Lawless late show sees Hatters snatch Nuneaton win

The Alex Lawless late show left Kenilworth Road rocking as Luton’s most consistent performer netted twice in the dying minutes to grind out a 2-0 home win over Nuneaton Town this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

It had looked like it would be another frustrating bore draw for the Hatters until Lawless surged forward late on and let fly with a stunning 25-yard effort into the top corner to put the Hatters ahead.

And the tireless Lawless made sure of victory in the third minute of stoppage time when he overlapped past Jake Howells and curled confidently past the exposed keeper as Town narrowed the gap at the top to four points.

Town were forced into two changes from the side that controversially lost 3-2 to Braintree at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night. With Stuart Fleetwood suspended after his sending off in that game and Jake Robinson dropping to the bench, in came Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and the fit-again Scott Rendell.

A slow start from both sides saw Rendell’s header from a corner flicked behind and JJ O’Donnell’s overly-ambitious and opportunistic effort run harmlessly wide.

Neither Rendell nor Jon Shaw were able to capitalise on Ronnie Henry’s searching cross on 15 minutes either.

With nothing between the teams Andy Brown stole a march on Luton’s defence five minutes later and keeper Mark Tyler had to be alert to clear.

Moments later Andre Gray finally had the first effort of the afternoon, whizzing wide from range.

Luton were struggling for tempo and frustratingly far too many passes were going astray with a number of players getting caught in possession.

The Kenilworth Road faithful became increasingly restless with their lethargic and careless performance as the boos started to ring out with 10 minutes of the half left.

Proceedings were finally pepped up on 37 minutes when the lively Gray cut in from the right and his driven cross was parried by keeper Ben McNamara into the path of O’Donnell, but his follow-up was straight at the keeper and the visitors cleared.

Town should have taken the lead seconds later when Rowe-Turner’s cross was allowed to sneak through but Shaw on the stretch was unable to divert the ball home.

James Armson was the first man into the book for a late challenge on Howells and, after doing well to clear Lawless’ dangerous free-kick Gray’s wayward effort found the onrushing Rendell at the far post but he could only knee wide.

Town started the second half much better, Howells storming down the right and leaving several players in his wake, only for Shaw to see his powerful drive blocked.

Gavin Cowan became the second man in the book for a cynical tug on Gray, while Connor Essam also saw yellow for a trip on the edge of the area, but Armson curled harmlessly over from Boro’s first effort of the day.

Henry’s cross picked out Rendell on 58 minutes, but his curler drifted just wide before Essam made way for Dan Walker on 63 minutes.

His introduction gave Luton an immediate boost, but quickly waned as static Town lacked urgency and creativity.

Boro finally managed a couple of corners and threatened both times. From the first, captain Gaz Dean’s shot slipped through but was never going to reach the line before Boro finally tested Tyler. The Town keeper did well to beat away Cowan’s header and Henry then bravely blocked Adam Walker’s follow-up as Town were just able to clear their lines.

With Nuneaton gradually falling off and dropping back Gray cut in but dragged wide, while Danny Sleath was allowed to burst on to a scrap but shanked wide.

Last-ditch defending saved Boro with 10 minutes to go when Lawless’ cross ran for Shaw but Dean recovered brilliantly to block his shot.

Increasingly desperate, Town were still unable to create any clear-cut chances as Town’s fans started singing ‘what a load of rubbish’.

But just as those chants were dying down Town snatched the lead out of the blue with four minutes to go.

Lawless surged from the back and from 25 yards out let fly with an unstoppable rocket into the top left-hand corner as Kenilworth Road erupted with relief.

Having been been rested for several games, Janos Kovacs replaced Gray with a minute to go much to the satisfaction of the home fans who gave him the warmest of receptions.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added and having survived a couple of free-kicks, Luton doubled their lead three minutes into stoppage time when Lawless broke up a Boro attack and he and Howells broke at pace. The Welsh U21 held off his pass before eventually slipping Lawless through who, one-on-one with the keeper, calmly curled home to cap a hard-fought win.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Alex Lawless, Jon Shaw, Scott Rendell, Jake Howells, Simon Ainge, JJ O’Donnell, Connor Essam (Dan Walker 63), Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray (Janos Kovacs 89). Substitutes not used: Jake Robinson, Matt Robinson, Dean Brill.

Boro (5-3-2): Ben McNamara, Gavin Cowan, Gaz Dean (C), Adam Walker, Wes York (Robbie Thompson-Brown 69), Andy Brown, John Adams, James Armson, Danny Sleath, Simon Forsdick, Delroy Gordon. Substitutes not used: Ben Ford, Tom James, Stephen O’Halloran.

Bookings: Armson 42; Cowan 51; Essam 57.

Referee: Michael Bull.

Assistant Referees: A Dale and C Pearse.

Fourth Official: M McIntyre.

Attendance: 6,148 (264 Nuneaton).

Star Hatter: Alex Lawless. Consistent performer added goals to another tireless performance.