Cambridge defeat was the icing on the cake for delighted Hatters

Defeat for nearest rivals Cambridge United was the icing on the cake for Luton as they went six points clear at the top of the Skrill Premier on Tuesday night, writes Mark Wood.
Luton Town v Macclesfield Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 07.Luton Town v Macclesfield Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 07.
Luton Town v Macclesfield Town. Photos by Liam Smith. wk 07.

Town’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Macclesfield Town, coupled with the U’s surprise 2-1 home defeat to third-placed Alfreton Town on the night, made for the perfect evening.

Boss John Still said: “Of course it does, absolutely, but this is football and lots of things change and sometimes change quickly. Not going overboard about other teams. It’s been a good night for us, and I’m really pleased for that.”

Debutant defender Fraser Franks, who impressed at the back, was pleased by the news as it puts the title race firmly in the Hatters’ hands.

He said: “We’ve just found out that they’ve lost, but as we always say we’ll just worry about ourself, and if we pick up the points they can’t catch us so it’s in our hands.

Star striker Andre Gray netted both of Luton’s goals on the night and believes doing the ‘ugly’ things well will pay dividends for the Hatters.

“If we keep winning our games, obviously it’s ours to lose,” he said. “Cambridge have lost today and we’re six points clear and it’s in our hands if we keep winning and pushing and grinding out games like we do like that.

“Not playing well and doing the ugly side then no-one’s going to catch us.”

Keeper Mark Tyler also played a key role in the victory, pulling off three terrific saves in the second half as Town prevailed.

But he is fully concentrated on the games ahead, as he said: “We’re not worried about that. We’ve got to concentrate on every game at the moment. Our next game is Hereford, and our next game after that is Nuneaton. So we’ll take it one game at a time.

“We just want to keep our runs going and stay top of the league.”

The wet weather has seen games against Wrexham and Tamworth cancelled at Kenilworth Road recently, but Still is hopeful a new rain cover for the pitch, on loan from Glasgow Warriors, will help them to get Saturday’s game on.

He said: “Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they’re right Saturday.”

Franks is also relishing the chance to make his home debut after getting sent off the last time he played there in Welling’s 2-1 defeat there in November.

He added: “It’s going to be another tough game, I don’t think our pitch is the best at the moment, so it could be another game like today.

“I’m really eager to go out and play and have them fans on my side this time, rather than singing ‘cheerio’ to me on the way off!”