Battling Hatters grind out goalless draw at Hereford United

Battling Hatters ground out a hard-fought goalless draw against Hereford United at Edgar Street this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

It was a game low on quality, creativity and chances, but Town dug deep as they kept their eighth clean sheet in 12 matches to earn a share of the spoils.

Luton made one change from the team that triumphed 4-0 at Woking during the week, bringing in fit-again striker Paul Benson in place of the unfortunate Andre Gray as they lined up 4-4-2 for the game.

The hosts, meanwhile, named ex-Town defender Luke Graham as their skipper and former Hatters striker Dan Walker on the bench, while loathed by the Luton fans, striker Richard Brodie led the line for the Bulls.

It was Hereford who started the brighter, Chris Bush having a shot well blocked and Steve McNulty getting an important header away with Brodie lurking.

It was a scrappy opening from both sides although Mark Cullen and Jake Howells linked well on 17 minutes with the young striker just unable to get on the return pass.

Hereford broke well at the other end with Ronnie Henry getting in a good block to deny Brodie, who was barracked at every turn by the visiting fans.

The visitors finally started to threaten and created their first chance on 25 minutes with a fine quick counter. Howells’ teasing cross was cleared with Cullen lurking but Benson headed the ball back into the box and, with Cullen just unable to connect, Luke Guttridge’s effort lacked any power as Rhys Evans easily claimed.

Cullen was just unable to direct another headed chance, but it was a half low on entertainment, incident and quality.

It was not until two minutes before the break that either team threatened again. Brodie robbed Henry and Scott Griffiths did excellently to head away under pressure from Jon Brown as Michael West curled harmlessly wide.

Shortly after the Luton full-back was booked for a cynical trip on the edge of his own area, but the free-kick came to nothing as Paul Green drove well over.

Town changed their formation at the break as they went 4-3-3 for the second half and got an early sight of goal when the linesman failed to flag the retreating Benson offisde. Town worked the ball well as Howells burst on to Guttridge’s pass in the box but his tame effort was easy for Evans.

Ex-Hatter Walker was introduced for Sam Smith on 52 minutes and he was straight into the action as he dragged harmlessly wide of Mark Tyler’s near post.

Town though were desperately unlucky not to take the lead on the hour when Henry’s dinked ball forward was superbly cushioned into Guttridge’s path by Benson and the dynamic midfielder’s powerful half-volley was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Evans.

The Hatters gradually started to play with more cohesion and creativity, but the Bulls still threatened on the break.

Gray replaced Cullen with 20 minutes to go and almost had an immediate impact as he beat his man and crossed for Benson, but the target man’s near-post flick was repelled by a combination of Bush and Graham close to the line.

Town went close again on 75 minutes when Howells’ clever quick free-kick released Guttridge in the area, but the diminutive midfielder’s turn and snapshot was well saved.

But the Bulls were far from done as they twice went close from a 78th-minute corner. First Brodie’s towering header was somehow cleared away from the line as Graham’s follow-up ran just wide of the post.

Benson could only glance a good Howells cross wide at the other end, before the Bulls missed another gilt-edged opportunity from a corner which was whipped into the far post, but with the goal gaping sub Eric Odhiambo was unable to force home as Gray cleared away from the line.

Walker was booked retrospectively for a foul on Howells with five minutes to go as Hereford bombarded the Luton goal with a series of long throws.

But it was the Hatters who almost grabbed victory in the second minute of stoppage time when Gray turned on the afterburners to latch on to Guttridge’s pass. The pacy striker did well to keep his feet as he could have gone down under the close attentions of Bush but, having wriggled his way through, he could only roll his effort from an acute angle into the side netting as both sides had to settle for a point each.

Bulls (4-4-2): Rhys Evans, Danny Leadbitter, Chris Bush, Kingsley James, Rod McDonald, Luke Graham (C), Sam Smith (Dan Walker 52), Jon Brown, Michael West Danny Pilkington 64), Paul Green, Richard Brodie (Eric Odhiambo 80). Substitutes not used: Dominic Collins, Sam Gwynne.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Jake Howells (Shaun Whalley 88), Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen, Andrew Parry, Luke Guttridge, Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson, Alex Lacey. Substitutes not used: Anthony Charles, Solomon Taiwo, Elliot Justham.

Booked: Griffiths 45; Walker 85.

Referee: B Huxtable.

Assistant Referees: L Sheridan and D Croft.

Fourth Official: J Dowd.

Attendance: 2,386 (Luton 580).

Star Hatter: Alex Lacey. Young defender continues to impress with every game he plays.