Hatters net Benson as ‘imminent’ deal comes to fruition

29/12/12_SPORT
Action from Pompey vs Yeovil Town at Fratton Park.
Paul Benson celebrates pulling one back for Pompey.

Picture: Steve Reid (124184-050) — 29/12/12_SPORT Action from Pompey vs Yeovil Town at Fratton Park. Paul Benson celebrates pulling one back for Pompey. Picture: Steve Reid (124184-050)

As revealed by the Luton News/Dunstable Gazette Luton Town have finalised the signing of experienced striker Paul Benson.

Boss John Still confirmed the club’s interest and on Wednesday we revealed that he was set to sign ‘imminently’ - a deal that has now come to fruition.

Luton have beaten off competition from a host of Football League clubs to net the 33-year-old striker on loan from Swindon Town until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move.

He has been handed squad number 26 but will not feature for the Hatters against Cambridge United this afternoon.

The move reunites Benson with Still who discovered him while at White Ensign and turned him into a goal machine.

Benson netted 107 goals in 65 games in all competitions for the Essex League side and has scored 111 goals for Dagenham & Redbridge, Charlton, Swindon, Portsmouth and Cheltenham.

Under Still at Daggers he scored 82 goals, helping them to Conference title in 2006/07 campaign with 28 goals.

He was later sold to Charlton Athletic were he registered 10 times in 28 league starts, before moving to Swindon in January 2012.

He hit 12 goals for the Robins as Paolo Di Canio’s side won the League Two title, but following their subsequent promotion, the striker found regular first team football hard to come by and Benson was loaned to Portsmouth and Cheltenham last season, scoring six goals in 22 starts.