The future’s bright, the future’s orange as Hatters bounce back with three second half goals to beat dogged Chester

Skrill Premier: Luton Town 3 (0) Chester 0 (0)
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Three goals in the last 20 minutes saw the Hatters grind out an invaluable 3-0 victory over Chester at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Town showed great resolve as they bounced back from their first defeat in 28 games to Woking on Monday.

A nervy encounter saw relegation-threatened City give it a real go before the Hatters made sure of victory in the closing stages.

Supersub Matt Robinson opened the scoring just three minutes after coming on as he saw his deep cross sail over the head of keeper Aaron Chapman as Town snatched the lead.

They then made sure of victory thanks to Andre Gray’s deadly finish, before capping off a hard-fought win with Paul Benson’s blast in injury time.

It was a massively important win for the Hatters as they stretched their lead over non-playing Cambridge United to 14 points, although the U’s, who take on Gosport Borough in the FA Trophy final tomorrow, do still have a game in hand.

Before kick-off it was confirmed Luton’s home shirt for next season would be orange, winning the vote by 373, as Town made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 at home for the first time this season to Woking on Monday.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Andy Parry returned to the starting XI, as Cameron McGeehan missed out through injury and Robinson started on the bench alongside new signing Luke Rooney.

Jake Howells tried to head down an early Parry centre for Benson, before City had the first effort on eight minutes when Steve McNulty’s defensive header fell to Nathan Turner as the midfielder sliced wide.

The visitors looked undaunted going forward as good work by Jamie Menagh on 10 minutes saw him tee up Andy Bond to drive over.

Town though were playing slightly better than on Monday night as Scott Griffiths’ powerful header released Gray, but he was crucially nudged by Michael Kay as Chapman was able to claim the ball.

More good play from the Hatters on 15 minutes saw Benson knock down Howells’ deep cross as skipper Ronnie Henry burst on to the loose ball and forced Chapman to parry as he was again denied on his 79th appearance for the club.

Gray was harshly penalised for a foul as he looked to be brought down on the edge of the box, before then being cynically blocked off by Joe Heath who became the first name in the book.

Howells whipped in the subsequent free-kick, but Benson could only head tamely at Chapman, before Kay was booked soon after for an awful sliding challenge on Gray.

With neither side in control Menagh curled well off target on 28 minutes before John Rooney became the third City man in the book for time-wasting seconds later.

The bookings continued to flow as Mpanzu looked to break on 33 minutes and Bond and Menagh attempted to check him on his way. Both were subsequently booked to make it five yellow cards in 12 minutes for the Seals.

Hatters looked to push home their advantage as Benson did magnificently to head Henry’s centre back across goal, only for Kay to head clear.

Chester though always looked dangerous going forward and broke at pace again with five minutes of the half left as John Rooney’s drive from the edge of the area was bravely blocked by Griffiths with the winger claiming handball.

The wide man continued to try his luck, twice firing wide after Gray had been booked for a trip when getting back at right-back.

Luton finished the half strongly as Griffiths’ tantalising cross was headed behind by Heath and from the half cleared corner Alex Lawless skewed just wide as the sides went in at the break all square.

Town started the second half brightly as Griffiths burst to the byline and his cross was battered away by the keeper.

City proceeded to force four corners in quick succession with Mark Tyler being forced to turn skipper Paul Linwood’s header over the bar.

A nervous encounter saw both teams going for it as Howells was just unable to get a telling touch to Benson’s cross, with the target man then unable to connect with an acrobatic overhead kick after Parry had headed the ball back into the box.

Good work by Henry resulted in his cross running to Griffiths who drove over at the far post as Town started to pile on the pressure.

Chances at both ends came on the hour when Nathan Turner got free on the edge of the area and poked at Tyler.

Great work by Mpanzu then saw him find Benson in the box who teed up the onrushing Gray to force a fine save from Chapman at his near post.

And from the subsequent corner Howells picked out the unmarked Griffiths, but his header into the ground bounced over the bar.

Town looked to change it up introducing Mark Cullen and Robinson for Howells and Parry.

Benson should have given the Hatters the lead on 68 minutes when Gray’s chipped cross picked him out on the penalty spot, but he headed straight at Chapman.

Luton though snatched the lead in massively fortuitous circumstances with 20 minutes to go.

Robinson had only been on the pitch three minutes when he whipped in a deep cross from the left flank and, with Chapman having taken a step forward, he was forced to look on as the ball looped over his head and into the top corner.

There were still plenty of jitters though as a free-kick was taken and Tyler couldn’t hold on to John Rooney’s long-range drive, but reacted brilliantly to save at the feet of the onrushing Kay. Heath then arced in a cross to the far post as Craig Hobson headed over.

Cullen just overhit his pass as he tried to play in Mpanzu, while John Rooney whipped another effort wide of the mark.

A defensive mistake almost let Benson in on 78 minutes as Chapman had to race to the edge of his area to deny the striker.

Lawless was added to the long list in the referee’s notebook for a poor challenge before threading Gray through as Chapman came rushing out to save well.

Luke Rooney made his debut on 82 minutes as he replaced Mpanzu and seconds later Town doubled their lead.

Cullen poked Gray through and Town’s top scorer finished unerringly into the far corner for his 26th goal of the season.

And Town put the icing on the cake in the second minute of stoppage time when a defensive header hit Benson a few yards out and he thundered home from close range.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells (Mark Cullen 62), Scott Griffiths, Andy Parry (Matt Robinson 67), Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson, Andre Gray, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luke Rooney 82). Substitutes not used: Jon Shaw, Elliot Justham.

Seals (4-3-3): Aaron Chapman, Michael Kay, Joe Heath, Paul Linwood (C), Craig Hobson, Jason Jarrett, Lewis Turner, Nathan Turner, Andy Bond, John Rooney, Jamie Menagh. Substitutes not used: John Danby, Craig Lindfield, Tom Peers, Danny Carlton, Liam Blake.

Booked: Heath 22; Kay 24; J Rooney 29; Bond 33; Menagh 34; Gray 43; Lawless 80.

Referee: R Whitton.

Assistant Referee: A Tonks and G Kinnear.

Fourth Official: L Forrester.

Attendance: 8,475 (City 229).

Star Hatter: Fraser Franks. There were a number of contenders, but the big centre-half brings real composure to the defence.