Wycombe Wanderers vs Luton Town FC (26th Dec 2014)

Report: Wycombe 1-1 Luton

Jonathan Smith hit a stunning equaliser as the Hatters fought back to earn a point in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at Adams Park.

The Town fell behind after just two minutes through Paris Cowan-Hall’s header but Smith volleyed home from the edge of the six minutes later.

Both sides came close to adding to the score, with the Hatters going close in the second half with Andy Drury having the Town’s best chance.

Wycombe could have snatched it when Paul Hayes dragged a shot wide but the Town kept-up their unbeaten record at Adams Park and could have won in in the closing stages.

The Town, unchanged following the 3-0 win over Newport, got off to the worst possible start by conceding after just two minutes. Scott Griffiths was booked for a foul in the lead-up to a right-wing corner from which Cowan-Hall rose to plant a header into the top corner.

However the Hatters were not behind for long as, six minutes later, it was 1-1 when Smith belted home his first goal of the season and his first season breaking his leg exactly 12 months ago. The midfielder took Michael Harriman’s pass from the right on the edge of the penalty area on his chest and volleyed an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.

Two minutes later, on 10, the Town thought home defender Alfie Mawson – who was on-loan at Kenilworth Road last season – should have been red carded for clipping and bringing down Mark Cullen 40 yards from goal with the striker preparing to race clear. Instead referee Andy Woolmer showed a yellow card.

As the action continued to come, Drury curled over a dipping free-kick just over the crossbar on 12 minutes before Luke Rooney became the third player booked inside the quarter-hour when he took down Joe Jacobson.

After conceding from a corner early on, the Town’s defence were strong at the back as Wycombe won a series of free-kicks and corners, but as the game’s helter-skelter start began to ease, a Jacobson free-kick from the left was nodded over the crossbar by home defender Aaron Pierre.

As half-time neared, and the rain continued to poor, the Hatters almost fashioned a great opportunity to take the lead on 43 minutes. The Town midfielder did well to hassle Wycombe out of possession, allowed Drury to stride clear. However as he neared the edge of the home penalty area the midfielder slipped on the sodden turf at the crucial moment and the chance was gone.

Wycombe ended the half marginally on top, Griffiths beaten down the left allowing Cowan-Hall to race down the flank but his delivery, thankfully, was poor and behind his striker team-mates baying for the cut-back.

The Hatters started brightly after the break, winning a series of corners and from one, on 51 minutes, Luke Wilkinson nodded a header wide following Nathan Doyle’s cross after a Drury corner had been half-cleared.

Drury though came even closer to giving the Town the lead on 55 minutes. Cullen’s superb flick send Griffiths away down the left and left-back showed great desire to slide to a cross into the box where Drury, racing into the six-yard box, met – only for his shot to be saved brilliantly by Matt Ingham in the Chairboys’ goal.

The Town were coming closer and closer and Wycombe were lucky not to concede a comical own goal on the hour when centre-half Aaron Pierre headed past his own goalkeeper after the two both went to clear their lines with Cullen sniffing for a chance.

As the Hatters continued to press Cullen then came close himself on 65 minutes. Wilkinson retrieved a Drury corner to show a fancy drag-back and then cross from the right to Cullen at the back-post, but, off-balance, he headed wide.

While the Town were searching in vain of a goal the home side spurned a glorious change to take the lead when Hayes shot wide having found time and space at the end of a passing move on 73 minutes.

As the rain continued to pour, both sides traded possession a thrilling end-to-end period in which the Hatters and the Blues went in search of a winner.

In the first of four added minute Mark Tyler made a fine save from Mawson before the Town then broke at pace on the break but substitute Ricky Miller was barged off the ball – and that was that as a pulsating top-of-the-table clash ended all square.

TOWN: Tyler; Harriman, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle, Smith, Drury; Whalley (Sub Miller 77), Rooney (sub Howells 60), Cullen (sub Lafayette 69). Subs not used: Justham, Stevenson, Connolly.

ATTENDANCE: 7,539, including 2,566 backing the Hatters.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/match-gallery-wycombe-wanderers-1-1-luton-town-sky-bet-league-2-2165353.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYEDmG12ADI

League Two: Wycombe Wanderers 1 Luton Town 1

Hatters midfielder Jonathan Smith had a Boxing Day to remember for the right reasons as he netted a wonder strike to earn Town a point at leaders Wycombe.

This time 12 months ago, the 28-year-old saw his season ended after suffering a horrific broken leg in the 2-1 win at Barnet, while this year he produced a wonderful finish with his first goal of the season.

Hatters boss John Still had kept the same side who won 3-0 against Newport, midfielder Andy Drury making his 50th appearance for the club

The visitors made quite frankly atrocious start to the game though, as in the opening three minutes, Scott Griffiths saw yellow for a poor challenge, but with play waved on, Luton were forced to concede a corner.

From the set-piece, Paris Cowan-Hall got in front of his markers and produced a downward header that bounced up over Hatters’ defenders on the line and into the net, with a goal remarkable reminiscent of the one conceded at Burton recently.

