Town cling on for a point in a true game of two halves

Blue Square Bet Premier: Cambridge United 1 (0) Luton Town 1 (1)

A REAL game of two halves saw the Hatters cling on for a point as they drew 1-1 at Cambridge United this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Town had dominated the first half at the Abbey Stadium and deservedly led through Stuart Fleetwood’s low drive.

But the Hatters were forced on to the back foot in the second half and, after substitute Liam Hughes had equalised within seconds of coming on, Town had to weather a late barrage to claim a share of the spoils.

Te Hatters made three changes to the team that beat League Two strugglers Northampton Town 1-0 in the FA Cup the week before.

New left-back Greg Taylor was handed his full debut following his transfer from Darlington, Fleetwood was recalled up front after serving a one-match ban and James Dance started on the right, having recovered from a broken cheekbone.

Keith Keane and Amari Morgan-Smith missed out through injury, John Paul Kissock dropped to the bench and Kevin Pilkington was preferred to Mark Tyler goal, who again had to make do with a place among the substitutes.

Town got their first glimpse of goal six minutes in when Taylor played a clever ball down the line and Fleetwood got in behind, but could only stroke tamely at Danny Naisbitt.

Fleetwood looked lively early on and did well to win a free-kick on the edge of the box on nine minutes, but Jake Howells’ free-kick flew just over the bar.

Town were given a big of a let off moments later though as Michael Gash laid the ball into the path of Luke Berry and his shot seemed to hit the arm of George Pilkington with his back to the ball and referee Tony Harrington waved away U’s appeals for a penalty.

And Luton deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes when Dance did well on the right before threading a great ball through to Fleetwood. The Town striker produced a perfect first touch before driving low past the despairing Naisbitt.

The Hatters continued to press with Aaron O’Connor having a blast well blocked and, although Dance was on hand to expertly fire home the loose ball, the U’s were rescued by the lineman’s flag for an earlier handball.

Cambridge though were lucky to still have all their men on the pitch on 24 minutes when O’Connor did well to race on to Dance’s long pass and was bundled over on the edge of the area by Josh Coulson, but nothing was give.

The home side were a threat going forward and, after Kevin Pilkington had been forced to turn a deflected cross round the post, Coulson curled well over from the edge of the box.

And the Hatters wasted a gilt-edged chance to double their lead after half an hour when a sublime first-time left-foot pass by Dance saw O’Connor outpace Michael Wylde but, one-on-one with Naisbitt, his touch let him down and the ball ricocheted in the keeper’s grateful grasp.

A twinkle-toed run by Tom Shaw almost opened up Luton’s defence, while Janos Kovacs was penalised for a push in the U’s box as the Hatters threatened to score again.

A thunderous 35-yard drive from Kevin Roberts brought a fine full-stretch save out of Kevin Pilkington with eight minutes of the half left, while at the other end Alex Lawless saw a well hit volley from the edge of the box blocked by a defender.

Playing in all white the Hatters looked coherent and dangerous every time they went forward and, with their defending becoming ever-increasingly desperate, O’Connor’s left-foot volley was well held by Naisbitt on the stroke of half time.

Town started the second half as they finished the first with Lawless looping an effort over, while a cut to Kovacs’ head saw his sport a head bandage and a clean shirt with no name or number.

The game became more and more stretched as Gash fired well wide as the U’s proceeded to up the pressure.

Winger Ashley Carew was the U’s biggest threat and his powerful free-kick on the hour drew a good save from Kevin Pilkington as Town were forced on to the back foot.

Cambridge introduced fresh legs in the form of Jordan Patrick as Gash and Carew continued to give Town’s defence plenty to think about.

Having soaked up plenty of pressure Luton almost hit Cambridge with a sucker punch on 68 minutes. Lawless’ pass was superbly dummied by Fleetwood and, after O’Connor had seen his drive from the edge of the box blocked by two flying Cambridge bodies, Fleetwood dragged his first-time follow-up about a foot wide.

A chest back by Roberts had to be saved by the alert Naisbitt, while the pacey Fleetwood and O’Connor’s against threatened with 15 minutes to go but were thwarted by some last-ditch Luton defending.

The linesman’s flag rescued the Hatters on 76 minutes when Gash turned home from close range, but it was just a short reprieve as Cambridge levelled seconds later.

Shaw darted down the left and his pull-back found Cambridge players queueing up at the back post as substitute Liam Hughes, who had only been on for a matter or moments, lashed home.

Buoyed by that goal Cambridge pressed for a winner, Carew’s free-kick fortunately deflecting straight at Kevin Pilkington with 10 minutes to go.

Town threw new Stoke loan signing Ryan Brunt and exciting youngster Adam Watkins on in a desperate bid for inspiration, but it was the U’s who looked the most likely to grab a winner.

Shaw thrashed just wide and a Gash effort dipped just over as Town continued to give the ball away too easily.

Cambridge laid siege to the Luton goal in the closing moment as three minutes of injury time were added.

Town came close to nicking it at the death when Howells released Fleetwood and his cross was almost turned into his own net by Roberts, but at the final whistle both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils as Town stayed seventh in the table.

U’s (4-4-2): Danny Naisbitt, Kevin Roberts, James Jennings, Josh Coulson, Michael Wylde (C), Tom Shaw, Michael Gash, Ashley Carew, Rossi Jarvis, Luke Berry (Liam Hughes 74), Peter Winn (Jordan Patrick 63). Substitutes not used: Adam Marriott, Blaine Hudson, Jonathon Thorpe.

Hatters (4-4-2): Kevin Pilkington, Greg Taylor, George Pilkington (C), Alex Lawless, Stuart Fleetwood, Aaron O’Connor, Jake Howells, Curtis Osano, James Dance (Ryan Brunt 77), Jamie Hand (Adam Watkins 84), Janos Kovacs. Substitutes not used: Mark Tyler, Robbie Willmott, John Paul Kissock.

Referee: Tony Harrington.

Assistant Referees: Adam Fielding and Adrian Gillett.

Fourth Official: Stephen Phipps.

Attendance: 4,796 (Hatters 1,754).

Star Hatter: James Dance. Bravely played despite his broken cheekbone and produced most of Luton’s guile.