Fans mutiny as Mariners hole Hatters’ play-off hopes with late leveller

DISGRUNTLED Hatters fans made their anger clear as Luton shipped a late equaliser in their 1-1 home draw with play-off hopefuls Grimsby at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Home debutant Andre Gray had lifted the home crowd by giving the Hatters the lead with an instinctive strike on the hour, but the Mariners fought back late on and grabbed an 87th-minute equaliser through substitute Kiernan Hughes-Mason as boos and chants of ‘Brabin out’ echoed around the ground at the final whistle.

Town made three changes from the team that succumbed to a terrible 3-0 midweek defeat at Forest Green Rovers. In came new £30,000 signing from Hinckley United, Gray, for his debut alongside Danny Crow in the attack, while Godfrey Poku entered the midfield as Stuart Fleetwood and Adam Watkins dropped to the bench and Aaron O’Connor missed out entirely.

Luton made a bright start with Craig Disley heading away Alex Lawless’ fierce third-minute drive, before Keith Keane tried his luck from distance and James McKeown was forced to smuggle his low effort round the post.

The Hatters were doing all of the running and went close on 12 minutes when Robbie Willmott’s free-kick found Janos Kovacs at the far post, but his looping header hit the bar as the referee penalised him for a foul.

Keane rained in another fine long-range effort on 20 minutes but McKeown showed a sure pair of hands.

Kenilworth Road was again subjected to more questionable refereeing when the linesman flagged for a foul on Kovacs only to be ignored by referee A Davies who, when questioned by keeper Mark Tyler, booked the stopper for dissent.

The visitors finally managed their first effort of the day on 33 minutes but Disley’s header was tame from Bradley Wood’s cross.

Nice play from the Hatters saw left-back Jake Howells deliver a fine centre, but Gray’s header beat the bar as a mundane half drew on.

And in injury time Town should have broken the deadlock when Willmott’s low cross was turned goalwards by Lawless and McKeown could only get a hand to hit, but the ball somehow ricocheted cruelly out of the reach of Crow as the sides went in level at the break.

Town continued to boss possession after the break and, after almost getting themselves in a pickle at the back, they nearly took the lead at the other end seven minutes in. Gray did superbly to get on to Crow’s flick and lift the ball to the back post, but a stretching Willmott saw his effort cleared off the line by Disley.

A long-range Lawless lash was gathered at the second attempt by McKeown, while shoot-on-sight Keane dragged another effort wide.

But Town deservedly took the lead on the hour when a corner was cleared as far as Keane on the edge of the box and his low shot into a congested area sat up nicely for Gray who acrobatically hooked home from eight yards as Kenilworth Road erupted to celebrate his debut strike.

The Mariners made a double substitution to inject some life, bringing on Louie Soares and Anthony Elding, and Wood soon sent a speculative effort well wide of the mark.

Lawless’ cross-cum-shot ran well wide and Willmott whizzed in a cross too close to McKeown as the game trundled on.

Town twice went close to doubling their lead on 78 when Grimsby again struggled to clear a corner. Gray’s up-and-under was just palmed away from under his own bar by McKeown and when the ball broke to Keane in the box his looping header, destined for the top corner, was grabbed by the keeper.

The game finally started to open up and Crow robbed Gary Silk seconds later and his intelligent chip dipped just over.

Grimsby began to threaten more and more, substitute Hughes-Mason blasting a good chance well wide after forcing his way in, while Elding saw an effort deflect off substitute Shane Blackett and behind.

The Hatters were being forced to play increasingly on the counter and Lawless led a great charge out with six minutes to go and found the overlapping Howells, but his cross was just out of the reach of Gray.

And Luton were forced to pay a heavy price as the Mariners grabbed an equaliser three minutes from time. Elding cleverly flicked through and substitute Hughes-Mason teased his way past George Pilkington before steering past the exposed Tyler.

Town piled on the pressure late on but it was Grimsby who almost grabbed it in stoppage time as Hughes-Mason broke and, with numbers to his right, Lawless cynically brought him down and was promptly yellow-carded.

Conor Townsend’s free-kick was touched over the bar by Tyler, but only a goal-kick was given and, although Luton poured forward once more, that was the way it stayed as Luton upset supporters made their feelings known at the end.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Alex Lawless, Danny Crow, Robbie Willmott (Shane Blackett 81), Jake Howells (Stuart Fleetwood 90), Curtis Osano, Godfrey Poku, Andre Gray, Janos Kovacs. Substitutes not used: Craig McAllister, Andre Boucaud, Adam Watkins.

Mariners (4-5-1): James McKeown, Gary Silk, Michael Coulson, Craig Disley (C), Rob Duffy (Louie Soares 62), Shaun Pearson, Bradley Wood (Kiernan Hughes-Mason 73), Conor Townsend, Iam Miller, Andrew Wright, Peter Winn (Anthony Elding 63). Substitutes not used: Andi Thanoj, Charlie l’Anson.

Bookings: Tyler 26; Wood 67; Lawless 90+3; Disley 90+4.

Referee: A Davies.

Assistant Referees: S Finch and A Quelch.

Fourth Official: P Lavelle.

Attendance: 6,419 (Grimsby 484).

Star Hatter: Keith Keane. Battled away in the middle and was happy to have a go whenever the chance present itself.