced, increasingly, to play on the counter, Stephen O'Donnell almost scored a stunner when he detonated a cross-cum-shot off the crossbar, while McGeehan's follow-up was blocked and Cook's drive was straight down the throat of Jones.

Jones was equal to an effort from substitute Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and a rather more searing shot from Hylton after some fantastic footwork.

But the hosts also smelt blood and Tom Pett had Christian Walton scrambling across his goal line jones unnecessarily before a Ben Kennedy screamer slammed off the Luton bar but didn't cross the line. The woodwork would have still been rattling when Fraser Franks wobbled it again with a looping a header.

To their credit, Luton went for glory and they looked like they'd have to settle for a draw when Lee hit the woodwork, but the ball rebounded, Dan Potts and O'Donnell collided and Pett scampered off to set up Godden for the late, late sickener.

Stevenage: Jones; Franks, Wilkinson, McAnuff (Pett, 45), Hyde (Kennedy, 57), Tonge, Wells, Hunte (Conlon, 76), Lee, Godden, Henry Unused subs: Day, Fox, Liburd, Gorman

Luton Town: Walton; O'Donnell, Potts, Cuthbert, Gray (Ruddock Mpanu, 59), McGeehan (McQuoid, 90), Hylton, Cook, Marriott (Vassell, 67), Rea, Lee Unused subs: King, Smith, Justin, Famewo

Luton boss Nathan Jones was left to rue missed chances as his side got hit with a 96th minute "sucker punch" to lose 2-1 at Stevenage on Saturday.

Town had taken the lead through a deflected 15th minute Cameron McGeehan strike but though they cruised through the first half they couldn't capitalise on their dominance, with Danny Hylton wasting a one-on-one just before the break.

Connor Hunte levelled early in the second period and both teams went in search of a winner, each hitting woodwork twice, but after Olly Lee saw a marvellous strike cannon back off the bar, Boro raced up the other end with Matt Godden turning in at the death.

"We were going for it, we wanted to win the game, we want to win games. If you want to do something you've got to win games, they just caught us with the sucker punch at the end," said Jones.

"I'm a little bit disappointed at the end that we've lost the game, obviously, I thought we did everything to try and win the game away from home.

"The first half we should have been out of sight, it should have been a lot more comfortable. We've missed chances, but that's football, you have to take them, have to be clinical.

"To come away from home, to dominate how we did, I was very pleased. We know they've got a long throw and play to things like that, but I just felt we weren't really at it in the second half, came off it a little bit and that's what cost us.

"They had to change to handle us, made changes at half time to rectify the situation, but I just felt second half we weren't anywhere near where we need to be.

"We still had chances, still had shots on goal to maybe have got something out of the game, but it was a little bit more even.

"They came out a little bit better than us [in the second half], and got the goal and it was just a little bit disappointing with the goal. We got overloaded again, I don't know why, so I'll have to have a look at that again.

"But we kept pushing, kept pushing and both sets hit the post, they hit the bar, we hit the bar, so [it was] a bit end-to-end, we went to try and win the game but ended up losing it."

It was the first time ever that Luton had lost at Broadhall Way, and Jones also admitted his disappointment that his side couldn't reward the 1,674-strong Hatters away following, which made up almost half of the 3,517 attendance in what is, effectively, a local derby.

Jones said: "The fans were superb again, it was a massive, unbelievable turnout, we knew we would get that because of the locality of the game, but they were superb.

"I'm just disappointed we couldn't give them the win, because I felt we deserved more from the game. Our first half performance was outstanding, but then we got caught with the sucker punch."