Town extend unbeaten run as they battle past Alfreton

Goals from Luke Guttridge, Andre Gray and Paul Benson ensured Luton triumphed, although the play-off chasing Reds made it very hard work at times.

Prior to the game, Alfreton boss Nicky Law had joked he might play a 1-9-1 formation, after watching Town demolish Wrexham 5-0 on Tuesday night, and although it wasn’t quite as bad as that, the visitors clearly set out their stall to spoil the fixture from the start.

Taking an age over throw-ins and constantly operating their delaying tactics whenever possible, it worked for the visitors as Luton failed to fire off a shot in the opening 25 minutes.

Despite their antics, the Reds managed to have the first two half chances as Daniel Bradley fired well wide of Mark Tyler’s goal.

Former Town midfielder Godfrey Poku had clearly been charged with not letting Guttridge from his sights either, obediently following him all over the pitch from the word go.

But as manager John Still had alluded to in the week, the hosts and home suppoters managed their frustrations perfectly, taking the lead with their first notable attack.

Gray dropped deep to the left flank and floated over a cross that reached an unmarked Guttridge, who had finally escaped the attentions of his personal shadow Poku.

His first shot was blocked, but the rebound went straight through keeper Jon Worsnop who should have done much better.

With the shackles now off, Town settled into their usual rhythm and Benson almost made it 2-0, dancing through the defence, but his final shot was crowded out.

Jake Howells was finding some much needed space on the left flank too and only a few desperate blocks saw his deliveries fail to find their target.

Alfreton, now not content on just defending, almost had a leveller before the break as a grounded Tom Shaw stuck out a foot, diverting his shot straight at Tyler.

Gray then stabbed over from the edge of the box after it had looked like Guttridge was going to shape to shoot, as Luton went into the interval with the all-important breakthrough.

In the second period, Shaun Harrad sent a looping header wide, before Town turned on the style again, as they have done so often this term.

Fraser Franks almost had his first goal for the club when his downward header from a corner was kicked off the line by Michael Wylde.

Hatters quickly put the game to bed though, thanks in a large part to Reds defender Andrai Jones.

First, he shanked inches wide of his own post from Guttridge’s scuffed free kick.

Then when the resulting corner was half-cleared, he tried to shepherd Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s pass behind, which allowed Scott Griffiths to slide in and his cross was poked in from a yard by Gray for his 25th of the campaign.

Tyler was then called into his first real action, narrowing the angle as Harrad escaped Town’s defence, to parry his fierce drive.

Left with no other option but to push men forward, Alfreton finally started to show their attacking capabilities, with Ruddock Mpanzu making an excellent block, before Tyler flipped Bradley’s drive over the top.

Reds’ positive intent allowed Town to exploit the gaps at the back though as Benson warmed the palms of Worsnop from Gray’s neat reverse pass, while Gray almost had his second of the afternoon.

Latching on to Griffiths’ long ball, he outmuscled Wylde, rounded Worsnop, but with the angle getting narrower and narrower, he could only find the side-netting.

The only worry of the half saw Guttridge stretchered off on 70 minutes for what looked like an anonymous collision.

A deserved third arrived late on for Town as a defensive mistake saw the ball fall to Howells and with the visiting back-line nowhere to be seen, he found Benson, who toe-poked over Worsnop.

Sub Alex Lawless displayed great feet to bring a header down on the edge of the box and his low drive was deflected inches wide for a corner.

A fourth was almost bagged in injury time, as Worsnop clawed the excellent Howells’ deflected curler away, as Luton stayed 14 points clear of nearest rivals Cambridge, who ended their run of poor form with a thumping 5-1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ronnie Henry, Scott Griffiths, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty, Cameron McGeehan (Matt Robinson 65), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Jake Howells, Luke Guttridge (Alex Lawless 70), Paul Benson (Jon Shaw 88), Andre Gray.

Subs not used: Anthony Charles, Elliot Justham.

Alfreton: Jon Worsnop, Bradley Wood (John Akinde 76), Connor Franklin, Michael Wylde, Josh Law, Tom Shaw, Daniel Bradley, Nick Fenton (C), Godfrey Poku, Shaun Harrad, Andrai Jones.

Subs not used: Darran Kempson, Paul Clayton, Danny Meadows, Jay McFadzean.

Booked: Poku 77, T Shaw 88.

Referee: Colin Bankes.

Attendance: 8,412 (79 away).

Hatters MOM: Jake Howells. Excellent once more on whatever wing he popped up on.

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