Victorious Luton Achieve Survival

The game started for town with an unusual line up, with several key personnel absent including their Captain Russell Maidment, Goalkeeper Thomas Briggs and top goalscorer Alan Clark. It was left to Vice Captain Dean Pierce to lead the team in their penultimate home game of the season. For Town there was also the knowledge that the winner of this match would be more or less safe from relegation, whilst the loser would still be in the thick of the dog fight.

The home side appeared to be on the defensive right from the push back, with Royston pushing up the pitch at any opportunity and a mis-matched town defense struggling to keep them at bay. The first major scare came within the first 10 minutes, a powerful strike from a short corner conceded by Glen Lath, forced a save out of deputy Goalkeeper George Ball. Town were able to clear a and suddenly found themselves pushing up the pitch, a winding run by Dean Pierce through the centre of the pitch and pass to Phil Bright could only be forced over the sideline by the Visiting Defender. From this town were able to find Pierce in the penalty area, who was able to draw a foul and win the Short Corner. The resultant shot was hit just wide of the goal by Robin Barnes.

From there the game seemed relatively even, with both defences protecting their goalkeepers effectively. Indeed it was a defensive error that finally led to the opening goal. A miscommunication between young star Adam Abubacker and Glen Lath allowed the Royston striker to run 1 on 1 with the Home Keeper George Ball, who was helpless to prevent the visitors taking the lead.

It had looked for a while as if the score would remain 1-0 at the interval, but shortly after the half-hour mark Dean Pierces cross from the right hand side found Carter Bright who finished expertly to level the scoring before half time.

Half Time Score: Luton Town 1-1 Royston

The home side jumped out of the traps in the second half, with much of the possession and territory in their favour, and both Cameron Bright and Steven Pierce forcing saves out of the travelling goalkeeper early on. After nearly 10 minutes of dominance at the start of the second half Town finally broke through with Phil Bright's ball across the face of goal reeking havoc in the Away Sides penalty area, with Sam James and Robin Barnes bouncing shots off the Keeper and Defenders alike until the ball was finally forced over the line by Sam James to give the red the lead for the first time.

Town continued their strong form, and despite back to back Royston Short Corners, Town were able to keep pestering the Royston keeper, Robin Barnes having a majority of the efforts, though none found the goal. Finally however the home side were able to extend their lead still further when Strong play down the Right hand side saw Dean Pierce run into the penalty area and pulling the ball around a defender to unleash a back-stick shot that spun between the Royston Keepers feet to make the score 3-1. Shortly after the ball crossed the penalty area once more, but striker Sean Preece could not make contact with the ball.

Town may have thought that they had the game won, and it showed as a moment of sloppy defending allowed Royston the chance to get back into the game with a short corner, with a powerful shot that flew between defender Fraser Smith and keeper George Ball.

The home side did not let the goal stop their dominance however, and the apparent free-for-all continued when Cameron Bright ran unchallenged into the penalty area and struck the ball powerfully into the goal to give Luton their fourth. Bradley Jackson who was having another solid performance managed to win the ball from a sideline hit and carry the ball as far as the penalty area, but was stopped by the Royston Left Back.

Just minutes later Town rounded off the scoring with a moment for the dubious goals committee, Sam James shot ricochet off the keeper onto the crossbar before being bundled over the line. After much deliberation the goal was awarded to Robin Barnes for his second goal in as many games.

The goals were finished but the drama was not, Royston mustered one final shot on goal, but the mis-controlled ball flew high and struck defender Glen Lath powerfully on the knee, bringing the defender to the ground and causing a brief delay to the game. Despite a close first half, the result was never in doubt in the second, and Town's third home victory of the season kept them in 6th place and ensured they were now mathematically safe from relegation.

Final Score: Luton Town 5-2 Royston

Luton Town Goalscorers: Carter Bright, Sam James, Dean Pierce, Cameron Bright, Robin Barnes
Player of the Match: Steven Pierce