Nine-man Bucks hold on to beat Hatters as they claim their first away win in more than a year

An incident-packed afternoon at Kenilworth Road saw nine-man AFC Telford United end their year-long winless run on the road with a 1-0 win over Luton Town, writes Mark Wood.

Another poor first half performance from the Hatters allowed the Bucks to score what turned out to be the winner through Kieran St Aimie’s header, but it was a commotion-filled second half for what the game will be remembered.

A mass scuffle saw Daniel Preston and Luton skipper Ronnie Henry dismissed with a little over 10 minutes to go before Bucks substitute Jake Reid followed seconds after coming on for an awful elbow on Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.

The Hatters laid siege to the AFC goal for much of the second half but, despite having several good chances, were unable to find an equaliser on another frustrating afternoon at Kenilworth Road.

Town made two changes from the team that started the 2-1 win at Hyde last Friday night. A late injury to Janos Kovacs ruled the Hungarian out and Greg Taylor dropped to the bench with Jake Howells and Adam Watkins coming in as the Luton defence was re-jigged.

Luton made a bright start and should have been ahead after just 17 seconds. Jon Shaw’s flick ran nicely for Stuart Fleetwood in the box and his heavy touch fell to Watkins who could only spiral over the bar.

Moments later another Shaw flick found JJ O’Donnell but the covering defence got back just in time to put him off.

An open start saw Will Salmon’s fourth-minute cross graze the bar before Town were awarded a free-kick in a great position on the edge of the box for a pull on Yaser Kasim, but Fleetwood’s effort was straight into the wall with Howells’ follow-up blocked.

A deep cross from Fleetwood found Shaw lurking at the far post but he could only head over, before Luke Hubbins was booked for a rash challenge on O’Donnell.

The Hatters again went close from that free-kick when Fleetwood flashed the ball across the six-yard box and Shaw’s glancing header hit Rowe-Turner’s head on the way behind.

Town were dominating with Alex Lawless’ 17th-minute blast palmed away by Ryan Young, while only a great covering block denied Fleetwood.

The Bucks were looking to hit their hosts on the break and Steven Leslie’s fine pass picked out James Spray midway through the half but he could only lash over.

And the visitors almost grabbed the lead out of the blue on 24 minutes when Nathan Rooney latched on to a loose ball in the middle and his fabulous 30-yard effort drew a magnificent one-handed save from Mark Tyler.

Kasim’s 27th-minute corner caused consternation in the box but skipper Henry was just unable to connect with Scott Rendell sliding in and firing wide.

An overly-ambitious effort from Spray saw him loop past the target, while Shaw was causing plenty of problems at the other end with his aerial prowess.

Pacy winger Hubbins was proving a real menace on Telford’s right, forcing Howells and O’Donnell to double up, but not even their combined efforts could stop him standing the ball up into the box as St Aimie headed over.

Watkins battled his way on to Shaw’s knockdown but could only fire straight at Young, while at the other end Rooney wriggled free and only Rowe-Turner’s telling touch from his cross took the ball away from St Aimie waiting in the six-yard box.

Howells was struggling to contain Hubbins as the AFC wideman skipped past him and fired wide.

Town were then made to pay for an extremely average first half performance as the Bucks snatched the lead three minutes before the break when Leslie’s free-kick picked St Aimie out and he headed powerfully past Tyler.

A laboriously-worked corner ended in O’Donnell firing well over before Shaw’s cross was almost turned into the net by a visiting defender as the Bucks led 1-0 at the break.

Taylor was introduced for Kasim at the interval and Luton missed a glorious chance to equalise three minutes in. Taylor’s pass was dummied into Shaw’s path by Fleetwood and the pair then played a superb one-two to leave the target man with just Young to beat, only for Shaw to inexplicable poke the weakest of efforts straight at the keeper.

Watkins was withdrawn for Andre Gray on 55 minutes and that immediately seemed to energise the Hatters. Shaw’s deflected effort was beaten away by Young before he and Rendell carved out an opportunity for Gray but the substitute could only poke wide.

A flowing move saw Howells and Fleetwood exchange passes and Gray’s lofted cross to the far post was clawed away from under the bar by Young and behind Shaw as Town’s frustrations grew.

Telford made a double change by introducing Jon Brown and Kris Taylor, before Leslie’s low effort was deflected behind for a corner and St Aimie’s speculative effort was easily snaffled.

The game then burst into life as Shaw challenged for Henry’s high ball into the box and, as the keeper spilled it, Jordan Rose hooked clear with Shaw unable to bundle the ball home.

With Telford incensed Fleetwood’s cheeky chip beat the keeper but rebounded off the bar before Shaw was pushed over in the Telford box and all hell broke loose as a 21-man scuffle broke out.

Eventually centre-half Preston saw red on 78 minutes, quickly followed by Luton skipper Henry, with instigator Rose merely booked.

AFC sent on their last sub Reid on 82 minutes and just seconds later he too was heading for an early bath as he caught Rowe-Turner with a terrible elbow while going for a header.

Gray fired wide from Rendell’s knockdown before the striker was unable to get an effort away from Rowe-Turner’s header at a corner.

It was complete one-way traffic as Town laid siege to nine-man Bucks with six minutes of stoppage time time added.

Ball-after-ball was thrown into the Bucks’ box as shot-after-shot from the Hatters failed to find the target as they succumbed to their first defeat of the season.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Alex Lawless, Jon Shaw, Scott Rendell, Jake Howells, Stuart Fleetwood, Adam Watkins (Andre Gray 55), JJ O’Donnell, Yaser Kasim (Greg Taylor 46), Ronnie Henry (C). Substitutes not used: Dean Beckwith, Jake Woolley, Dean Brill.

Bucks (4-4-2): Ryan Young, Will Salmon, Ryan Valentine (C), Daniel Preston, Nathan Rooney, Phil Trainer, Luke Hubbins (Jon Brown 67), Kieran St Aimie (Jake Reid 82), James Spray (Kris Taylor 67), Steven Leslie, Jordan Rose. Substitutes not used: Steve Jones, Jack Cudworth.

Booked: Hubbins 15, Rooney 38, Lawless 53, Trainer 75, Rose 79, Gray 85.

Sent Off: Preston 78, Henry 79, Jake Reid 83.

Referee: J Kopkins.

Assistant Referees: C Francis and T Goddard.

Fourth Official: J Burridge.

Attendance: 5,970 (Telford 111).

Star Hatter: Lathaniel Rowe-Turner: Behemoth at the back on a frustrating afternoon for Luton.