Fleetwood at the double as Town down Harriers

Blue Square Bet Premier
Kidderminster Harriers 0 (0) 
Luton Town 2 (2)

A brace of exquisite finishes from the in-form Stuart Fleetwood gave Luton Town a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough this evening, writes Mark Wood.

It was a disciplined and determined performance from the Hatters who created plenty of chances on the way to their first victory of the Blue Square Bet Premier season in front of a large number of travelling supporters.

Town made two changes from the team that drew 2-2 at home with Gateshead on Saturday.

With Jake Howells away on Wales U21 duty, Alex Lawless came into the midfield, while Jon Shaw made his first start for the Hatters with Andre Gray dropping to the bench, where Adam Watkins was missing with an ankle injury.

The defence though switched around with Lathaniel Rowe-Turner moving to centre-half, skipper Ronnie Henry to right-back and Greg Taylor to his preferred left-back slot.

Jack Byrne burst through a mass of bodies on five minutes but slid his effort wide before the woodwork came to Kidderminster’s rescue four minutes later.

Henry’s deep cross was helped back into the box by Shaw and the unmarked Scott Rendell could only loop his header on to the bar and over.

Luton took the lead with a lovely passing move on 23 minutes when JJ O’Donnell slipped the ball through and Fleetwood beat the offside trap before finishing coolly past Danny Lewis.

Town proceeded to play some lovely stuff and doubled their lead on the half hour when a square ball found Fleetwood in space and he curled home a sumptuous effort from 25 yards into the bottom right corner.

Three minutes later it was almost three when Taylor’s excellent free-kick found Janos Kovacs at the far post and his stooping header was clawed away by Lewis.

Quiet Kiddy did open Luton up when Kyle Storer’s pass found Keith Briggs but his cross-shot was well blocked by Rowe-Turner.

Briggs looked Harriers’ most likely source of a way back in and his cross picked out Marvin Johnson but his flick was well saved by Mark Tyler.

Enjoying a rare spell of pressure Johnson then had shouts for a penalty turned down as a combination of Taylor and Rowe-Turner thwarted him in the box as Luton enjoyed a well-earned lead at the break.

With nothing to lose Harriers started the second half on the front foot, Exodus Geohaghon peppering the box with his long throws and Byrne and Johnson both having efforts from outside the box deflected behind.

A Lawless pass just caught Fleetwood flat-footed while Kovacs was harshly booked for one foul too many on 55 minutes.

From the resulting free-kick Harriers should have pulled one back when Storer’s delivery found Ryan Austin unmarked at the far post but the centre-half could only side-foot wide.

Kiddy upped the work-rate and bossed possession with the Hatters looking to take advantage of Fleetwood’s pace on the break.

A Henry thump deflected just wide off the static Shaw, before Rendell was booked for a late challenge on Geohaghon.

Town were forced to defend resolutely until O’Donnell stung Lewis’ gloves with a fierce drive on 66 minutes.

A tempting Fleetwood cross across the six-yard box found no takers before the striker won the ball on halfway and almost crafted something out of nothing.

Anthony Malbon hooked harmlessly wide before springing the offside trap and dragging a good effort right across the face of goal.

Nice feet from Jamie Vincent created room on the edge of the box as he looped over before some lovely football from Luton saw Fleetwood’s chip graze the bar before being substituted for Gray who was booked within a minute for kicking the ball away.

Lawless’ chip drifted over before young midfielder Matt Robinson was handed his debut as an 88th-minute sub.

Four minutes of injury time were added but Harriers were spent as Town claimed victory.

Harriers (4-3-3): Danny Lewis, Kyle Storer, Exodus Geohaghon (C), Mike Williams, Jack Byrne, James Vincent, Ryan Rowe (Ricky Shakes 73), Anthony Malbon, Marvin Johnson (Danny Pilkington 79), Ryan Austin, Keith Briggs.

Substitutes not used: Mickey Demetriou, Chey Dunkley, Nathan Vaughan.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Greg Taylor, Janos Kovacs, Alex Lawless, Jon Shaw (Matt Robinson 88), Scott Rendell, Stuart Fleetwood (Andre Gray 80), JJ O’Donnell, Yaser Kasim, Ronnie Henry (C).

Substitutes not used: Dean Beckwith, Dan Walker, Dean Brill.

Booked: Kovacs 55, Rendell 61, Gray 80, Vincent 81.

Referee: Kevin Johnson (Weston-Super-Mare).

Assistant Referees: Kevin Morris and Iain Parsons.

Fourth Official: Adam Ricketts.

Attendance: 2,275 (Luton 542).

Star Hatter: Stuart Fleetwood. Two class finishes were the difference on the night.

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