Barnes-Homer strikes to avoid upset at Corby

HISTORY repeated itself at the Rockingham Triangle on Saturday as the Hatters were taken to an FA Cup replay by Corby Town, writes Mark Wood.

Back in 1965, the two teams met in a round two tie which was tied at 2-2, but this time round, it had looked like hit-and-run Corby would go one better and knock their higher league opponents out.

The Blue Square Bet North side led for most of the match after Ben Mackey had given them the lead after 14 minutes with a fine header – their only shot on target during the whole 90 minutes.

Otherwise the gritty Steelmen lacked ambition and creativity as Luton bossed the game, creating all the other chances of note.

But it was left to top scorer Matthew Barnes-Homer to spare their blushes when his equalising header squirmed home with seven minutes to go.

The pair will now meet again in a replay at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday, November 17.

Injury-ravaged Hatters made three changes from the team that beat Bath City 3-1 in the Blue Square Bet Premier the previous week.

Already without their hat-trick star of the previous round, Amari Morgan-Smith, Luton were also robbed of previously ever-present Czech defender Zdenek Kroca, classy winger Andy Drury and in-form striker Danny Crow.

As a result, in came fit-again French winger Claude Gnakpa, defender Ed Asafu-Adjaye and young winger Dan Walker, making his first start in Luton colours.

Town also boasted a hugely youthful bench as teenagers Alex Lacey, Jordan Patrick, Cauley Woodrow, JJ O’Donnell, Godfrey Poku and Lewis Kidd all featured.

With the crowd miles away from the inauspicious Rockingham Triangle pitch it was the visitors who should have opened the scoring after just three minutes.

Taiwo Atieno’s deft touch put Gnakpa away on the right and one-on-one against Chris Mackenzie he could only poke at the Steelmen keeper.

A defensive mistake almost let Corby in on 10 minutes.

Nathan Jarman seized on Freddie Murray’s stray pass and only some good covering by Jake Howells snuffed out the danger.

The Steelmen caught Town with a sucker punch though on 14 minutes.

They were given too much time and space on the right and a well-flighted cross picked out Mackey in the six-yard box who planted his header past the helpless Mark Tyler.

Gnakpa missed another great chance as he could only drag his shot wide, while his team-mates were also wasteful.

Howells’ lovely pass was touched on by Atieno but Mackenzie saved well at the feet of Barnes-Homer and from Keith Keane’s resulting corner Atieno powered a header goalwards, only for Andy Hall to clear off the line, while Walker’s follow up looped over.

The visitors continued to look the most likely and went close again on 28 minutes.

Howells’ free-kick was met by Gnakpa and Mackenzie pulled off a great fingertip stop to turn his effort over the bar – only for the officials to somehow ridiculously award a goal-kick.

After almost trench warfare on the boggy and bobbling pitch the Hatters tried their luck again two minutes before the break.

Gnakpa was looking their biggest threat and this time his drive was well grasped by Mackenzie as the Steelmen led 1-0 at the break.

The second half got off to a scrappy start with neither side able to craft anything of note.

Substitute Poku did his best to impose himself on proceedings, but his drive veered well wide on 63 minutes.

Poku slammed another speculative effort off target and Howells had a shot blocked as Town’s cup hopes looked to be fading fast.

Murray’s shot was deflected wide with 14 minutes to go before Mackenzie pulled off another great stop to turn George Pilkington’s thumping effort over the bar.

Substitute Stephen Diggin blazed only Corby’s second effort of the afternoon well wide, before Atieno flashed a decent headed chance past the far post.

Luton finally got the reward their endeavour deserved with seven minutes to go.

Dan Gleeson’s deep cross found Barnes-Homer lurking in the box and his header back across goal squirmed home.

However, neither side could find a winner and the pair will do it all over again at Kenilworth Road a week on Wednesday.

Hatters will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself though as back in 1965, Corby won the replay 1-0.

Steelmen (4-4-2): Chris Mackenzie, Danny Pitham, Asa Charlton, Chris Hope, Phil Gulliver, Richard Lavery (C), Andy Hall, Steve Towers, Nathan Jarman (Stephen Diggin 72), Ben Mackey (Adam Webster 87), Glenn Walker.

Substitutes not used: Dean West, Nathan Thackeray, Liam Green, Liam Dolman, Michael Frew.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Fred Murray, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Matthew Barnes-Homer, Taiwo Atieno, Jake Howells, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Claude Gnakpa, Dan Walker (Godfrey Poku 46).

Substitutes not used: Pavel Besta, Alex Lacey, Jordon Patrick, Cauley Woodrow, JJ O’Donnell, Lewis Kidd.

Referee: Andy Penn (West Midlands).

Assistant Referees: Marvin Thompson (London), Wayne Porter (Bourne).

Fourth Official: Matt Foley (London).

Booked: Diggin 78.

Attendance: 2,000 (Luton 455).

Star Hatter: Ed Asafu-Adjaye – A composed display at the back in the most difficult of situations.