Woking vs Luton Town FC (24th Sep 2013)

Thumping victory on the road for the Hatters

Woking 0 Town 4 Cullen 28, 45, Lacey 35, Gray 70

The Hatters made it three wins on the spin with a fantastic victory away at Woking.

Two headed goals from Mark Cullen and another header from Alex Lacey in the first half had the Town in control after Mark Tyler had kept the hosts at bay with two excellent saves.

Cullen hit the bar at the start of the second half but Andre Gray notched his first goal of the season to make it 4-0 with 20 minutes to go to seal the Hatters’ second away victory of the campaign in style.

With Alex Lawless absent after picking up a back problem on the morning of the game, John Still was forced into one of two changes to the side that beat Lincoln on Saturday. Lacey returned to partner Steve McNulty at centre-half in a move that saw Andy Parry move forward into midfield at Jim Stevenson’s expense. Gray started in attack whilst there was a place on the bench for 17-year-old striker Zane Banton.

The first 15 minutes saw both sides force half chances and it wasn’t until the 17th minute before the Hatters came close to breaking the deadlock. Luke Guttridge’s clever pass forward sent Cullen away and his square pass was met by Gray who poked an effort goalwards that was kept out by Sam Beasant in the Woking goal.

While the Town were looking the more likely to score as they began to assert their authority against the strugglers, it was Woking that should have taken the lead on 24 minutes – only for Tyler to come to the Hatters’ rescue. McNulty failed to head clear a long ball over the top of the Town defence which allowed Gavin Willliams to race clear but his low shot was kept out superbly by Tyler.

A minute later Tyler came to the Hatters’ aid once more making an even better stop to prevent Giuseppe Sole’s deflected drive from the edge of the box from creeping into the bottom corner.

You sensed that double save would turn out to be crucial and so it proved on 28 minutes as the Town took the lead. Jake Howells’ right-wing corner was met by the head of Cullen, and his near-post effort was deflected home past an exposed Beasant.

No sooner were the Hatters ahead than they doubled their on 35 minutes. Gray did well to win a corner down the left that Guttridge and Howells’ worked short, and the former’s curling cross was swung deep to the back-post where an unmarked Lacey nodded down and into the roof of the net for his first goal in Luton colours.

Woking briefly threatened on 40 minutes as they searched for a way back into the game before the break when Sole’s shot was blocked bravely by Ronnie Henry.

As the break approached the 731 Town fans in the away would have probably taken a two-goal half-time lead, but in first half stoppage time they were celebrating a third. Again Guttridge was the creator, delivering an inch-perfect left-wing cross that was met by the head of Cullen. Unlike his first goal, there was absolutely no doubt about this one: a flying effort similar to his first goal against Lincoln on Saturday.

The Town began the second half like they ended the first and were unlucky not to make it four in the opening five minutes of the restart.

Firstly, Cullen was denied his treble – and a hat-trick of headers – when he met Howells’ right-wing free-kick on 50 minutes but saw his fine effort kiss the face of the crossbar. Gray was first to the loose ball but skied his shot from inside the six yard box.

Four minutes later it was almost 4-0 when firstly Cullen and then Guttridge were denied by home stopper Beasant as the Hatters looked to further increase their goal difference.

Tyler had barely had a save to make since his excellent double contribution in the first half and, despite Woking pressure, the Town defence continued to hold firm.

As the second half reached its half-way point the Town came close twice more. Parry headed a left-wing Lacey cross high and wide, before Gray rifled way, way over the crossbar after worming his way into the box on 67 minutes.

However, the Town, and Gray, were not to be denied three minutes later with a goal of real quality. Howells intercepted a loose Woking pass, strode forward and slipped in Gray with an accurate through-ball and last season’s leading scorer got off the mark for this campaign by sending a cool, confident finish past Beasant.

Woking made a flurry of substitutions in a bid to reduce the arrears but Tyler topped his first half stops with an unbelievable one-hand save to turn over Cards sub John Goddard’s curling shot from the edge of the penalty area.

As time ticked down it was the Town’s turn to make the substitutions with Gray, Howells and Guttridge all replaced after rapturous applause from the Hatters contingent and on came Shaun Whalley, JJ O’Donnell and Banton.

The Hatters continued to push for a fifth late on and almost got them. First a thunderous free-kick from McNulty whistled inches wide of the post before Banton was denied a debut to remember moments later and Cullen was denied a hat-trick when John Nutter cleared his shot off the line with the last kick of the game.

