Woolley on target as Hatters earn Stevenage draw

JAKE Woolley’s second half goal ensured Luton Town picked up a deserved point in their Football Combination clash with Stevenage at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

The teenager, on as an early replacement for Tommy Wright, showed his predatory instincts to turn in Charlie Henry’s right wing cross on the hour in an entertaining encounter.

Hatters picked a strong side with all 11 players having made a senior appearance this season, while Dan Gleeson made a welcome return from injury to complete 90 minutes.

Opponents Stevenage also named a powerful starting 11, but Town dominated large periods and almost made a bright start as Harley Kelly gifted possession away in his own area and Wright’s goalbound shot was blocked by Phil Edwards.

Wright took a knock in the act of shooting and was replaced by Woolley, who impressed all afternoon with his non-stop display of running.

Adam Watkins also went close as his rasping side-footed effort from 20 yards drew a superb save from Alan Julian who touched it over the bar, while Henry cut inside to fire a shot across Julian’s bows.

It should have been 1-0 to Town on 20 minutes when Danny Crow linked cleverly with Henry, only for the winger to drag his shot wide of the post and pound the turf in frustration,

John Paul Kissock almost broke the deadlock on 23 minutes when Julian puzzlingly opted to punch Christian Tavernier’s deep cross and the midfielder swivelled his hips but volleyed off target.

It took Stevenage 27 minutes for their first effort of any note, although Kevin Pilkington was in no danger of being tested by Jennison Myrie-Williams’ wayward free kick.

Completely against the run of play, the visitors went ahead when a cross wasn’t cleared by Gleeson and Don Cowan coolly side-footed into the corner of the net.

Hatters didn’t let the goal faze them as Crow’s dinked cross was met by the head of Dean Beckwith, who couldn’t keep his effort down.

Despite the match being a reserve game, both sides produced a number of meaty challenges on a zippy surface, which had it been a league encounter, wouldn’t have gone unpunished by the officials.

Woolley continued to look full of beans and from one burst, crossed to the near post where Tavernier’s effort was deflected behind.

Minutes into the second half, Town came desperately close to a leveller as Crow’s cross was met at the back post by Kissock whose header beat Julian, but not the covering Edwards on the goal line.

Antwi was next to threaten as his glancing header skidded behind, while Gleeson almost ended the afternoon for the linesman after colliding with him, but he managed to hobble through and complete his flag duties for the afternoon.

The hosts’ deserved equaliser finally came on the hour mark and in fine style too.

A quick free kick was played into Crow’s feet and his delightful reverse pass found Henry on the right wing. The former Newport man took a touch before firing in a cross that Woolley side-footed into the roof of the net first time from close range.

Woolley almost added his second moments later, but couldn’t quite turn in Antwi’s downward header.

Stung by the goal, Stevenage finally upped their tempo and Myrie-Williams almost restored the lead when his cross shot was just out of the reach of Edwards.

Crow sent a pot shot well over, while Watkins thunderbolt was unconvincingly dealt with by Julian, who managed to fist it away ungainly.

Kissock set off another weaving run and after making some space, fizzed an effort into the empty seats in the Kenilworth Road end as the game became an end to end affair.

Myrie-Williams was becoming a constant threat on the left flank and from his delightful ball across the middle, Cowan toe-poked over from three yards.

Akin Abiola-Daromola then whizzed a daisycutter just past the post from distance, while at the other end Henry broke clear and saw his shot blocked away for a corner.

With time running out, Julian made a fine reaction stop to prevent Edwards turning in Henry’s excellent delivery, before Joel Byrom warmed the palms of Pilkington with an audacious 30 yard volley.

From the rebound, Gleeson dallied and Pilkington needed to be alert to nick the ball of Guy Madjo’s feet, but despite both sides giving their all, neither could force a winner.

Hatters: Kevin Pilkington, Dan Gleeson, Shane Blackett, Christian Tavernier, Dean Beckwith, Will Antwi (C), Charlie Henry, Adam Watkins (Nick Burtenshaw 89), Tommy Wright (Jake Woolley 4), Danny Crow, John Paul Kissock.

Subs not used: Lewis Kidd.

Stevenage: Alan Julian, Akin Abiola-Daromola, Harley Kelly, Josh Walker, Byron Harrison (Wilson Corvalho 15), Phil Edwards (C), Darren Murphy (Jessie Parsons 72), Joel Byrom, Guy Madjo, Don Cowan, Jennison Myrie-Williams.

Subs not used: Farah Hallam, Jake Knight.