Welling United vs Luton Town FC (19th Apr 2014)

Hatters celebrate title triumph with away victory

Welling 1 Lafayette Town 2 Cullen 28, Gray 73

The Town showed they are worthy winners of the Skrill Premier with a classy 2-1 win away at Welling.

It is results like this that have finally seen the Town clinch promotion back to the Football League after five seasons, with this victory being their eleventh win on the road in what has been a remarkable campaign.

Goals from Mark Cullen and Andre Gray sealed the points in a match that always looked to be under control for the Hatters as they chase down their 100 points target. Impressive displays from the hosts' goalkeeper Lee Butcher and captain Ross Lafayette prevented the Town from winning by a larger margin, but 2,000 travelling supporters got their promotion party well under way following goals in each half.

The Town fielded an attacking 4-4-3 with Cullen flanked by the returning Gray and Alex Wall, who was making his first start of the season after his impressive goalscoring cameo last week. The two wide men combined impressively on, Gray cutting open the hosts' defence with a quality diagonal pass which sent Wall galloping through one on one with goalkeeper Butcher, whose timing had to be perfect as he tackled with his feet outside the area.

Welling launched occasional raids down the right in the game's opening stages, with Henry Beautyman and Loui Fazakerley combing well to release top-scorer Lafayette in the area after thirteen minutes. He looked up to find centre-back Quade Taylor roaming forward unmarked, but Taylor could only stab straight at Mark Tyler from twelve yards.

With the hosts piling on the pressure led by the impressive Lafayette, the Town reverted to more direct tactics in an attempt to find some space. Wall moved into the centre to try to rough up the home defence, and won a free kick on the edge of the area when he was pulled down while competing for a long ball from Fraser Franks. Full of confidence after his brace for the Development side in midweek, Wall elected to take the deadball himself. He clubbed the free kick straight into the defensive wall before striking the rebound with real venom, his effort whistling just over the bar.

And on 28 minutes the Hatters broke the deadlock with another quick break. Franks calmly intercepted the ball on the edge of the Luton box and lofted ball forward. Gray showed great skill to take the ball down in the centre circle and chipped the ball over the retreating backline to send Cullen scampering in on goal. The diminutive striker showed great composure to get the ball under control and slide the ball under Butcher and into the net for his ninth goal of the season.

With the Town leading at half-time, Alex Lacey and Andy Parry made welcome returns to the Hatters side as substitutes for Steve McNulty and Ronnie Henry shortly after the break. Lacey showed little sign of any rustiness following his long injury lay-off, and did well to sweep up in his own six yard box immediately after coming on.

After a lull at the beginning of the second half, the champions sought to increase their lead with an intense spell of pressure around the hour-mark.

First, Gray struggled to control the ball on the hard and dusty pitch and skewed a wild effort high and wide after running onto a long ball into the area.

Moments later, the Wings' Player of the Year Butcher made an outstanding save to keep out Cullen. With the ball bouncing around the area, Cullen thought he'd scored when he hit Gray's knock down on the half volley, but somehow Butcher dove to his left and palmed the ball away from point-blank range.

And Butcher frustrated the Town again in the follow-up to that save, nipping in to take the ball off of Cullen's toes after a fine through-ball from Matt Robinson.

But Butcher could do nothing to stop Gray notching his 28th goal of this classic season on 72 minutes. It looked like there was too much for the Town's leading scorer to do when Robinson lofted a long ball over the top, but Gray's speed and power is too much for most defenders in this league. With the back-peddling Fazakerley and Jake Bender panicking under a bouncing ball, he was able to shrug them both off before outstripping them for pace, taking a touch to settle himself, and striking the ball firmly inside Butcher's near post.

Welling weren't going to lie down for the champions though, and Lafayette got one back with a beauty on 80 minutes. The captain had been one of the best players on the pitch all afternoon, giving Luton plenty to think about with his strength and impressive link-up play, but hadn't had a clear sight of goal until he popped up unmarked on the left side of the area with ten minutes to go. He brought the ball inside on his right foot and curled a shot high over Tyler's head and into the top corner for his 14th goal of the campaign.

Two minutes later, with the Hatters fans behind the goal appreciating Lafayette's performance with chants of 'sign him up', the big striker held the ball up on the edge of the area and teed up Beautyman, but the winger's low shot was comfortably kept out by the well-positioned Tyler.

