Town Defeated By Clinical Blue's

The Home side started strongly against promotion challengers Blueharts, whom they had beaten 3-2 in the corresponding fixture in October. Town were matching their opposition with most of the possession in the midfield, and although Town were unable to fashion and shooting opportunities early on, a Mixture of Martin Crimps solid tackles and in form keeper Thomas Briggs' creative saves kept the scores level. Eventually Blueharts did find a way through however, when a powerful shot was stopped on the line by Dean Pierce but a heavy touch gave the ball straight back to the travelling striker who gladly opened the scoring.

Towns fight back was fierce and after a couple of well worked attacks Will Madden was able to conjure a shot that fell just wide of the target. Town were outraged when a blatant foul on Alan Clark went unpunished, and their anguish was greatened when Clarks retaliation earned him a Yellow Card. Town remained strong with 10 men however, re-shaping well and preventing the visitors from gaining and efforts on goal whatsoever.

Back to 11 men the reds seemed determined to level up before half time, 2 powerful short corner shots by Alan Clark was saved by the keeper, and a last minute free hit, smacked powerfully into the D found Will Madden, who couldn’t quite squeeze the ball past the keeper.

Half Time Score: Luton Town 0-1 Blueharts

Town would have wanted to get themselves back in the game as quickly as possible, but it was the visitors who stretched their advantage shortly after the re-start, a powerful shot from a strong counter attack left the home keeper with no chance. Town had a majority of the possession, and were now achieving several strong attacks, with yet another short corner shot by Alan Clark only meeting the pads of the Blueharts Keeper.

Town had been the architects of their own downfall, a statement compounded when a pass across the face of goal by the Town Defender was happily picked off by Blueharts to give them a 3 goal lead. Town would still not give up however, and after yet more dominating play they reaped their rewards, Alan Clarks Short Corner drag flick finally finding the back of the net. Luton now had something to cling onto and the result could have been different by the end, Dean Pierce running through 1 on 1 with the keeper only to be denied. Another good run by Fraser Smith saw his shot get trapped under the keeper, with a short corner awarded before it could be freed. The resultant shot was saved and Blueharts could see the end was near.

Town had been pressing higher and higher in the closing exchanges which finally cost them yet another goal when a speedy Blueharts counter attack left 2 players running clear of the defense, and the ball passed around the charging keeper to make the final score Luton Town 1-4 Blueharts

Luton Town Goal scorer: Alan Clark
Player of the Match: Martin Crimp