Hatters Win Battle Of Braintree

By Tom Caldon

Braintree Town 1-2 Luton Town   

Holman 67’                         Benson 30’, Parry 65’
Skrill Conference | Tuesday 12^th November 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goals from Paul Benson and Andy Parry either side of half time propelled Luton up to second in the Skrill Premier table and stretched the Hatters’ unbeaten run to ten games as they claimed a 1-2 victory at Braintree’s Amlin stadium.

The visitors had to defend resolutely against Braintree’s aerial bombardment. Daniel Holman’s deflected long range strike in the sixty-seventh minute gave the Iron hope heading into the dying embers of the game. With the last kick, Sean Marks found himself through on goal but was denied superbly by Alex Lacey’s brave sliding tackle, which effectively clinched victory for the Bedfordshire club.

Alan Devonshire made two changes to the side that held newly promoted Newport County to a 1-1 draw in the FA cup first round. In midfield, Daniel Sparkes replaced Dan Holman while up front Jordan Cox was picked ahead of Alan Massey.

John Still made five changes from the side that went down 2-1 at Welling in the FA cup first round and altered his side’s formation to a conventional 4-4-2, playing Alex Lawless on the right side of midfield. In goal, Mark Tyler replaced Elliot Justham and Andre Gray returned in the striker role. Meanwhile, convalescent captain Ronnie Henry regained his right-back berth.  

In the opening exchanges, very little passing football emanated from the fierce midfield battle between Jonathan Smith and Iron captain Kenny Davis and the attacking endeavours of both teams were quashed by the mud-covered pitch.  The only goalmouth action saw Iron keeper Nik Hamann make a fine block on the edge of the area from Gray’s low shot.

Half an hour had elapsed when Luton took the lead through Paul Benson. After Smith dispossessed Ryan Peters in midfield Gray seized the ball and darted towards the right side of the penalty area. Gray evaded the tackles of Matt Paine and Newman Carney and centred for Alex Lawless whose shot was cleared off the line by Dean Wells. Luton midfielder Andy Parry proceeded to ferociously volley the ball back into the area where Benson, six yards out, half-volleyed into the empty net with expert composure.

In the final fifteen minutes of the first half Braintree retorted with a series of dangerous set-pieces; from the most threatening of which parity should have been restored. An in swinging corner by Daniel Sparkes caused confusion amongst Luton’s defensive cadre. Mark Tyler failed to claim the enticing delivery and the ball found Wells at the back post; the defender managed to escape his marker but stooped to head wide merely three yards from goal. Luton had been handed a reprieve and went into half-time with a 0-1 lead. 

In the fifty-seventh minute, Luton almost conceded a self-inflicted equaliser. Despite being under pressure from tenacious forward Sean Marks, Steve McNulty delayed his backpass to his keeper. Tyler, who should have cleared immediately, took an audacious first touch and had to make a sliding tackle to prevent the predatory Jordan Cox from tapping into an empty net.

In the ensuing eight minutes Luton pushed for a second; Gray’s close range effort was well saved by Hamann, culminating in a series of corners that tested the Braintree defence.  An in swinging corner by Alex Lawless was bundled towards goal at the back post by Paul Benson, and after Carney blocked on the line Andrew Parry poked the ball into the net to the jubilation of the 728 travelling supporters. 

Somewhat surprisingly, the intensity of the contest did not subside and Braintree immediately attacked with fervour. In the sixty-seventh minute, Dan Holman lashed a long range shot towards Mark Tyler’s goal. As Luton’s defensive rear-guard threw their bodies at the shot, the ball ricocheted off the chest of Andy Parry and dipped just under Tyler’s crossbar to half the deficit.

In the final ten minutes the Iron piled on the pressure. Due to an injury to Benson, the Hatters lacked an attacking outlet and the ball rarely left the Luton half. Firstly, Holman’s pirouette on the edge of the area bamboozled opposing centre-half Alex Lacey, the substitute proceeded to fire a shot towards the bottom left corner of the goal but Tyler displayed his agility by palming the ball to safety. 

With the last play of the game, Ryan Peters launched the ball deep into the Luton penalty area. After substitute Liam Enver-Marum flicked on for Sean Marks the striker recoiled to surely equalise and gain a point for the hosts. However, Lacey lunged valiantly to boot clear. As the ball flew out for a Braintree corner, referee Justin Amey blew for full-time to the delight of the exhausted Luton players.

