Superb Strikes End Towns Charge

It was a slightly mixed team for Luton Towns trip to Bishops Stortford, with several key players missing. The blues had come from behind to win 4-3 in the reverse fixture in November. On that occasion town striker Robin Barnes had managed his first goal in over a year however, and was hoping to repeat that feat.

The home side started the stronger, but Town were able to settle the game down, and were able to take the lead when Sam James dodged several tackles before hitting a back-stick shot past the keeper. Town remained strong and after a couple of substitutions they were pushing the home side higher up the pitch.

The pressure couldn't last however, whilst pushing high up the pitch the Luton defense were caught on the break, leading to an open shot by an unmarked striker to level the scoring, Despite the best efforts of lone defender Fraser Smith. Town picked up a little but harsh yellow card for Alan Clark provided an unwelcome set back.

Town performed well with 10 men however and nearly spawned a few good chances, with Dean Pierces ball in from the left picked off by a defender, and Will Maddens run through the middle could not find the goal. Steven Pierce was able to find space along the base line, and was able to find Robin Barnes who could not complete the move. With Clark back on Town continued to press, but could not find the goal leaving the half time score: Bishops Stortford 1-1 Luton Town.

The visitors had planned to keep up the momentum in the second half but were dealt a severe blow when the Blue's winger escaped past Damian Hayward and ran through the Town defense before firing a powerful shot between the legs of the helpless keeper Thomas Briggs to give the home side the lead for the first time. The Animosity in the game had begun to rise, with a succession of Stortford shots fired wide of the goal.

Town were beginning to push up the pitch and were enjoying more possession than their opposition, but a rapid counter attack and a stunning shot from a tight angle at the edge of the area put pay to their efforts. A fourth goal would surely finish the game off and that was exactly what was in store, a sleeping Luton defense failed to pick up the striker playing high, who was found by his midfielder and was left 1 on 1 with the Town keeper to make the score 4-1 to the home side.

If the home side were expecting Town to give up however, they were sorely mistaken as the fourth goal seemed to have triggered a new life in the Reds who fought back strongly, giving the home sides defense several scares, with both William Madden and Alan Clark firing wide. At the other end Bishops Stortford broke free again, with a runner through the center running 1 on 1 with Briggs who ran out to meet the striker, managing to force the ball wider giving Daniel Crimp time to run to the back post. The strikers shot hit the stationary foot of crimp, with only a long corner being awarded. The home side however were demanding a Penalty Flick, but after much deliberation the umpires finally awarded a Short Corner.

Stortford knew by Towns new found form that the game wasn't won yet, but their short corner shot was hit wide. A quick re-start by the visitors and a fine ball by Sam James ran a little ahead of Forward Robin Barnes who could not beat the keeper who cleared only as far as Chris Madden. Town were pushing harder and harder with several long corners coming to nothing. They were able to muster another quick counter attack however, with the ball through the middle by Sam James was once again slightly ahead of Barnes, but this time he was able to dive at the ball and squeeze it past the keeper for his first goal of 2015.

Town continued their strong fightback, but the final ball was letting them down on multiple occasions to leave the final score: Bishops Stortford 4-2 Luton Town.

Luton Town Goalscorers: Sam James, Robin Barnes
Player Of The Match: Sam James