Fleetwood nets winner as Luton reach quarter-finals
Hatters striker Stuart Fleetwood
FA Trophy round three Kidderminster Harrers 1 (1) Luton Town 2 (2)
A SCINTILLATING performance from Hatters warmed up a bitterly cold evening at Aggborough last night as the visitors progressed in the FA Trophy, writes Mark Wood.
Goals from Jake Howells and Stuart Fleetwood earned a 2-1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers to set up a quarter-final home clash against either Gateshead or Alfreton Town.
In truth it could have been many more as Luton created countless chances, while Fleetwood saw his first half spot-kick saved.
Town named a hugely strong side as they made six changes to the team that ground out a 1-0 home win over Alfreton last time out. Curtis Osano came in at right-back with Shane Blackett and Dean Beckwith at the heart of the defence.
Charlie Henry, John Paul Kissock and Fleetwood also started, while Mark Tyler, Greg Taylor, Robbie Willmott, Howells and captain for the night Alex Lawless all kept their places.
The hosts had the first opening on nine minutes as Kyle Storer’s header from point-blank range squirmed wide.
Storer almost made amends after a quarter of an hour but Tyler was comfortably able to palm his 25-yard free-kick behind.
Henry linked play superbly for the Hatters early on, but for all of their pretty football they weren’t creating any chances.
Luton finally found an end product as they took the lead with a sumptuous goal on 24 minutes.
Taylor’s pass released Fleetwood and he did brilliantly to beat Lee Vaughan before laying it on a plate for Howells to stroke home.
Harriers almost levelled three minutes later though when Mickey Demetriou put in a telling cross that bounced kindly for Jamille Matt at the near post but Blackett did well to deflect it just over.
The Town defender was lucky not give away a penalty moments later though as he tumbled in the box and seemed to fell Dan Bradley, but referee Stephen Bratt was unmoved.
Kidderminster did level though with 10 minutes of the half left as Matt got the better of Blackett and laid the ball into the path of Bradley, who slid his shot past the exposed Tyler.
Luton then wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to double their lead as they missed their seventh penalty of the season with eight minutes to go.
Howells slipped Taylor through, who was caught by Luke Jones and Bratt pointed to the spot.
Fleetwood powered his spot-kick high to the right, but Dean Lyness produced a brilliant full-stretch stop to palm the ball away.
The half finished in breathless fashion as Callum Gittings had a header blocked and Matt flashed a header wide.
Another flowing Luton move saw Henry sky over the bar from just a couple of yards out.
Howells teed up Fleetwood with four minutes to go, but his deflected effort was grasped by Lyness before Kissock threaded him through seconds later only for the keeper to save well with his legs.
A minute of stoppage time was added and Town snatched a deserved lead 20 seconds in when Fleetwood seized on Mike Williams’ calamitous backpass and rounded Lyness to finally score.
In the second half, a surging run from Williams ended in Tyler turning his low drive round the post on 53 minutes as Town survived penalty appeals for handball from the resulting corner.
Luton then twice opened Kidderminster up on the hour. Howells threading through Willmott as he dinked past Lyness to Fleetwood at the far post, but he was unable to get a shot away, before Kissock jinked to the edge of the area before lashing just over.
Flying winger Nick Wright tore through Town’s defence, but dragged wide with only Tyler to beat, while Taylor had a good effort deflected behind at the other end.
Osano popped up in the box on 65 minutes but could only power into the side netting from a narrow angle, while Taylor flashed another effort across the face of goal.
Substitute Jake Woolley almost made an instant impact, but he was just unable to get on the end of Willmott’s cross, while Bradley’s 30-yarder caused Tyler some problems as he held on to it at the second attempt.
Harriers should have levelled on 72 minutes when Wright strode into the box but his cross-shot was just out of the reach of Matt with the goal at his mercy.
Henry rolled another good chance tamely at the keeper, while a five-versus-three break then went begging as Howells chose the wrong option.
Another good chance for Matt deflected off Lawless and behind while Taylor floated a pinpoint cross to the unmarked Howells at the far post, but he could only divert his header wide.
A marauding run down the left from Taylor ended in him sliding just wide with eight minutes to go.
Three minutes of time was added and Harriers thought they had grabbed an injury-time equaliser when Wright netted a free-kick at the far post, but the goal was chalked out for offside as Luton deservedly progressed into the quarter-finals.
Harriers (4-4-2): Dean Lyness, Lee Vaughan, Mike Williams (C), Luke Jones, Steve Guinan (James McQuilkin 54), Nick Wright, Callum Gittings (James Vincent 60), Jamille Matt, Mickey Demetriou, Kyle Storer (Marc Williams 85), Dan Bradley. Substitutes not used: Dave Hankin, Michael Briscoe.
Hatters: Mark Tyler, Curtis Osano, Greg Taylor, Dean Beckwith, Shane Blackett, Alex Lawless (C), Charlie Henry (JJ O’Donnell 86), Robbie Willmott, John Paul Kissock (Adam Watkins 74), Stuart Fleetwood (Jake Woolley 68), Jake Howells. Substitutes not used: Janos Kovacs, Kevin Pilkington.
Bookings: Demetriou 57; Willmott 90.
Referee: Stephen Bratt (West Midlands).
Assistant Referees: Dragan Kuzmanovic and Marc Wilson.
Fourth Official: John Steel.
Attendance: 1,186 (Luton 111).
Star Hatter: Jake Howells. Class act throughout.
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
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