Wonderful Walker torments tame Town in sorry defeat

LACKLUSTRE Luton turned in by far their worst performance of the season as they were blown away 3-0 by York City at Bootham Crescent this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Town were outplayed by the Minstermen throughout with maligned former Hatter Jason Walker their tormentor in chief as Luton’s 10-game unbeaten run came to a crashing end.

Lacking zeal, energy, creativity and tenacity, City’s slick passing game was simply too much for the visitors who seemed strangely out of sorts.

Trailing 3-0 at half time Town gave themselves no chance and they failed to raise their game sufficiently after the break as they cruised to defeat, despite the support of 606 Hatters fans who had made the long trip north.

Town made two changes from the team that was held to a 1-1 draw at Bath City on Tuesday night. With top scorer Amari Morgan-Smith suspended after picking up five bookings and Danny Crow dropping to the bench in came the fit-again Keith Keane at right-back and Robbie Willmott on the left wing.

A feisty atmosphere made for an even start and Stuart Fleetwood was just unable to get a telling touch on James Dance’s inviting seventh-minute cross.

Walker was being barracked by the Luton fans every time he got the ball, but it was from his flick header that the Minstermen grabbed the lead with a cracking strike on nine minute.

Ashley Chambers cut in from the right and unleashed an unstoppable strike past the despairing dive of Mark Tyler in the Luton goal.

Buoyed by that strike York carried the game to the Hatters and should have doubled their lead on 13 minutes when Jamie Reed harried Will Antwi into a mistake in the box but with only Tyler to beat his lob ran wide of the far post.

Rattled Antwi then missed a straightforward interception chance seconds later as Reed was allowed a clear run on goal but Tyler stood his ground well to save with his legs.

Luton were being forced into too many long balls as City looked confident and comfortable on their own patch as they continued to put the visitors under pressure.

But a swift breakaway by the Hatters caused the Minstermen problems on 27 minutes, only for Alex Lawless’ clever chip to the far post to go unpunished.

Fleetward flashed over before the Minstermen doubled their lead on 31 minutes, predictably through former Hatter Walker. After good work on the right the ball broke to Walker on the edge of the area and he swept expertly home like he failed to show during his whole spell at Kenilworth Road.

Ex-Minsterman Lawless was yellow-carded for a foul on Jon Challinor as Town were being outfought and out-thought by the home side.

Finally Luton showed some life with seven minutes of the half to go, Willmott and Jakes Howells linking well on the left, before Fleetwood curled just wide.

Three minutes of injury time were added and a dreadful first half got even worse as City made it 3-0 in the second minute of stoppage time. Chambers and Walker combined well with the latter pulling the ball back from the byline for Chambers to scuff his volley home.

The ineffective John Paul Kissock was strangely withdrawn just before the break for Aaron O’Connor as Luton faced a mountain to climb in the second half.

Lawless made way for Adam Watkins at the break as disappointing Town looked for a way back into the game and yet it was York who started the brighter, Chambers thudding inches wide in the opening seconds.

A marauding run from Keane threatened early on and some slick play between Fleetwood and Jamie Hand resulted in the midfielder firing miles over when he should have at least hit the target.

Keane, moved forward into the midfield, produced another powerful run before slotting Fleetwood in, but there was no finish before that man Walker came within inches of a wonder goal on 54 minutes when the diminutive striker let fly from 30 yards but his swerving effort thudded off the bar and out with Tyler beaten.

Walker certainly had the bit between his teeth and terrorised the Hatters at every turn – looking like a completely different player from just a few months before.

A jinking run from Willmott almost ended in Challinor clipping his heels in the box before more inconsistent refereeing saw Chambers escape a possible sending off on 61 minutes.

Chambers collapsed in a heap claiming an elbow from Janos Kovacs, kicking the floor with his feet, before jumping to his feet and shoving the Hungarian in the chest, but failed to receive even a yellow card.

The tackles began to fly in with Fleetwood seeing yellow and Hand harshly penalised for a crunching challenge.

A sprightly Jake Howells run ended in Michael Ingham tipping his off-target strike round the post and Janos Kovas heading the subsequent corner straight at the keeper.

More good play from York saw Walker loft a good chance over from close range, while the Hatters lacked urgency as the game petered out.

Willmott flashed a well-placed free-kick over the mark with 18 minutes to go, while Challinor replied the favour at the other end.

Some trickery from Willmott showed some promise near the end but he lashed his shot miles wide before Hand’s ambitious long-range strike was easily fielded by Ingham.

There was a flurry of late yellow cards for York, while Andre Boucard struck straight at Tyler.

Walker was given a hero’s reception as he was withdrawn and Keane fired an effort straight at the keeper before being yellow-carded for a rash challenge at the death as sorry Town limped to defeat.

Minstermen (4-3-3): Michael Ingham, James Meredith, David McGurk, Jamie Reed (Adriano Moke 66), Scott Kerr (C), Jason Walker (Liam Henderson 90), Ashley Chambers (Matty Blair 76), Andre Boucaud, Jamal Fyfield, Jon Challinor, Patrick McLaughlin. Substitutes not used: Chris Smith, Daniel Parslow.

Hatters(4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Keith Keane (C), Alex Lawless (Adam Watkins 46), Robbie Willmott, Stuart Fleetwood (Danny Crow 80), Jake Howells, Will Antwi, James Dance, John Paul Kissock (Aaron O’Connor 45+3), Jamie Hand, Janos Kovacs. Substitutes not used: Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Kevin Pilkington.

Bookings: Lawless 34; Fleetwood 63; Blair 88; McGurk 88; Keane 90+4.

Referee: Tony Harrington.

Assistant Referees: Kevin Raine and Shaun Hudson.

Fourth Official: Iain Turner.

Attendance: 3,570 (Luton 606).

Star Hatter: Keith Keane. Had the heart for the fight but lacked the back-up from his team-mates.