Hatters hold on for Hammers victory thanks to Stevenson’s rockets

Development Game: Luton Town 2 (2) West Ham United 1 (0)
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A pair of Jim Stevenson rockets helped earn Luton Town’s development team a sparking 2-1 victory over a West Ham United side at Kenilworth Road this evening (Tuesday), writes Mark Wood.

But the goalscoring midfielder’s fine evening was ruined midway through the second half as a hefty challenge forced him off as he worryingly made his way from the field on crutches.

The impressive Blair Turgott pulled a goal back for the Hammers early in the second half before seeing a late penalty well saved by Elliot Justham as the Hatters held on to complete the double over the London side.

There were plenty of fireworks on this Guy Fawkes Evening encounter that once again showed the Hatters have real strength in depth as they look to launch an assault on the Skrill Premier title.

Town named a strong side for the encounter as nine players with first team experience started the game alongside two trialists - former Juventus right-back Andrea Pisani and ex-Leicester City youngster Jide Maduako.

West Ham, meanwhile, named a largely inexperienced team. First teamers George McCartney and Alou Diarra started as they made their comebacks from injury, while Dan Potts and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu also had experience of first team football with the Hammers.

The game got off to a terrible start for the Hatters as Alex Wall chased a ball forward and pulled up holding his hamstring after just two minutes and was replaced by 27-year-old French forward Steve Ahoua.

Jim Stevenson proceeded to drag harmlessly wide, while Turgott’s fierce shot at the other end was straight at Justham who gathered at the second attempt.

A snapshot from distance forced Raphael Spiegel into his first save of the evening, while the lively Turgott, who helped Bradford City to the League Cup final while on loan there last season, fired over at the other end.

But Town took the lead with a peach of a goal on 16 minutes when Ahoua made a real nuisance of himself and Matt Robinson teed Stevenson up on the edge of the area whose side-footed effort found the right-hand top corner.

After a sprightly start from the Hammers, the hosts started to take control. Ahoua saw an effort deflected wide after another good pass from Robinson, while JJ O’Donnell’s effort had the string taken out of it by a covering defender as Spiegel easily saved.

A number of players were struggling to keep their feet on a slippery surface as a slip by Pisani allowed Sean Maguire to break on the right after 29 minutes. The covering Brett Longden put in an awful challenge that would normally have brought at least a yellow card, but went unpunished in this development team encounter.

And a swift Luton break saw them double their lead after half an hour when Robinson again teed Stevenson up on the edge of the area and his fabulous rasping drive found the far corner.

Matthias Fanimo’s powerful long range effort was well palmed away by Justham, before sending another effort just wide four minutes before the break.

And right on the stroke of half time Luton were given a massive let off when Kieran Sadlier got free on the right and his heavily-deflected effort off Andy Parry hit the far post as Justham gathered on the line.

Team-mates Andre Gray, Danny Fitzsimons and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner were all well wrapped up as they watched on from the stands.

Town made two changes at the break as David Martin and David Viana replaced Ahoua and O’Donnell.

And the visitors made the perfect start to the second half as they pulled a goal back after six minutes.

Good work by Maguire released Sadlier on the left as he burst into the box and Justham couldn’t hold his driven cross as Turgott was on hand to fire past the recovering keeper.

Luton looked to respond as Mark Cullen glanced Pisani’s cross wide and Stevenson and Cullen combined to set up Robinson who fired over from the edge of the box.

At the other end Maguire could only shoot straight at Justham after the ball had fortuitously rebounded to him on the edge of the area.

The Hammers made a quadruple change, but it was Luton who almost grabbed a third, but Stevenson just couldn’t connect with Solomon Taiwo’s corner that flashed across the face of goal as he missed out on his hat-trick.

The midfielder then received a lengthy spell of treatment after a meaty challenge from Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Good combination play from Taiwo and Viana ended in Robinson drilling in a left-footed effort that Spiegel saved, before Stevenson was finally replaced by transfer-listed midfielder Arnaud Mendy who was given a rare run out by the Hatters. Worryingly for Luton Stevenson made his way around the field on crutches with physio Simon Parsell in close attendance.

A number of niggly challenges were going in as Hammers started to threaten an equaliser late on as they finished the game stronger.

Cullen proceeded to fire a presentable chance just wide, while Turgott’s low effort was almost fumbled by Justham before Sadlier should have levelled the scores on 71 minutes when a tackle looped to him in the box, but he volleyed wastefully wide.

Sub Dylan Tombides dragged another effort wide for the visitors and Turgott again danced into the box on 77 minutes but could only roll at Justham.

Tombides broke clear again moments later but lofted over the bar before West Ham won a penalty with six minutes to go when Mendy foolishly slid in and fouled Ruddock Mpanzu on the edge of the box and referee P Forrster pointed to the spot.

But Justham came to Luton’s rescue as he guessed right, getting down well to his left to save Turgott’s spot-kick.

Buoyed by the save Town were denied a third moments late when Robinson and Cullen cleverly combined only for Spiegel to deny the young striker’s curler with a fine one-handed save as Luton saw out the remaining minutes to claim victory.

Hatters (4-4-2): Elliot Justham, Andrea Pisani, Brett Longden, Jide Maduako, Andy Parry, Jim Stevenson (Arnaud Mendy 67), Solomon Taiwo (C), Mark Cullen, Alex Wall (Steve Ahoua 4, David Viana 46) , JJ O’Donnell (David Martin 46), Matt Robinson. Substitutes: Kevin Mbala, Craig King.

Hammers (4-3-3): Raphael Spiegel, Amos Nasha (Kyle Knoyle 62), George McCartney (C, Frazer Shaw 46), Alou Diarra (Moses Makasi 62), Dan Potts, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Blair Turgott, Taylor Miles (Danny Whitehead 62), Sean Maguire, Matthias Fanimo (Dylan Tombides 62), Kieran Sadlier (Kieran Bywater 78). Substitutes: Sam Howes, Reece Burke, Josh Cullen.

Referee: P Forrester.

Assistant Referees: A Rayment and L Wood.

Attendance: 164.

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