Stevenage vs Luton Town FC (4th Oct 2014)

Stevenage 1 (Pett 33) Luton Town 2 (Wilkinson 10, Wall 83)

Substitute Alex Wall hit an 83rd-minute winner as the Hatters made it four win from five matches to continue their ascent of the League 2 table.

The Town started well and led through Luke Wilkinson’s second goal in as many games before home midfielder Tom Pett levelled shortly after the half-hour mark.

The second half took time to get going and after Pett missed a glorious chance to put Boro in front, Wall won it for the Town just second after his introduction for Mark Cullen with a fine curling left-foot shot.

Showing two changes to the side that beat Oxford, with former Boro man Andy Drury and striker Paul Benson restored to the side, the Hatters started well and Wilkinson almost replicated his early exploits of last weekend when nodding wide inside the first 60 seconds.

The Town thought they had a case of a penalty on five minutes when former skipper Ronnie Henry sent Drury tumbling in the penalty area but referee Tony Harrington wasn’t interested.

As the Hatters continued to press for an early goal, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu spurned a glorious chance on eight minutes but after taking Scott Griffiths’ pass the midfielder shot across goal and wide when given the freedom of the home penalty area.

However, the Town were rewarded for their fast start as they took the lead when Wilkinson rose highest to nod Drury’s free-kick past Chris Day in the 10th minute to send almost 2,000 Hatters fans in the away into raptures.

Three minutes later, with Stevenage shell-shocked, the Town almost doubled their lead when Jonathan Smith shot straight at Day.

But Day made an even better save on 16 minutes to keep the score 1-0 when he flung himself in front of Wilkinson’s goal-bound shot. The stop was made even better given Benson’s deflected flick right in front of the home stopper.

That save would prove to be crucial and Day’s stop galvanised the home side. In contrast, Mark Tyler had been a virtual spectator as he watched the Town keep the home side at bay.

However, there was nothing the Town goalkeeper could do when, after a sustained period of pressure, Stevenage equalised. Chris Whelpdale was the creator, crossing from the right flank to find Pett and he guided a terrific touch into the top corner from 10 yards. It was the first goal the Town had conceded in 414 minutes.

The equaliser gave the home side confidence, Darius Charles headed over following a right-wing corner on 35 minutes as Boro sought the lead for the first time.

Wilkinson, effective in both boxes for the Town, came to the rescue in his defensive duties as half-time approached, this time sliding to clear the danger following Whelpdale’s run and shot.

After the break, the Town came close to restoring their lead when Benson headed straight at Day following Drury’s left-wing cross on 52 minutes.

Boro, though, should have scored themselves seven minutes later when goalscorer Pett somehow failed to find the target when left unmarked inside the six yard box following Whelpdale’s header across goal.

The second half was becoming a scrappy, niggly affair, as two Town men – Benson and Smith – found themselves in referee Harrington’s book in a 90-second spell.

John Still replaced Smith and Benson for Jim Stevenson and Charlie Walker, the latter making his Town debut and within two minutes of his introduction he saw a snap-shot in the six-yard charged down.

Walker and the Hatters hordes thought the substitute had made it 2-1 with 10 minutes to when his header at the back post bounced agonisingly close to the line before being hacked clear by the Stevenage defence.

But the Town needn’t have worried as they took the lead for the second time with seven minutes left. Still had introduced Wall for Cullen and within 30 second of his introduction the striker had the 1,900 Hatters fans in delirium as he took Ruddock Mpaznu’s pass, cut inside on his left foot and guided a superb curling shot beyond the reach of Day.

In front, with the Town fans baying for more, Walker headed wide before Stevenage pushed for a late, late leveller. That never came and the Hatters could celebrate their fourth win in five matches to push them into seventh place in the table and just five points off the top.

Town: Tyler; Lacey, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle, Smith (sub Stevenson 65), Ruddock Mpanzu, Drury; Cullen (sub Wall 83) Benson (sub Walker 70). Subs: Howells, Guttridge, Robinson, Justham.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/stevenage-gallery-0410-1988745.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_iAhXgFOIU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6wNglEK5yU&

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAIyrBrF8AY&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

League Two: Stevenage 1 Luton Town 2

Supersub Alex Wall scored a brilliant late winner as Luton Town emerged 2-1 winners at Stevenage this afternoon.

The striker was thrown on after 83 minutes with the scores 1-1 and with his second touch, produced a beautiful curling finish to open his account for the season, sending Town’s 2,000 strong support into ecstasy.