Although Devonshire will be disappointed with the result, it would be easy to understate the artistry of his team; Chez Isaac and James Mulley were particularly impressive performers. Their pragmatic style should stand them in good stead for the rest of the season, starting away at Alfreton on Saturday afternoon. 

Luton manager John Still will be delighted with the result as well as the determination of his squad. More importantly, what was most impressive about the visitors was their strength in adversity; with domineering centre-half Steve McNulty replaced due to injury, Luton had to repel Braintree’s attacking presence with a youthful defensive pairing of Lacey and Parry. This victory may well galvanise the Hatters ahead of their trip to Chester this weekend.

 

Braintree Town: Hamann , Wells , Paine, Carney, Sparkes (Daley - 61' ) , Isaac, Mulley (Enver-Marum - 84' ) , Davis, Marks, Peters , Cox (Holman - 61' ).

Luton Town: Tyler, Henry, McNulty (Stevenson – 62’), Howells, Griffiths, Lacey, Parry, Smith, Lawless, Gray, Benson (Cullen – 72’).

Attendance:  1,518 (728 Luton)  

Photo content belongs to Bedfordshire on Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bolt From Bradley Seals Derby Day Victory

By Tom Caldon

Norwich City 2-0 Ipswich Town

Johnson ’24, Grabban ‘62

Sky Bet Championship | Sunday 1^st March 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrow Road hosted its first East Anglian derby in over four years on Sunday afternoon, and rarely had the stakes been quite so high. A win would move either side to within three points of the Championship summit. While Norwich looked to extend their five game winning run, Ipswich hoped to recapture promotion-winning form; having lost three of their last seven matches.

Canaries manager Alex Neil made one alteration to the team that won at Blackburn Rovers in midweek; loanee Graham Dorrans was replaced by the combative Alexander Tettey in the heart of midfield.

Meanwhile, Blues manager Mick McCarthy made two midfield changes to the side that defeated Birmingham City 4-2 on Tuesday evening. Jay Tabb replaced Jonathan Parr and Paul Anderson made way for Richard Chaplow.

In the opening minutes the game adopted the frantic pace synonymous with a local derby. As the afternoon sun peered over the Norwich and Peterborough Stand, the Canaries struggled to spot the ball and defended hesitantly against Ipswich’s aerial threat.

The contest remained fractious until Cole Skuse was cautioned for his high boot which connected with the jaw of Bradley Johnson. Referee Paul Tierney had made an invaluable contribution to the match; the ornery pettiness was over and the football could begin.

Moments later Wes Hoolahan sent an incisive pass through the Ipswich defence and into the path of Lewis Grabban. Grabban, with few team-mates ready to receive a pass, instinctively sent a low cross into the Ipswich penalty area. Johnson had made a late run into the box and proceeded to crash an unstoppable left-foot shot into the roof of the net; giving City the lead and sparking pandemonium among the Carrow Road faithful.

The visitors responded well to their deficit and launched a purposeful counter-attack on the half-hour mark. Kevin Bru dispossessed Tettey and released Daryl Murphy down the left flank. The ex-Celtic marksman centred expertly for team-mate Freddie Sears who, with time to pick his spot, had his low shot blocked by the boot of Norwich ‘keeper John Ruddy. The stopper, capped by England, had given his team-mates a reprieve with this vital intervention.

After the interval, the visitors briefly seemed to possess a new dynamism, presumably incited by a zealous half-time team talk from McCarthy. A curling free-kick by Tabb was inadvertently fired towards the Norwich goal by Johnson, and to the relief of the Norwich man, just over the crossbar.

The Tractor Boys’ decision to send more men forward in pursuit of an equaliser unwittingly vacated the space for the hosts to double their lead. With an hour gone, Hoolahan chipped a pass towards substitute Cameron Jerome. After winning a foot race with Christophe Berra, the former Cardiff striker sent a curling shot towards the bottom right corner of the net. When retreating defender Tyrone Mings tried to block the shot a series of ricochets culminated in the ball bobbling in off the knee of Grabban.

Sears immediately tried to halve the deficit with a fierce shot at the end of a slaloming run. Ruddy scurried across goal before showing admirable agility to dive down to his left and make the catch. There was a sense that if Norwich could vigilantly track the movement of Sears they would see out the final twenty minutes with relative comfort, such was the lack of innovation among the majority of Sears’ team-mates.

Norwich chased a third goal and Jonny Howson’s pass, cleaving through the Ipswich defence, provided Jerome with an inviting opportunity. Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski excelled in the one-on-one situation by bravely advancing to the edge of his area and blocking Jerome’s effort with an outstretched leg. With fifteen minutes left, the Polish keeper had helped maintain some pride and a glimmer of hope that the visitors could get back into the game.

