Striker Fleetwood lobs home winner as Hatters claim Canaries triumph

A MIXTURE of first teamers, youngsters and a trialist earned the Hatters a 1-0 victory over Hitchin Town in a specially-arranged friendly at Top Field on Tuesday night, writes Mark Wood.

Defenders Dan Gleeson, Shane Blackett and Will Antwi all got 90 minutes under their belts, new signing Greg Taylor played 45 minutes along with trialist striker Romano, as Town triumphed thanks to Stuart Fleetwood’s lobbed winner just before the break.

The game was just over a minute old when Fleetwood fired in the first shot, but his effort was easily saved by Martin Bennett.

John Frendo escaped the attentions of Luton’s defence on four minutes but youth team stopper Lewis Kidd did well to get a hand to the ball and force it behind.

Louis Lee fired wide of the mark and Kidd then got down well to James Edgerley’s low drive.

Christian Tavernier and Fleetwood combined on 12 minutes, but Romano was unable to get on the end of his cross, while Taylor had a shot blocked.

At the other end Kidd was unable to hold Frendo’s longer ranger but he recovered to grasp the ball at James Arlick’s feet.

Fleetwood sent a free-kick wide, before Gleeson’s cross ran to Jake Woolley at the back post on 17 minutes and, after Bennett had made a good save, Romano could only send the follow-up out of the ground.

Romano and Fleetwood interchanged midway through the half, but the latter’s chip drifted over. Fleetwood then produced another good turn and shot but to no avail as the teams seemed well matched early on.

Blackett headed powerfully over from a corner as Town threatened in fits and bursts against a familiar Hitchin team that seemed to have more coherency and kept the ball better than the Hatters.

A terrible pass allowed Frendo to intercept but Arlick could only fire wastefully wide when well placed.

Blackett blocked well from Edgerley after he had skipped into space in the box with six minutes left of an uninspiring half.

Town should have broken the deadlock three minutes later with the move of the half. Taylor played a pinpoint ball through to Fleetwood, who ran at the Hitchin defence but, one-on-one with Bennett, his shot went inches wide.

Luton finished the half strongly as moments later, Woolley nipped on to Blackett’s pass ahead of the home keeper and pulled the ball back to Taylor whose first-time effort whizzed wide.

Town claimed the lead a minute before the break when Fleetwood took advantage of hesitancy in the Canaries defence and lobbed past the dithering home keeper.

The Hatters rolled the changes at the interval and good work by Woolley created an opportunity for Colby McAdams early in the second half as his fizzing effort was fortunately turned behind by Bennett.

Home substitute Zak Burke then saw a powerful effort fly just wide, while at the other end, tall Town striker Alasan Ann dragged an effort wide.

A great first touch from Woolley created room on the edge of the box, but he lashed wide as Town youngsters showed plenty of promise against their Southern League Premier rivals.

Misplaced passes prevented the game from picking up any rhythm, although Luton looked increasingly in control in the closing stages as Ann’s turn and curling effort brought a fine save from substitute Hitchin keeper Bartolomiej Pedrycz.

Lee fired a rare second half effort wide for Hitchin in the closing stages while Town sub Jerome Jibodu lashed over after a nice move.

With a minute left Tony Fontanelle slipped in the box and, although McAdams seized on the mistake, he could only shank his shot wide.

Canaries: Martin Bennett (Bartolomiej Pedrycz 80), Tony Fontanelle, Tom Pepper (C, Mitchell Cole 70), Lawrie Stewart (Dean Gilbert 46), Marc Leach, Louis Lee, Ieuan Lewis, Callum Donnelly, Jamie Arlick (Luke Gregson 70), John Frendo (Zak Burke 46), James Edgerley.

Hatters: Lewis Kidd, Dan Gleeson, Greg Taylor (Jerome Jibodu 46), Paul Carden (Jerry Nash 46), Shane Blackett, Will Antwi (C), Colby McAdams, Christian Tavernier, Romano (Alasan Ann 46), Stuart Fleetwood (Nick Burtenshaw 46), Jake Woolley. Substitutes not used: Brett Longden.

Referee: R Smith. Assistant Referees: C Scott and C Lowry.