It had only been last month too that Wall was heavily criticised by his manager for a ‘stupid week’ after his poor efforts in training, plus a red card in a development game, so this goal will have gone some way to his redemption.

Victory was deserved for Luton too as it was they who were the only side looking to play football, with the victory making it four wins from five, Town climbing up into the play-off places.

Hatters boss John Still made two changes for the trip to the Lamex as Paul Benson came back for his first start since the 2-0 defeat at Shrewsbury, while Andy Drury returned against his former club.

Stevenage had former Luton captain Ronnie Henry as skipper, with one time Hatters youngster Tyler Reading the reserve goalkeeper.

The visitors should have had a clear penalty on five minutes when Drury was fouled by Henry as he shaped to shoot, but although the contact was clear for all to see, referee Tony Harrington opted to give nothing.

Luton were all over their opponents in the early stages playing some glorious pass and move football as Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu missed a glorious chance, sending his first time side-footer just wide of the post.

Ruddock Mpanzu was then clipped as he burst forward, a feature of Hatters’ play in recent weeks and Andy Bond went in the book on 10 minutes.

From the free kick Hatters had the lead as Drury sent over the set-piece and Wilkinson, just has he had done against Oxford a week ago, leapt highest to head downwards and past Chris Day.

Town almost had a second when the ball broke to Smith in the area as he shot into the ground and straight at Day.

The Stevenage keeper then produced a superb save from Wilkinson after McNulty and Drury had combined in wonderful fashion.

Town’s skipper magnificently swept a ball out wide and from Drury’s fizzing cross, Wilkinson’s low shot was tipped around the post. That stop proved crucial as Stevenage, who had barely featured going forward, their long ball tactics easily repelled, then finally got going.

It took them 20 minutes to fashion their first chance as Bond connected on the volley from McNulty’s header out only to send it over the bar.

Out of nothing the hosts levelled on 33 minutes though when Chris Whelpdale’s controlled volley cross reached Tom Pett at the far post and he turned the ball past Tyler.

That ended Town’s run of 414 minutes since they conceded a goal and they almost shipped a second moments later when Darius Charles launched himself at a header, sending it flying over.

Stevenage threatened another when Scott Griffiths was caught out of position, as Wilkinson produced a fine sliding challenge on the dangerous Whelpdale.

With Hatters’ struggling to continue their early dominance, Boro went close once more when Dean Parrett let fly, although not testing Tyler.

After the break, both sides struggled to get the ball down until Ruddock Mpanzu, whose influence on the game grew and grew, broke and Drury’s cross was headed straight at Day by Benson.

Stevenage then played some rare passing football and Whelpdale teed up Pett again, but Lacey got a crucial deflection, allowing Tyler to change direction and gather.

A fully committed clash saw Smith and Benson in the book for poor challenges and they both were replaced by Jim Stevenson and Charlie Walker, the latter on for his Hatters debut.

Walker almost had a goal with his second touch, meeting Griffiths’ low cross, but it was deflected into the arms of Day.

Town’s sub then thought he had made it 2-1 as he reached Drury’s free kick and headed through Day’s legs, but it was hooked clear as he wheeled away in celebration.

Still then swapped Alex Wall for Cullen and the sub took Ruddock Mpanzu’s pass, beat his man and curled a lovely left footer beyond Day.

Hatters came close a third too as Drury’s free kick was met by Walker and he headed marginally off target.

Once again though, they stood firm at the back to negate Stevenage’s direct efforts and closed the match out to receive the adulation from their adoring fans.

Boro: Chris Day, Jon Ashton, Andy Bond, Chris Whelpdale, Darius Charles, Tom Pett (Roarie Deacon 70), Dean Parrett (Tom Conlon 62), Dean Wells, Chris Beardsley (Connor Calcutt 82), Charlie Lee, Ronnie Henry (C). Subs not used: Tyler Reading, Bira Dembele, Cameron Lancaster, Ryan Johnson.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Alex Lacey, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith (Jim Stevenson 66), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Andy Drury, Mark Cullen (Alex Wall 83), Paul Benson (Charlier Walker 70). Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Alex Wall, Jake Howells, Luke Guttridge, Matt Robinson.

Referee: Tony Harrington Booked: Bond 10, Smith 63, Benson 65, Wall 84. Attendance: 5,236.

Hatters MOM: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. Deployed wider this time and relished his extra freedom. Such a powerhouse now for Town.