Three games, three wins and 10 goals scored and two clean sheets.

See you at Hereford.

TOWN: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, McNulty, Lacey; Parry, Smith, Guttridge (sub O’Donnell 85); Howells (sub Banton 85); Gray (sub Whalley 87); Cullen.

Subs not used: Justham, Taiwo.

Attendance: 1,955 (including 731 from the Town).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157635922833663/

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/woking-gallery-240913-1075002.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS9VnKo7yPI

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKvqAU2p_WE

Manager revels in thumping away victory

Town boss John Still hailed his side’s 4-0 win at Woking on Tuesday night as “first class”.

The Hatters were three goals to the good at half-time thanks to two goals from striker Mark Cullen and a first-ever for young centre-half Alex Lacey.

And Andre Gray completed the scoring 20 minutes from time with his first goal of the season to seal an emphatic win on the road, much to Still’s delight.

“I’m very pleased, the application for an away game from the players was first class,” the manager said afterwards.

“First and foremost the work-rate was at a level that it should be for an away game. Everyone’s done their bit. Mark Tyler’s made a good save when it was 0-0 and from that moment on we were in the ascendancy.

“After the second goal went in our game grew and grew. We played very well. It was a good away performance and clinical. People were saying we weren’t scoring any goals but have in the last three games they’ve gone in for us.

“It was a classic performance and if I look overall, if it was our day, there could have been two or three more goals there for us.

“But it was such a good performance that I look at the 11 players on the pitch and can’t say they could have given me any more – and that’s very, very pleasing.”

Tyler’s first-half save to prevent Woking striker Gavin Williams from giving the Cards the lead turned out to be crucial as four minutes later Cullen put the Hatters in front.

“You want all of your players to contribute and Mark is a top-class goalkeeper,” said Still. “You want your top players to produce when they need to and Mark did that.”

On Cullen’s double, the first which had a hint of an own goal about it, Still said: “He’s my player so I want him to have it – he deserved it.

“He’s playing down the middle which probably isn’t the right position for him – he needs someone else with him – but he’s been fantastic.”

Luke Guttridge continued his fine start to life in Town colours by setting up the Hatters’ second and third goals.

“Luke’s delivery was right on the money,” said Still. “[Lacey’s goal] was pleasing as it was a move off of the training ground and I’m always pleased when that happens.”

On Gray’s goal, which made it 4-0. “Great ball, great first touch, great finish,” said Still.

The manager confirmed that Alex Lawless missed the victory with a back injury sustained on the morning of the match.

Striker Paul Benson is nearing full fitness as his defender Anthony Charles.

Cards dealt with by a rampant Hatters

Outstanding Luton scored a superb 4-0 victory tonight as they overran Woking at Kingfield in the Skrill Premier, writes Mark Wood.

In-form striker Mark Cullen led the way with a brace, defender Alex Lacey scored his maiden goal for the club, Andre Gray registered his first of the season and teenage forward Zane Banton made his debut as a late substitute on a perfect night for the Hatters.

Town made two changes from the 3-2 win over Lincoln at the weekend, Gray and Lacey coming in as Alex Lawless didn’t travel with a back injury and Jim Stevenson missed out.

After a scrappy start but Luton almost took the lead on 17 minutes when Luke Guttridge released Cullen.

His cross was poked goalwards by Gray but keeper Sam Beasant came charging out to save at his feet.

Jake Howells’ first-time cross across the six-yard box found no takers before Woking should have gone in front on 24 minutes.

Steve McNulty completely missed a ball forward as Gavin Williams raced clean through, but Mark Tyler got down superbly to save.

Tyler was to the fore again seconds later when turned Giuseppe Sole’s deflected effort from the edge of the box behind.

Yet it was the Hatters who took the lead on 28 minutes in fortuitous circumstances when Howells’ corner was allowed to bounce through a crowded six-yard box and Cullen’s flick header seemed to go in off a home defender.

Woking had appeals for a penalty turned down on 32 minutes when McNulty muscled Sole off the ball, but Town continued to threaten.

They doubled their lead from the subsequent set-piece when a clever short corner routine saw Guttridge’s cross pick Lacey to score with a downward header.

Luton capped a fantastic half with a third in the stoppage time as Guttridge whipped in another excellent cross and Cullen crashed home a superb header.

The woodwork denied Cullen a hat-trick five minutes into the second half, as he headed Howells’ free-kick against the bar and Gray lifted the rebound over.

