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Hatters fight back from behind to win through to final
Grecians grounded by happy Hatters
Errea South West Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Exeter City 2 (1) Luton Town 3 (2)
A committed display from the Hatters saw them fight back from a goal down to beat the Grecians 3-2 and win through to the final of the Errea South West Challenge Cup at Bideford tomorrow.
Alex Russell may have given the League One outfit an early lead, but non-league Luton hit back with a goal each from their deadly striking duo of Liam Hatch and Tom Craddock.
Second half Town were pegged back by a goal from Craig McAllister, only for substitute Drew Talbot to hit his second goal in two pre-season games and ensure victory for the Hatters.
The Hatters named what looked like a first choice team for encounter against the Grecians with a good blend of youth and experience. They also named both new wingers, Adam Newton and Andy Burgess, who gave them the width they were sorely missing all of last season.
Fortunately for Luton it was also decided that Alan White would only be given a one match friendly ban for his sending off against Bideford and served it today at Barnstaple's Mill Road home.
Town got off to a good start and Newton was just unable to connect with Jake Howells' tantalising cross on five minutes, while Burgess had an effort deflected behind soon after.
Luton should have taken the lead from the subsequent corner, when Kevin Nicholls' ball in found Craddock unmarked at the front post. His flick-on found the impressive Hatch at the far post, but he struggled to get the ball out form under his feet and his tame effort was easily saved by Andy Marriott.
Keith Keane's mistake let in Elliott Freer on 10 minutes, but Town's defence were just able to rebel the attack as they were threatened for the first time.
Particularly impressive in the air, Hatch then headed Nicholls' curving free-kick just wide, while James Dunn missed a gilt-edged opportunity to hand City the lead.
After a great run down the left Freer pulled the ball back to Dunn who fired wastefully over from just eight yards out with the goal gaping.
However, the Grecians were ahead seconds later. Russell was allowed acres of space in behind the Hatters' defence on the quarter-of-an-hour mark and made no mistake as he fired past the stranded Mark Tyler.
Some neat interchange play between Craddock and Adam Newton released the winger on 20 minutes, but he spooned his effort horribly over.
Town were finding left-winger Freer a real handful, but were enjoying plenty of the ball without creating too many clear cut chances.
Having struggled to break their Devon rivals down some trickery from Burgess almost opened them up with nine minutes of the half left, but no-one was able to get on the end of his inviting cross.
But the Hatters did equalise two minutes later when Hatch's hard work paid dividends. Having won the ball well he released Burgess, whose cross caused consternation in the box. The ball eventually fell to Hatch and his scuffed effort proved elusive as it trickled into the bottom right-hand corner.
And Luton looked to have taken the lead moments later when Hatch again did well to win the ball. Nicholls powered through the middle and his slide-rule pass sent Craddock clean through. His deft finish was too good for Marriott, but the linesman's flag harshly ruled out his strike.
Craddock, though, got his reward right on the stroke of half time when Asa Hall's lovely pass put him away and he made no mistake with a cool, calm finish past the helpless Tyler.
Nicholls was withdrawn by the Hatters at half time, with Claude Gnakpa coming on at right-back and Keane moving into the centre of Luton's midfield.
City almost made an explosive start to the second half when substitute James Norwood was allowed to race down the right, but his low drive was easily held by Marriott.
Exeter had made a whole host of changes at the break and looked much brighter early on in the second half.
The Grecians may have taken the game by the scruff of the neck, but they were finding chances hard to come by until sub Joe Burnell flashed a 20-yard effort just wide.
And Exeter levelled on 62 minutes when McAllister muscled his way past Ian Roper before stepping inside Town's defence and lashing the ball past Tyler.
That lead didn't last long, though, as Town were ahead again five minutes later thanks to a thrusting move right through the heart of the Grecians' defence. A flick-on sent substitute Talbot clean away and his first-time strike left Marriott with no chance.
Buoyed by Talbot's strike, and with the stuffing seemingly knocked out of City, the Hatters bossed the last 20 minutes.
Ryan Charles' fine cross was volleyed harmlessly at Marriott by Hall with 13 minutes left, while Norwood's header just beat the bar Luton bar with seven minutes left.
Tyler saved Luton's blushes with moments left as he scrambled the ball behind and the Hatters played keep-ball in the dying stages to ensure victory.
Grecians: Andy Marriott, Richard Duffy, Lewis Tasker, Troy Archibald-Henville, Rob Edwards, James Dunn, Alex Russell, James Berry, Elliott Freer, Barry Corr, Marcus Stewart. Substitutes: Scott Bennett, Joe Burnell, Steve Tully, Manny Panther, James Norwood, Craig McAllister.
Hatters: Mark Tyler, Keith Keane, Jake Howells, Asa Hall, Ian Roper, George Pilkington, Adam Newton, Kevin Nicholls (C, Claude Gnakpa 46), Liam Hatch (Drew Talbot 60), Tom Craddock (Ryan Charles 60), Andy Burgess (George Beavan 68). Substitutes: Preston Edwards, Kevin Gallen, Adam Watkins.
Referee: Lee Swabey.
Booked: Kevin Nicholls 40.
Attendance: 532.
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Weather for Luton
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
