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Hatters pay the penalty
Missed spot-kicks cost Town dear as they crash to defeat
Friendly
Hampton & Richmond Borough 1 (0) Luton Town 0 (0)
Wasteful Hatters paid the price for two penalty misses as they went down to a Blue Square South outfit Hampton & Richmond Borough today.
Town bossed most of the game, but were guilty of not taking their chances and lacked the ruthless edge they must possess if they are to win promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt when the season proper starts a week today at AFC Wimbledon.
Both Tom Craddock and Adam Newton failed to hit the target from the spot in the first half, and the Beavers took full advantage when Lawrence Yaku scored the winner midway through the second half.
The Hatters made four changes to the team that lost 2-1 to a Manchester United XI on Tuesday night. Liam Hatch (ankle) and Asa Hall both missed out with minor knocks, while Alan White and captain Kevin Nicholls, who will both be suspended at the start of the season, dropped to the bench.
In came on-loan Portsmouth starlet Callum Reynolds at right-back, Lewis Emanuel, who has just re-signed for another year, at left-back, Jake Howells on the left of midfield and Kevin Gallen up front.
There were three new notable names on the bench for Town, with former Stevenage and Barnet keeper Shane Gore, ex-Leyton Orient, Yeovil and Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Paul Terry, and striker Steve Basham, formerly of Exeter City, Oxford United and Preston North End, among Luton's substitutes.
Borough created the first chance at the Beveree, but Ashley Smith's effort flashed wide on five minutes.
And the Hatters spurned a glorious opportunity to take the lead on 10 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, after Craddock went down under a soft challenge in the box. However, the young striker tried to be too clever from the spot and chipped harmlessly over the bar.
Reynolds was impressing at right-back as he got forward at every opportunity, and it was one of his darting runs forward that created space on 24 minutes. His pass found Andy Burgess in space and his rasping low drive was well held by Chico Ramos.
A quickly-taken free-kick opened the Beavers up again on the half-hour mark as Emanuel, Howells and Craddock combined to set-up Burgess, but his low drive was deflected wide by a good block by Orlando Jeffrey.
And lightning bizarrely struck for a second time moments later as the Hatters missed another penalty. Burgess' free-kick was handballed by the defensive wall in the area and referee Paul Forrester had no option but to point to the spot again. This time up stepped Newton, but he too failed to hold his nerve, his 32nd-minute effort flicking the right-hand upright on its way wide.
Seconds later Borough had their best chance of the half to take the lead. Craig Tanner broke down the left and his cross found Lawrence Yaku at the far post, but the Hampton & Ricmond striker could only lob an effort tamely over.
Emanuel and Howells were being afforded the freedom of the Borough on the left-hand side and the hosts' failure to mark-up caused them problems again on 36 minutes, but Newton's far post header from Howells' centre dipped just over.
And the Beavers almost broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half. Town failed to properly clear a corner and Tanner looped the ball back in, but Yaku's point-blank header was straight at Mark Tyler.
Craddock scuffed a shot wide when well placed seconds later, while Keith Keane's dipping 30-yarder was just over.
Hampton & Richmond should have seized the lead on 59 minutes when the Hatters carelessly gave the ball away in the middle. Francis Quarm's through ball sent Yaku away, but he poked wastefully wide with just Tyler to beat.
Luton introduced Basham for Gallen, but almost immediately fell behind. Town were unable to deal with a ball in behind their defence and Yaku skipped past the grounded Pilkington before rolling the ball past the helpless Tyler on 63 minutes.
The Beavers were suddenly all over the Hatters, with Yaku again at the centre of it.
Burgess curled a harmless effort at Kevin Davies, but in truth Town were too tentative and, if anything, trying to play too much football.
And substitute Dave Tarpey should have made sure of victory for Hampton & Borough when he outpaced Alan White with four minutes left, but Tyler produced a great low shot to deny him.
Tarpey was the guilty man again two minutes later when he raced clear again, this time lofting his effort over both Tyler and the bar, but it mattered not as the referee's final whistle soon followed.
Beavers: Chico Ramos (Kevin Davies 46), Graham Harper (Stuart Lake 65), Craig Tanner, Orlando Jeffrey (Elliott Braithwaite 72), John Scarborough, Dean Wells, Jamie Collins (Marcello Fernandes 65), Francis Quarm, Leon Yarnie (Dave Tarpey 69), Lawrence Yaku, Ashley Smith (Barrie Matthews 65). Substitutes not used: Keiron Knight, Jon McDonald, Steve Tyson.
Hatters: Mark Tyler, Callum Reynolds (Claude Gnakpa 46), Lewis Emanuel (Kevin Nicholls 77), Keith Keane (C, Paul Terry 72), Shane Blackett, George Pilkington (Alan White 77), Adam Newton (Jordan Patrick 72), Andy Burgess, Kevin Gallen (Steve Basham 61), Tom Cradock, Jake Howells (Rossi Jarvis 46). Substitutes not used: Shane Gore.
Referee: Paul Forrester.
Assistant referees: Gary Taylor and Mark Englebeston.
Attendance: 397.
Star Hatter: Callum Reynolds. May have only been on for 45 minutes, but made things tick with his darting forays forward.
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Weather for Luton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