It was all Luton as Beasant saved superbly at Cullen’s feet, with the keeper then getting a foot to Guttridge’s follow-up.

Gray then battled his way through and toe-poked over with only Beasant to beat.

But the recalled striker got the goal he deserved after 70 minutes when he raced on to Howells’ through ball and produced a composed low finish.

Not to be forgotten Tyler then pulled off possibly his best save of the night, turning substitute John Goddard’s 30-yard curler over the bar.

Banton, 17, fresh from signing his first pro deal, made his Hatters debut as an 85th-minutes sub.

The teenager almost capped his debut with a goal too as after McNulty’s powerful free-kick fizzed inches wide, Banton raced through only to be denied by Beasant.

The ball fell to Cullen, who was denied his treble as John Nutter stretched out a foot to clear off the line.

Cards (4-5-1): Sam Beasant, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts (C), Joe McNerney, Jack Parkinson, Gavin Williams (George Frith 76), Giuseppe Sole (Anthony McNamee 63), Kevin Betsy, Mike Cestor, Josh Payne, Darren Murphy (John Goddard 68). Subs not used: Aaron Howe, Niall Wright.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Jake Howells (JJ O’Donnell 85), Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen, Andy Parry, Luke Guttridge (Shaun Whalley 87), Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray (Zane Banton 85), Alex Lacey. Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Solomon Taiwo.

Booked: McNerney 76; Cestor 89.

Referee: Lee Swabey. Assistant Referees: John Pike and Gary Parsons. Fourth Official: David McNamara.

Attendance: 1,955 (Luton 731).

Star Hatter: Luke Guttridge. Awesome again, but there were so many vying for the honour on the evening.

Town have finally ‘lit the blue touch paper’ according to boss John Still after they romped to a 4-0 victory at Woking on Tuesday night, writes Mark Wood.

After surviving a couple of early scares, lethal Luton showed their class as they triumphed through a dubious Mark Cullen brace and goals from Alex Lacey and Andre Gray.

The Hatters have now scored 10 goals in their last three games, claiming a hat-trick of wins along the way as they have risen to fifth in the table.

On their potency in front of goal, Still said: “At the moment I think we’ve found that in our game. I think if we were to look overall during the game, if it had been our day I think there were two or three more goals there for us.

“I think that away from home you don’t flood the final third, I think you pick your times to go in and I just think it was a disciplined performance.

“We know that we’re disciplined defensively. (Alex) Lacey’s come in and done very, very well again, which allowed us to push (Andy) Parry back into midfield and that looks really solid.

There wasn’t a weak link in Luton’s line-up on the night, as Still continued:”Everyone should look at their performance and be pleased against a Woking side that never gave up. Fair credit to them, they kept going and as the home team you would expect them to, but it’s easy not to and I think they did.

“It was a performance all over the pitch, I look at 11 players and I can’t pick a performer that would look at their game and go ,I have not done well, so that’s always good.

“I’m obviously very pleased. I thought the application for an away game was first class, I think first and foremost our work-rate was to the level it should be.”

Town took their early chances on the night with ruthless efficiency, but were also indebted to keeper Mark Tyler for a great save when, with the score goalless, Gavin Williams raced on to a horrible Steve McNulty error only to be denied by a great stop from the experienced keeper.

Still said: “You’re away from home and everyone’s got to do their bit, goalkeeper included, he made a good save at 0-0.

“But I think from that moment on we were in the ascendancy. I’m not saying when the first goal went in, but probably when the second goal went in I think our game just grew and grew and we’ve played very well tonight.

“It was a good away performance, a clinical away performance. And we were saying a little while ago the goals aren’t going in for us, well I think the last three games the goals have gone in for us and that’s very pleasing.

Talented young defender Lacey was also put right back into the heart of Town’s defence after recovering from an ankle injury.

And he believes that as Town’s team continue to get used to each other their rise up the table will gather pace.

He added: “I think it’s just the team’s coming together and we’re starting to play well together. We’ve played well earlier in the season but perhaps it hasn’t quite clicked for us with 0-0s and stuff like that.

“I think now we’re complementing the clean sheets with some goals and it’s really working out for us.

“I think we’re finally getting on a roll where we’re climbing up the table.

“As a bunch of players put together we’re working on how to play and I think it’s coming together.

“The lads have been superb, we’re competing against every single team and working really hard so I think it’s really coming together.”