In the closing stages, an inventive Tabb free-kick was as close as the Suffolk club came to a late comeback. The former Reading midfielder threaded a quick set-piece through to Sears who, from an acute angle, adroitly dinked over the onrushing Ruddy. A combination of the imperious Russell Martin and Sebastien Bassong headed off the line and away to safety, ensuring the canaries’ fourth consecutive victory over their local rivals.

Ever since David McGoldrick sustained his knee injury in February Ipswich have lacked the enigmatic attacking edge they had exhibited in the preceding months. Ironically, McGoldrick’s replacement Sears showed the most promise in this game, exuding confidence and an intensity which his team-mates must match if they are to gain promotion; starting with the away fixture at Leeds United on Wednesday evening.  

Neil’s arrival seems to have liberated Norwich’s attacking players, with the movement of Howson and Johnson becoming encouragingly expansive.  At the same time, the club’s reconciliation with Bassong may prove to be a masterstroke; his vast experience will be a vital component if the Canaries are to surge towards automatic promotion; beginning in the home encounter with Wigan Athletic.  

 

Teams (Player Ratings in Bold)

 Norwich City

Ruddy - 7, Whittaker - 6, Martin - 7, Bassong - 7, Olsson – 6, Tettey – 6, Johnson - 8 Redmond - 7 (Jerome - 61' - 7 ), Howson – 8, Hoolahan – 7, (Dorrans - 83' - 5 ), Grabban – 7.

 

Ipswich Town

Bialkowski – 6, Chambers – 6, Smith – 5, Berra – 7, Mings – 6, Chaplow - 5 (Varney - 45' - 6) Bru – 6 (Parr - 69' - 6 ), Skuse – 6, Tabb – 7, Sears – 7, Murphy – 7, (Wood - 79' - 6).

 

Referee: Paul Tierney

Attendance: 27,005  

 

Photo content belongs to Norwich City Football Club

 

Luton Fail To Sink Mariners In September Stalemate

By Tom Caldon

Luton Town 0-0 Grimsby Town

Skrill Football Conference | Saturday 7th September 2013

 

Partly due to a late afternoon kick off in front of the BT Sport cameras, both Luton and Grimsby went into the game at Kenilworth Road sitting in the bottom half of the embryonic Skrill Premier table.  Amongst the uncertainty of the mysterious absence of manager Rob Scott, the quality and concentration of the Grimsby players would be tested against an improving Luton team.

Luton manager John Still made no changes to the side that won 2-0 away at Kidderminster in their previous fixture. Andy Parry played in an anchoring midfield role alongside Jonathan Smith. Also, Paul Benson made his home debut in a centre-forward role. 

 

Meanwhile, Grimsby manager Paul Hurst made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 at home to Nuneaton. On-loan full-back Alan Goodall replaced the suspended Aswad Thomas after Thomas received a red card against in the previous fixture. Also, in midfield Andi Thanoj made way for former York City captain Scott Kerr. 

 

Luton dominated the opening stages. If a grounded pass to the perpetually moving Luke Guttridge was unavailable, Luton played the ball into Benson who would shield it from opposing defenders and distribute into wide areas with efficiency.

 

Thirteen minutes in, Jake Howells ignited a premeditated corner routine by wedging the ball deep into the Grimsby penalty area. Luton’s main aerial threat of Steve McNulty accelerated towards the front post and was followed closely by opposite number Shaun Pearson, thus vacating space at the far post for the unmarked Paul Benson. Unfortunately for Luton, Howells’ delivery had too much pace for the ex-Dagenham and Redbridge striker, who stretched to head wide of Grimsby keeper James McKeown’s right-hand post.

With half an hour gone, Grimsby retorted through the potent strength of Lenell John-Lewis who won a free-kick after a mistimed tackle by Alex Lacey.  Thirty yards from goal, Alex Rodman curled a right footed free-kick of shallow trajectory over Luton’s defensive wall. Unfortunately for Grimsby, the shot lacked the cascading dip to trouble Luton keeper Mark Tyler, and the ball flew over the bar.

 

After a five minute interlude of Grimsby pressure led by the trickery of Alex Rodman, Luton regained the ascendancy. After meticulous passing back and forth across a thirty-yard radius from the Grimsby goal, the resurgent Ronnie Henry crossed for Luke Guttridge, who despite being the shortest player on the pitch, used guile and determination to rise above the defensive brawn of Chris Doig and Shaun Pearson only to head inches past the stem of McKeown’s right-hand post.

