Nine-man Romans frustrate the Town

HATTERS went top of the Blue Square Bet Premier tonight, but it wasn’t in the fashion they would have liked as they were held by nine-man bottom of the table Bath City, writes Mike Simmonds.

The hosts hadn’t even won a point on home soil this season and it looked like Luton would coast to victory after Amari Morgan-Smith gave them the lead on 44 minutes, but Town paid the price for a lack of urgency in a poor second period as City pegged them back late on.

Hatters boss Gary Brabin made two changes to the side that beat Lincoln City at the weekend with loan signing Janos Kovacs, who impressed all evening, handed his second debut in the centre of defence in place of the suspended Dean Beckwith, while Robbie Willmott was dropped to the bench in favour of John Paul Kissock.

Luton had the best of the opening period as they were on top against a home side looking devoid of confidence.

Striker Stuart Fleetwood had Town’s first sight of goal on 10 minutes and, after some neat passing, his right-footed curler was gathered in by Glyn Garner.

Morgan-Smith was easily Luton’s most dangerous player as the half wore on, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Kissock slipped at the vital moment and dragged his shot wide.

Hatters put together their best move of the match when Jake Howells’ cross was intelligently dummied by Danny Crow but Morgan-Smith couldn’t connect properly and fired past the post.

Charlie Clough was lucky to stay on the pitch as, having already been booked for scything down Fleetwood, he went to ground and brought down Morgan-Smith after a lovely run in which he beat three players.

The attacker got up to take the free-kick and curled a beauty round the wall but Garner at full stretch produced a marvellous save, palming his shot away.

Morgan-Smith was causing the home defence massive problems as this time he was hauled back by Paul Stonehouse, who was also booked, giving Town their third free-kick in almost exactly the same spot.

This time Morgan-Smith went for the other corner, but Garner was easily into position.

Bath were down to 10 men on 39 minutes as Clough was finally dismissed after sliding in on Jake Howells inches outside the area and was shown a second yellow card – the fourth Luton game in a row that has featured at least one dismissal.

Hatters made their man advantage count moments before the break when Fleetwood’s glorious curler hit the post and Morgan-Smith showed a striker’s instinct to sidefoot the rebound into the net for his seventh of the season.

After the break, City’s Ben Swallow sent an audacious volley off target, before Joe Burnell put a free header over the bar.

Makeshift right-back James Dance was struggling against Swallow and was replaced by Aaron O’Connnor, before Burnell sent another effort off target.

The substitute almost had a hand in Town adding to their tally, as his threaded pass found Morgan-Smith in the clear, but the goalscorer badly overhit his cross.

There was very little attacking intent from either side in the second period until Howells went on a driving run from full-back and fed Fleetwood whose shot was held at the second attempt by Garner.

From there though, Bath were level on 72 minutes as Swallow broke past Will Antwi’s weak challenge and his shot was parried by Mark Tyler, but Lee Phillips was following up to score.

Kissock slalomed his way past four defenders and his shot from distance was acrobatically tipped behind by Garner, while Morgan-Smith should have had a second, nodding substitute Willmott’s corner wide.

Some wizardry from Willmott almost conjured up the winner as his cross hit Fleetwood and then into the gloves of Garner via Gethin Jones’ deflection.

The hosts were then reduced to nine men as Stonehouse harshly earned his second yellow for fouling Collin Samuel, on for his Town debt, while Jamie Hand was desperately close as his low drive was turned aside by Garner.

Morgan-Smith then should have had a penalty after he was clipped in the box, but nothing was given as, despite moving into top spot, Town were left to reflect on an ultimately frustrating evening.

Romans: Glyn Garner, Sekani Simpson, Paul Stonehouse, Gethin Jones (C), Charlie Clough, Marc Canham, Adam Connolly, Ben Swallow, Joe Burnell, Torbjorn Agdestein (Lewis Hogg 46), Lee Phillips (Scott Murray 81, Mark Preece 90). Substitutes not used: Alex Russell, Jim Rollo.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Jake Howells, Alex Lawless (C), Danny Crow (Collin Samuel 76), John Paul Kissock (Robbie Willmott 76), Stuart Fleetwood, Will Antwi, James Dance (Aaron O’Connor 54), Jamie Hand, Amari Morgan-Smith, Janos Kovacs. Substitutes not used: Adam Watkins, Kevin Pilkington.

Bookings: Clough 9; Jones 19; Stonehouse 27; Phillips 44; Stonehouse 88.

Sent off: Clough 40; Stonehouse 88.

Referee: P Banks.

Assistant Referees: A Matthews, K Morris.

Fourth Official: R Hulme.

Attendance: 1,158 (442 Luton).

Star Hatter: Jamie Hand. Intelligent display from the midfielder.