Barnes-Homer’s moment of class seals Luton victory

The Welshmen had dominated the first half but Luton picked up the pace in the second and ran out victors thanks to last season’s top marksman.

The Hatters named a mixture of youth and first team players, plus a smattering of trialists for the game at promoted Blue Square Bet North side Colwyn Bay this evening.

Experienced stopper Kevin Pilkington started in goal with youngsters Ash Deeney at right-back, JJ O’Donnell at left-back and Alex Lacey partnered by Will Antwi at centre-half.

New signing James Dance began on the right wing and Adam Watkins on the left with Godfrey Poku and Christian Tavernier filling the centre, while Barnes-Homer and Danny Crow led the line.

A hefty sliding foul by Rod McDonald on Dance after four minutes is sure to have given Town boss Gary Brabin some cause for concern, but the former Crawley and Kettering man was quickly to his feet.

Deeney was on the end of another poor challenge by Danny Lloyd moments later, while the Welsh winger then thundered in a long range effort on nine minutes that was well fielded by Pilkington.

A mistake from Lacey let Damien Allen in behind but his low cross was well cut out by Pilkington while Crow was penalised at the other end as he threatened to break the deadlock.

Lacey deflected a venomous effort behind from Gaz Evans on 19 minutes before Lloyd could only fire into the side netting when mysteriously left one-on-one with Pilkington.

The Seagulls were bossing the half and Evans’ curler forced another decent stop out of Pilkington.

Some nice skills by Allen bought himself some space in the box before firing an effort just wide of the far post.

Town briefly threatened when Antwi flicked on a throw but Barnes-Homer was unable to force the ball home, while at the other end Lloyd again got the better of the struggling Deeney and Lee Davey could only thud his effort into the side netting when he should have done better.

The visitors finally started to get some joy in the closing moments, Tavernier’s looping header clipping the top of the bar with three minutes of the half left and Dance’s excellent cross picking Barnes-Homer out at the far post, but his header was saved by the legs of Zak Jones.

The Hatters made just one change at the break, bringing on Drewe Broughton for Tavernier but it was the Seagulls who should have taken the lead three minutes in. Evans robbed Poku and ran through unopposed but could only curl his effort on to the right-hand upright as the ball bounced away to safety.

Luton finally managed a moment of quality and duly took the lead on 50 minutes. Crow’s great first-time pass released Barnes-Homer and he kept his cool to exquisitely curl over the keeper and into the net.

It was almost two moments later when Barnes-Homer again got in behind and pulled the ball back to Broughton but he could only shoot straight at the keeper.

Good play from Barnes-Homer and Dance proceeded to set Watkins up on the edge of the box, only for the busy midfielder to lash over.

A grubber from Davey was again well fielded by Pilkington on 64 minutes before Watkins raced clear seconds later, only for Jones to save at his feet.

Watkins sent a volley well over as Luton started to improve and substitute Jean-Philippe Yamfam almost had an immediate impact as he skipped past his man and brought a good save out of Jones with his firm drive.

A flurry of action arrived on 75 minutes when O’Donnell’s excellent first-time cross was miskicked by a defender and Broughton’s shot-on-the-turn was blocked. A Morgan-Smith howtitzer was spilled and Watkins’ cross/shot went frustratingly across goal before being turned behind.

Colwyn Bay almost grabbed an equaliser with seven minutes to go when Allen’s excellent blast forced a full-length save from Pilkington and the Seagulls went close again on 87 minutes when Sean Doherty’s excellent first touch gave him the chance to get a snapshot away and Pilkington’s fingertip waft directed the ball over the bar.

In the dying seconds Morgan-Smith skipped a challenge and slipped Yamfam clean through, but the youngster’s chip beat the bar as well as the keeper as Luton had to settle for a single-goal victory.

Seagulls: Zak Jones, Luke Denson, Mike Lea (Liam Benson 60), Rod McDonald, Danny Meadowcroft (Joe McMahon 46), Ant Sheehan (Chris King 60), Gaz Evans (Kev Fields 60), Damien Allen, Karl Noon, Lee Davey, Danny Lloyd (Sean Doherty 46). Substitutes not used: Andy Metcalf.

Hatters: Kevin Pilkington (C), Ash Deeney, Will Antwi, Alex Lacey, JJ O’Donnell, James Dance (Trialist 74), Godfrey Poku (Ryan Da Silva 74), Christian Tavernier (Drewe Broughton 46), Adam Watkins, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Jean-Philippe Yamfam 66), Danny Crow (Amari Morgan-Smith 66). Substitutes not used: Mark Tyler.

Referee: Neil Davies.

Assistant referees: Richard Abson and Daniel Hitchell.

Star Hatter: Kevin Pilkington - Impeccable handling from the veteran shot-stopper.