However, Hatters were then level in quite brilliant fashion as in a breathless start, Michael Harriman’s cross was headed out to Smith, who controlled it on his chest and sent a sublime volley beyond the reaches of keeper Matt Ingram.

Former Town defender Alfie Mawson soon saw yellow for clipping Mark Cullen as he looked to race clear, while Andy Drury sent the free kick over and Luke Rooney’s name was also taken by referee Andy Woolmer.

Hatters right back Harriman, himself a former Wanderer, tried an audacious volley with his left foot from just outside the box on his return to Adams Park, but saw it fly into the stands.

The game then seemed to calm down slightly from its blood and thunder opening, although Wycombe’s Peter Murphy fluffed a great chance when unmarked, sidefooting his effort back from where it came from.

The imposing Aaron Pierre looped a header over, before irking boss John Still after a coming together with Cullen right under his nose as he appeared to push the Luton striker.

Town had a real chance for a second prior to the interval when Rooney’s dink over the top saw Drury running on to it, but he lost his footing somewhat and could only shoot straight at Ingram.

After the break, Luton made a far improved start to their efforts in the first as Rooney turned Sido Jombati inside and out as his shot was deflected behind.

Luke Wilkinson curled a header inches wide, while Luton then fashioned a wonderful chance thanks to some marvellous passing, leading to Cullen’s delightful flick releasing Scott Griffiths.

He slid at full stretch to cross for Drury, whose first time shot was excellent turned away instinctively by Ingram.

Rooney was then surprisingly withdrawn by Still for Jake Howells, while the Chairboys almost conceded a comical second as Pierre headed over the onrushing Ingram, only to see it fortunately fly narrowly wide.

Hatters kept pushing with Wilkinson showing wonderful feet for a centre half to beat his man with a drag back and delivered a cross that was headed past the post by a back-pedalling Cullen.

With 73 minutes on the closk, the Chairboys missed a wonderful chance to make it 2-1 as a slick one-touch move saw Paul Hayes left with Tyler to beat, but he somehow missed the target.

As the heavens opened and the rain teeming down, the game turned into a classic playground game of we attack, you attack although neither side could create anything meaningful, bar Ross Lafayette dragging wide.

Drury then put a free kick straight at Ingram, while Mark Tyler had to be alert to repel Mawson’s close range attempt.

Luton could have won it too, when subs Ricky Miller and Ross Lafayette broke away, but Miller opted to go alone and could only run into Pierre.

The result saw Town drop out of the top three after Burton beat Tranmere, while Shrewsbury moved to the summit as they won 2-0 at Oxford.

Hatters have a chance to regain their place on top though when they host Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon.

Chairboys: Matt Ingram, Sido Jombati, Joe Jacobson, Alfie Mawson, Aaron Pierre, Paris Cowan-Hall, Peter Murphy, Josh Scowen, Danny Rowe (Matt Bloomfield 46), Sam Wood, Paul Hayes (C).

Subs not used: Barry Richardson, Stuart Lewis, Steven Craig, Fred Onyedinma, Aaron Holloway.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Scott Griffiths, Jonathan Smith, Nathan Doyle, Andy Drury, Shaun Whalley (Ricky Miller 77), Luke Rooney, (Jake Howells 62) Mark Cullen (Ross Lafayette 69).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Fraser Franks, Jim Stevenson, Paul Connolly.

Referee: Andy Woolmer.

Booked: Griffiths 2, Mawson 10, Rooney 12, Jacobson 64.

Attendance: 7,539 (2,566 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Andy Drury. Back to back displays of real quality from the midfielder.

Still delighted as Town make their point at Wanderers

Hatters boss John Still declared himself delighted with the point picked up at promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon.

Luton had trailed to an early Paris Cowan-Hall strike, but levelled before the 10-minute mark courtesy of Jonathan Smith’s superb volley.

Still said: “It was a good, what might be termed local derby, with two teams up the top in terrible conditions and I was delighted with our performance.

“Especially after going a goal down, I was delighted as I thought both teams went for it.

“It was a great cup tie atmosphere and you can’t ask for more than that.

“After a disappointing start, we fought back and it would have been unfair on anyone to get beat, as it was a proper keenly contested cup tie game.”

Hatters were undone by another set-piece as Cowan-Hall headed home from a corner, meaning Luton have conceded their last six goals from deadball situations.

Still continued: “(Andy) Drury puts his hands up. He’s lost his runner and we work so hard on it.

“We’ve got to keep doing it because they are match-winning things, they really are.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on it, so it was disappointing.”

Town’s equaliser was a wonderful strike from Smith though, who notched his first of the season as Still felt his side looked like their usual selves on the road once more, after consecutive league defeats at Morecambe and Burton.

He said: “It was terrific, I thought we rebounded from that really well.

“I always try to put things in context. As the away team, in a top of the table clash, in difficult conditions, we responded fantastically, we really did.

“We played like Luton. We know how we play, know what we need to put into games and everyone’s worked their absolute socks off and you can’t ask any more.

“It was hard work. We always like to win, but our last away game in the league was at Morecambe and compare that to this.

“We were back to being like Luton, which is so important. We’re going to lose sometimes, going to draw sometimes, but we’ve got to play like Luton all the time.”