Town pay penalty after double miss

Hayes & Yeading 2 (2) Luton Town 2 (2)

WASTEFUL Hatters missed two penalties as they spurned the chance to win three valuable points against perennial strugglers Hayes & Yeading at the Kingfield Stadium last night, writes Mark Wood.

Both Danny Crow and Jake Howells had their spot-kicks saved in the first half and, although Amari Morgan-Smith netted the rebound from one, it was profligacy the Hatters can scant afford.

Louie Soares scored twice for the hosts and, while Crow made amends by netting, Town couldn’t force the victory most expected.

Luton named an unchanged side from the team that beat Braintree 3-1 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday as they started on the front foot but were caught with a sucker punch after just four minutes.

A lightning counter-attack by Hayes saw Pierre Joseph-Dubois burst into the area and his mishit shot wrong-footed Mark Tyler and ran kindly for Soares to power into the unguarded net.

Despite being a goal down Luton were getting some joy down the left through Howells and Robbie Willmott, although United almost doubled their lead on 12 minutes when they found another gaping hole in the Hatters’ defence.

Luke Williams’ through ball caught them flat-footed and Richard Pacquette raced through, but Curtis Osano recovered well to block.

The visitors continued to press and spurned a glorious chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Crow raced on to a big punt over the top and did well to muscle his way through before the tumbling Diak John clipped his heels.

Referee Tim Robinson was a long way behind the play but pointed to the spot, booking John for his indiscretion.

Crow brushed himself down but his firm effort destined for the bottom left-hand corner was brilliantly saved by Steve Arnold as Town’s terrible luck from the spot continued.

Luton were playing some nice football with the greyhound-like Howells bombing forward and it was from one of his forays that he got goalside of Harrison Bayley and the full-back pulled him down, giving the referee no option but to point the spot.

Bayley also saw yellow and this time Howells stepped up but the result was again predictably the same as Arnold saved low to his left, but Morgan-Smith was quickest to the rebound and coolly slotted home a 26th-minute equaliser.

Sensing blood the Hatters snatched the lead just two minutes later. Alex Lawless’ clever lobbed pass found Crow who controlled well before rounding the exposed Arnold and sliding home.

There was a third yellow card for Hayes when Mark Bentley chopped down Howells before an injury forced the Welsh U21 international off six minutes before the break as he was replaced by Ed Asafu-Adjaye – an injury that was to prove pivotal.

Wingers Willmott and James Dance both showed flashes of brilliance, while Crow whistled an effort wide of the mark.

An unfortunate mistake by Asafu-Adjaye on the stroke of half time fell kindly for Soares on the edge of the area who fired home the leveller.

Ryan Crockford fired an ambitious free-kick well over in the opening moments of the second half, while Soares got the better of Asafu-Adjaye and skewed wide.

A bitty second half saw both sides struggle to build any real momentum and only a brilliant recovery tackle by Will Antwi prevented Joseph-Dubois from getting in behind.

Adam Watkins was introduced to give Luton more zest, but Pacquette sent a close-range header just wide, while Crow glanced Willmott’s deflected cross over.

A Lawless firecracker thudded into the hoardings while Keith Keane whizzed a howitzer inches over.

Hatters switched formations and a change of formation and flanks between Morgan-Smith and Willmott almost paid dividends but Tom Cadmore did well to block Town’s top scorer from netting again.

Arnold then came to Hayes’ rescue again with 13 minutes to go when another clever Lawless pass put in Watkins but the keeper produced a superb sprawling save and a home player was on hand to clear off the line.

Some haphazard Town defending almost let Hayes in for a winner with four minutes to go when Tyler produced a great save to beat away Williams’ effort.

An end-to-end finale saw Hayes push hard for a winner while Town looked to craft a killer strike, but neither could find the net as Town were held to a frustrating draw.

United (4-5-1): Steve Arnold, Diak John (Jack Saville 44), Jamie Hand (C), Tom Cadmore, Louie Soares, Ryan Crockford (Hector Mackie 74), Pierre Joseph-Dubois (Daniel Wishart 85), Luke Williams, Mark Bentley, Richard Pacquette, Harrison Bayley.

Substitutes not used: Nathan Elder, Delroy Preddie.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Keith Keane (C), Dean Beckwith, Alex Lawless, Amari Morgan-Smith, Danny Crow (Aaron O’Connor 77), Robbie Willmott, Jake Howells (Ed Asafu-Adjaye 39), Will Antwi, Curtis Osano, James Dance (Adam Watkins 62).

Substitutes not used: John Paul Kissock, Kevin Pilkington.

Bookings: John 16; Bayley 25; Bentley 32; Hand 90; Saville 90+3.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Assistant Referees: M Mellor and N Wilde.

Fourth Official: A Serrano.

Attendance: 1,015.

Star Hatter: Keith Keane. Broke up the play superbly as he dominated the middle of the park.