 

A minute before half time, Doig tackled a turning Andre Gray. However, the ball ricocheted into the path of Benson on the left side of the area. Benson nonchalantly chipped over the forward-rushing McKeown, only for the ball to be cleared by Pearson, who lunged along the goal-line to head to safety.

At half-time, Luton would feel disappointment in failing to take the lead. However, an ankle injury to centre-half Alex Lacey would change the complexion of the game. With no replacement centre-half on the Hatters’ bench, Still moved midfielder Andy Parry into the heart of Luton’s backline and introduced Jim Stevenson in midfield for his Luton Town debut. 

 

Luton briefly continued to threaten Grimsby’s defensive rear-guard; Benson weaved down the left flank to centre for Jim Stevenson on the edge of the box. Stevenson’s right-footed shot skimmed inches wide of McKeown’s left-hand post. However, the Mariners’ centre-half pairing of Pearson and Doig began to double up on Benson, subsequently quashing his offensive influence on the rest of the game.

Despite the expressive passing of Mariners midfielders Patrick McLaughlin and Craig Disley, the conspicuous forward presence of John-Lewis often proved most likely to push Parry into an aerial mistake, as Luton keeper Mark Tyler looked reluctant to claim a high ball within his own 18-yard box. Eventually, Steve McNulty blocked a dangerous shot by substitute Scott Neilson.

 

Ten minutes from time, the visitors made a claim for a late penalty as Paul Bignot was dragged down by Scott Griffiths after the Grimsby right-back managed to get goal side of the former Peterborough defender. However, referee Peter Bankes repudiated Bignot’s appeal. 

 

In the closing stages, substitute Alex Wall’s deflected long range shot was met comfortably by the secure palms of James McKeown diving to his left. After a brief end-to-end frenzy, Peter Bankes blew his whistle for full-time. 

Luton Town are developing a diligent defensive foundation; as this result crowned a fifth clean sheet from their opening seven games. However, John Still will be disappointed by his team’s lack of conviction in front of goal. In the second-half, Benson seemed isolated in his centre-forward role and Still may well experiment with a striking partner alongside the former Charlton man in their next fixture away at Wrexham on Friday evening.

 

Despite failing to manufacture a shot on target over the course of the game, Paul Hurst will be impressed by his team’s second-half performance. Although Grimsby monopolised possession for large periods of the second-half, they seemed to lack the speed and erudition of a striker who could outmanoeuvre defenders and obtain a goal scoring opportunity. However, the return of Liam Hearn may well result in the proliferation of Grimsby goals, starting on Saturday in their home fixture against Braintree.  

Teams:

Luton Town

Tyler, Henry, McNulty, Lacey (Stevenson – ’46), Griffiths, Guttridge (Wall – ’84), Smith, Parry, Howells, Benson, Gray (Whalley – ’71).

Grimsby Town

McKeown, Bignot, Pearson, Doig, Goodall, Colbeck (Cook – ’87), Kerr, Disley (Thanoj – ’88), Rodman (Neilson – ’80), McLaughlin, John-Lewis.

Referee: Peter Banks

Attendance: 6,131

Photo content belongs to Bedfordshire on Sunday

 

 



Clinical Cullen Takes Luton Up Into Third

 By Tom Caldon

Luton Town 3 – 1 Dagenham and Redbridge

Cullen ’42, ’45, ’68          Doidge ‘86
Sky Bet Football League Two | Tuesday 21^st October 2014

 

For the first time since his unexpected departure in February 2013, Luton Town manager John Still competed against former employer Dagenham and Redbridge; a club at which he managed for over a decade. While the Hatters hoped to extend their seven game unbeaten run, the Daggers looked to bounce back from a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Newport County. 

Still decided to stick with the same team that won 2-1 at Hartlepool in the previous fixture; giving a home debut to former Boston striker Ricky Miller.

Meanwhile, Dagenham boss Wayne Burnett made five changes to the team that played the previous fixture. One of which was enforced due to Captain Abu Ogogo receiving a red card in the fractious encounter with Newport.

The visitors were the more encouraging team in the opening stages; Ashley Chambers’ jinking run down the right flank culminated in evergreen forward Jamie Cureton dragging a shot inches wide of Luton ‘keeper Mark Tyler’s right hand post.  

In contrast, Luton were tepid in the final third and only the set-pieces of midfielder Andy Drury posed a threat to Dagenham’s goal. One free-kick found the head of imposing hatters centre-half Luke Wilkinson who, despite his recent goal scoring form, could only head tamely into the arms of Daggers keeper Mark Cousins.

