Cole on target as Luton thrash Walsall in friendly clash

Devante Cole was on target as Luton Town recorded another pre-season victory by thrashing League Two opponents Walsall 5-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at The Brache this afternoon.

The Hatters reversed the group of players who played 60 minutes and half-an-hour each against Al Kholood in Spain on Saturday, meaning Kal Naismith wore the captain’s armband to begin with, Sverre Sandal, Shayden Morris and Cole all starting too. Town survived a couple of early scares as the Sadlers’ forward Aaron Pressley almost took advantage of a defensive error in the area, and was then unable to beat James Shea, having got on the end of two crosses from experienced winger Albert Adomah.

Jack Wilshere’s side were soon in their stride and took the lead on 17 minutes when Mads Andersen’s raking pass picked out Benny Benagr, the left-winger’s first touch taking him into the box and squaring for Cole, who has struggled for goals and even shots during his time at Kenilworth Road, to force the ball home under pressure from close range.

It was 2-0 just four minutes later, as this time Sandal played a diagonal ball for Benagr whose control was spot on once more, taking him past his man, the 18-year-old then cutting back onto his right foot to find the corner of the net. The goals kept coming as 60 seconds later, Town had a third, Morris robbing the full back and delivering a pinpoint cross for youngster Jayden Luker to volley into the top corner.

Morris almost made it four when Sandal played another ball over the top, and with the visiting keeper dwelling, Luton’s winger closed his attempted clearance down, the ricochet going just wide of the post. After the break, Benagr was soon on the attack once more, speeding to reach a ball forward and having his ankles clipped by the Walsall stopper.

However, he was the provider once more on 56 minutes, Andersen, Sandal and Harry Fox combining to release the teenager with a perfectly-weighted pass inside the right-back, as Benagr, who is now fully over the injury that hampered his progress last term, cutting his pass back for Morris to arrive and steer into the net.

Luton changed their entire team on the hour mark, as Jake Richards was denied by the keeper, before the Hatters produced the move of the match through Liam Walsh, Kasey Palmer and Richards for the Bermuda international to round sub keeper Jenson Kilroy and find the net from a tight angle. In the closing stages, Town almost had a sixth goal, when Gideon Kodua’s clipped through ball found Wells, but his finish was narrowly wide, while Palmer was also denied by Kilroy in the final minute.

Luton XI first 60 minutes: James Shea, Zach Ioannides, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith (C), Harry Fox, Sverre Sandal, Shayden Morris, George Saville, Jayden Luker, Benny Benagr, Devante Cole.

Luton XI final 30 minutes: Josh Keeley, Izzy Jones, Hakeem Odoffin, George Johnston, Joe Johnson, Liam Walsh, Jake Richards, Kasey Palmer, Jordan Clark, Gideon Kodua, Nahki Wells.