This was Luton's day though, and the visitors calmly played out the remaining minutes to chants of 'Champions' from the away terraces before celebrating in a mass huddle with their jubilant fans.

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Champions prove too strong for Wings

Welling United 1 Luton Town 2

Hatters showcased just why they are champions of the Skrill Premier with a professional victory over Welling this afternoon.

Goals from Mark Cullen and Andre Gray were enough for Town who as they have done all season, found a way to wrest the three points away from their hosts, despite a late goal from Ross Lafayette.

Striker Alex Wall made his first league start of the season for Town as he was rewarded for a fine loan spell with Dartford and scoring twice against Crystal Palace in a development game.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Andre Gray both came back in as Jake Howells, Paul Benson and Alex Lawless all missed out, while Scott Griffiths made his 50th appearance for the club.

After being afforded a guard of honour from the home side, Wall had the first effort of a note, forcing Lee Butcher into a sliding clearance and then heading straight at the keeper.

Wings settled down to play some decent football though as Ross Lafayette’s cross was volleyed into Mark Tyler’s gloves by centre half Quade Taylor.

The hosts then broke incisively again as Loui Fazakerley overlapped to good effect only to see his cross cleared away by former Wings defender Fraser Franks.

Oluwatobi Sho-Silva also had a presentable opportunity on 18 minutes, but after leaping well, directed his header well, well wide.

A free kick gave Wall the chance to wind up his considerable power, as hhe slammed the set-piece into the wall and then half volleyed the rebound well over.

Cullen was also off target, but his and Gray’s partership looked like it was the most likely source of a goal, as a number of moves were just cut out by the home defence.

However, there was no stopping the duo on 28 minutes when Gray cleverly sent Cullen through and he waited for Butcher to commit himself before finding the net for his ninth of the campaign.

After the break, Fazakerley sent a tame shot at Tyler, before Luton started to ring the changes as Alex Lacey and Andy Parry were introduced for Steve McNulty and Ronnie Henry.

McGeehan’s ball through saw Gray hand off his marker but then shank horribly wide of the goal.

Cullen thought he had a second too with a close range instinctive volley from Wall’s flick, only for Butcher to produce a tremendous reflex save to turn the ball away.

The keeper, who had been Wings’ star performer during the 2-1 FA Cup win over Town earlier in the season, then stuck out a foot to deny Gray as Hatters pressed hard for another.

Town made their last change with Shaw replacing Wall, while Town finally had a second on 73 minutes when Gray showed great strength to outmuscle Fazakerley to reach Robinson’s punt forward.

After holding his man off, he coolly finished underneath Butcher for goal number 28 of the campaign to move level with Halifax’s Lee Gregory once more in the race for the golden boot.

Wings pulled a goal back on 80 minutes when Lafayette picked up a rebound just inside the box and curled a delightful effort into the top corner, leaving Tyler rooted to the spot.

The striker, who had again impressed, was almost in for a second too, but Tyler smuggled the danger away and he then made a sprawling low stop from Joe Healy.

Despite some spirited late pressure, Town held on to the delight of the 2,000 Hatters fans, who gave their heroes a tremendous ovation the final whistle, with a good natured pitch invasion into the players’ huddle.

After joining the players on their lap of honour, a good 500 or more camped outside the tunnel, going through their full repertoire of songs, even being led by managing director Gary Sweet at one point, as the promotion party shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

Wings: Lee Butcher, Loui Fazakerley, Jake Gallagher, Tom Bender, Ross Lafayette (C), Blaine Hudson, Harry Beautyman, Josh Wakefield (Toby Ajala 69) Joe Healy, Oluwatobi Sho-Silva (Malik Ouani 70), Quade Taylor (Jack Obersteller 35).

Subs not used: Jamie Turner, Jamie Day.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ronnie Henry (Andy Parry 55), Scott Griffiths, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty (Alex Lacey 50), Cameron McGeehan, Matt Robinson, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Andre Gray, Mark Cullen, Alex Wall (Jon Shaw 68)

Subs not used: Luke Rooney, Elliot Justham.

Referee: Craig Hicks

Bookings: Loui Fazakerley 53, Cameron McGeeham 86.

Attendance: 2,650 (2,000 Hatters).