Cureton continued to trouble the home defence with his incessant movement when he latched onto another Chambers centre on the edge of the box and acrobatically volleyed over the bar. Another narrow escape for Luton, who seemed to struggle with the windy conditions in the first-half.

By the forty second minute the probing passing of the Dagenham midfield had subsided and Luton seized the initiative. The Daggers defence could only marshal the adventurous Drury to the by-line before he chipped an inviting cross to the back post for the arriving Mark Cullen to leap above the retreating Daggers defender Damien Batt and head in from close range.

Three minutes later, Cullen dealt the daggers a debilitating blow. Tenacious Luton midfielder Jonathan Smith dispossessed opponent Matt Partridge and executed a pass which cleaved through the centre of the Dagenham defence. The recipient, Cullen, took one touch to round Cousins on the edge of the area, and one touch to pass into an empty net; highlighting the forward’s innate balance and eye for goal.

By the interval, the 2-0 score line failed to do justice to the attacking endeavour of Dagenham and Redbridge, whose proficient passing belied their lowly position in the league two table.

After the break, on-loan full-back Michael Harriman showed his first sign of hesitancy in a Luton shirt when he misplaced a backpass intended for Tyler. Partridge pounced on the loose ball but Tyler vigilantly followed his opponent and blocked a shot with his legs.

Ten minutes into the second half, Luton livewire Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu failed to consummate a captivating counter attack which would have put the victory beyond all doubt. Tyler caught from a corner and bowled out to Drury who raced down the right and slid a pass infield to Smith, who in turn passed incisively into the path of Ruddock. With only the keeper to beat, Ruddock blazed over from just inside the area. Despite the missed opportunity, the home crowd rose to their feet to applaud the vigour and intricacy of the move.

In the sixty-seventh minute Luton breached the Dagenham defence for a third time. The exuberant dribbling skills of Ruddock down the left flank took the ex-West Ham midfielder to the by-line. As the Dagenham defenders retreated towards their goal, Cullen cleverly withdrew from the crowded six yard box and waited for Ruddock’s inevitable pull back. Cullen’s powerful volley into the top left hand corner signalled his eighth goal of the season and first senior hat-trick.

If Dagenham played the more appealing football in the first half Luton had dominated the second. A Smith long shot rebounded off the post before midfielder Nathan Doyle had his effort smartly saved by Cousins. It was the way Doyle distributed the ball that gave Luton balance and security; his passing range and selection exuded confidence.

Second half substitute George Porter posed an intermittent threat to Luton’s goal and his trickery was rewarded in the eighty-sixth minute. After gliding past Harriman and Luton captain Steve McNulty, Porter sent a perfect left-footed cross towards the forehead of fellow substitute Christian Doidge who rose to send a bullet header past the helpless Mark Tyler. The goal restored a deserved element of respectability to the score line.

Doidge’s header was almost the catalyst for a late Dagenham revival; the visitors won a series of corners in the closing minutes. One of which, an in swinging kick taken on the right by George Porter, met the head of Cureton, who had once again evaded his marker. The former Reading striker headed powerfully past Tyler, only to be denied by Harriman on the line who poked clear to rectify his earlier error; securing Luton their sixth consecutive victory.

Still will be greatly encouraged not only by the improving cohesiveness of his team, but by the growing potency of Luton’s attacking play. The Hatters will try to further extend their unbeaten run back at Kenilworth Road this Saturday when they take on Northampton Town.

Although Dagenham played expansive football in patches, they lacked the gumption required to achieve a positive result. Burnett will try to galvanise his injury-hit squad ahead of Saturday’s away fixture against league leaders Wycombe.

Teams (Player Ratings In Bold)
  
Luton Town:

Tyler - 6,  Harriman - 6,   McNulty - 7,  Wilkinson – 7,  Griffiths - 6,  Ruddock Mpanzu – 7,  Smith – 7, Doyle – 7,  Miller - 5 (Benson - 54' - 5)  Cullen - 9 (Walker - 85' - 5 )  Drury - 8

Dagenham and Redbridge:

Cousins – 5,  Batt – 5,  Doe – 6, Saah – 5,  Green – 6,  Partridge – 6, Boucaud – 6, (Doidge - 62' - 6)  Bingham - 6  Yusuff  - 5, (Porter - 52' - 7)  Cureton – 7,  Chambers – 7, (Hemmings - 71' - 6 )

 Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 7,746 (166 Dagenham fans)

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