Town End Season In Defeat

Once again Luton arrived at their final match of the season with key personnel missing. Without either their Captain Russell Maidment or top goalscorer Alan Clark, the latter having scored 5 in the 7-4 victory in the reverse fixture, town knew the match wouldn't be easy.

Both teams started well, with Stevenage holding a majority of the possession but Luton happy to hold them to the half way line. There were very few efforts on goal within the first 20 minutes of a relatively quiet game, a minor injury to Daniel Crimp the only major action. It was not until Robert Maidment got caught up in an off the ball incident with an opposition player that things began to liven up. The umpires calmed things down but town were left outraged just moments later when Stevenage were incorrectly awarded a free hit just inside the attacking quarter, and with several visiting players including Left Back Glen Lath out of position, giving Stevenage an easy route to goal and a 1-0 lead.

Town attempted to fight back but were punished for playing too narrow when a pass between Sam James and Cameron Bright was cut out and a rapid Stevenage counter attack had defenders back peddling. Luton's Harpreet Uppal was able to intercept a Stevenage pass, but could only clear the ball as far as the Attacking players. In the confusion Keeper Thomas Briggs attempted to charge the striker down, but the ball was simply moved around the Luton stopper. A shot was mustered from the striker, only to meet Fraser Smith on the line , who could not prevent the ball rising onto his body and conceding a penalty flick.

The flick was taken powerfully into the bottom right hand corner, far out of the reach of the keeper to make the score 2-0. things might have got worse soon after, when yet another counter attack left a 3 on 1 with the Luton keeper, but a poor pass allowed Briggs to stop the attack and Steven Pierce was able to get back and clear the ball. Shortly after Luton Town were retreating once again, a powerful ball was sent down the Left Hand side creating a running race between Martin Crimp and the home sides Winger, but contact between the two left them both on the floor and caused a temporary halt to proceedings.

Stevenage did manage to scrape a third goal before half time, but not without its controversy. A foul by Cameron Bright on the half way line was left to a Stevenage advantage, and when Martin Crimp stopped the ball in the final quarter, the free hit was given, but far from pulling the play back, the striker continued play from the non-stationary ball, cutting several defenders out of the game and leading to another goal to make the score 3-0 despite the visiting sides anger.

Half Time Score: Stevenage 3-0 Luton Town

Town were noticeably better straight from the start of the second half, with fine wide play down the Left hand side allowed Bradley Jackson time and Space for the first time. The winger was able to cross the ball to Sam James who's shot was blocked by the home keeper, who'd had a quiet game thus far. At the other end it was Luton Keeper Thomas Briggs turn to show his quality, making a fine diving save to prevent a waist high shot hitting the net, and was able to return to his feet in time to block the near post rebound shot.

The game was becoming stretched now and Town, now using the wings, were causing problems for Stevenage defenders, with Steven Pierce's ball into the area found by Robin Barnes who won a short corner. Town were unable to muster a shot however and Stevenage forced yet another counter attack and another fine save by the inspired Luton keeper.

It was Luton's time to counter, with fine play down the left hand side. Cameron Bright fired the ball into the area and Robin Barnes hit in off a defender to lessen the deficit. It seemed that Luton's fight back was well and truly on, but their ambitions took a blow when Robert Maidment was awarded a Yellow Card for physical play. 10 man Luton were not about to give up however, another fine build up caused a scramble in the penalty area, with both Robin Barnes and Sam James having shots on goal. In the confusion the ball had appeared to cross the line before being cleared, but to Luton's horror only a Short Corner was awarded.

Chances of a comeback were now looking unlikely, but could have been extinguished altogether when a Stevenage striker broke 1 on 1 with the Luton Keeper, the lob shot saved by the impressive Briggs on the helmet. A clumsy swing for the falling ball led to the home player striking the keeper on the chest and earning himself a yellow card. Despite a man advantage, Luton could not close the gap, despite 2 further short corners.

It had been a sour end to the season for the improved Luton Side. They were, however safe from relegation, eventually finishing 8th, and it had been an impressive run for Robin Barnes who had scored in 3 of the last 4 games.

Final Score: Stevenage 3-1 Luton Town

Player Of The Match: Thomas Briggs