Controversy at Kenilworth Road as Luton suffer Vertu Trophy exit to Swindon

Luton Town were knocked out of the Vertu Trophy after a 2-1 defeat against Swindon Town at Kenilworth Road this evening, although that might not actually be the case.

With an hour on the clock and the score 2-1 to the visitors, the match was called to a halt for a good eight minutes when it was pointed out to the officials that Robins substitute Aaron Drinan, who had entered the fray at the break, hadn’t been named on the official teamsheet. Referee Peter Wright stopped the game and was deep in discussion with his assistants, plus both managers too, as the contest was eventually allowed to continue and be played out to a conclusion.

With Town unable to force a penalty shootout, it remains to be seen what the outcome is and whether Swindon will be thrown out of the competition and the Hatters are allowed to progress, or indeed just be fined for the error of their ways, as has happened to Shrewsbury when they fielded an ineligible player against Chelsea U21s in the same competition and Grimsby Town when they also did so when knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup earlier this campaign.

Back to the action though and Town made seven changes for the clash, giving a full first team debut to young full back Harry Fox, as he joined James Shea, Reuell Walters, George Saville, Zack Nelson, Shayden Morris and Jerry Yates in coming into the side, with only Nigel Lonwijk, Christ Makosso, Lamine Fanne and Emilio Lawrence keeping their places from the 2-1 win over Stevenage on Saturday.

Prolific young forward Dawid Gawel was on the bench, joined by U21s pair Vladimir Paternoster and Jack Lorentzen-Jones, the returning Ethon Archer also a substitutes along with Marvelous Nakamba and Joe Johnson. Town made the perfect start as on seven minutes, Lawrence showing just why Wilshere was so keen to sign him from Manchester City, doing a full 360 just outside the box and then driving into the area where he was felled by Joe Snowdon for an obvious penalty, Luton’s third in three successive home games.

Yates stepped up and scored, just about though, as his low and not that hard attempt appeared to have been easily saved by Lewis Ward, only for the ball to somehow squirm through his legs and dribble into the net. Williams gave a further demonstration as to why he has been brought in from the Etihad, demonstrating great pace to stride forward and a decent end product too, picking out Morris who stabbed goalwards, not getting the connection he desired, as from Walters’ follow-up cross, Fanne’s header landed harmlessly on the roof of the net.

Another error from Makosso, who was having a hit and miss time of it in the early stages led to former Luton forward Ollie Palmer having a cross-shot that the defender got back well to clear. Still Town attacked though, as blessed with pace on either flank, Morris picked up Lonwijk’s important clearance just outside the box and then set off, getting deep into Robins territory before being fouled by Filozofe Mabete for the game’s first booking.

Morris had a crack himself midway through the half, fizzing an attempt on his left foot that Ward was able to touch over the bar, as Walters sent in a pinpoint cross that Fanne got all wrong, heading well wide of the target. Town had another chance on 27 minutes when they won a corner which Saville delivered, Ward flapped and then breathed a huge sigh of relief when Lonwijk couldn’t find the net at the back post.

The Hatters, who were building well from deep, did so again when Saville’s pass was deftly flicked on by Yates for Fanne who in turn found Williams, the winger eager to show off his step overs before shooting low for Ward to gather. Fox, who was another having a good game, stepped in to collect a clearance and with the goal coming into sight, had a go from 25 yards that was deflected behind as Luton’s attacks continued to have a good variety about them.

Out of the blue, the hosts were pegged back on 37 minutes though when Will Wright delivered a cross-shot from the left that was missed by his team-mates and wrongfooted Shea to sneak into the corner of the net. With five minutes left, Makosso tried another ill-advised pass across his own box that was straight to an opponent, Fanne saving his bacon with a crucial sliding tackle and James Ball hammering the loose ball over.

After the break, Luton looked destined to move back in front when Lawrence’s dangerous ball in rebounded out to Fanne who unleashed a powerful attempt that hammered against a covering defender and ballooned away. Following such a dominant first period, Wilshere’s men found themselves behind on 53 minutes when Aidan Borland’s cross was met by Ollie Clarke, his simple header badly slipping out of Shea’s grasp, and taken full advantage of by Mabete who tapped in.

Saville wasn’t far off from an angled free kick, while Shea was called upon just after the hour mark when that man Drinan escaped on the left and Gavin Kilkenny fired over from 20 yards after the ball broke to him. Then came the controversy and the stoppage as with no players injured, but both sides going over to the dug-outs, it left the near 3,330 in attendance with absolutely no idea of what was happening and why, both sets of fans soon chanting ‘what’s going on’ as they were left none the wiser.

When the game did restart, Luton brought on Archer and Nakamba, two players who definitely were named on the teamsheet, as Archer had an instant impact, his cross almost turned in by Yates, denied by a fine saving tackle, and then having another delivery flicked behind for a corner. With time running out, Gawel came on for Saville following his 33 goals for the U18s and U21s this season, as he was sniffing around when the impressive Archer had a crack from outside the box, Ward holding on, almost able to pounce when Mabete almost made a hash of his clearance too.

Try as they might, Town couldn’t find a leveller, Nelson seeing his free kick deflect into the wall, as Wright’s whistle was met with muted celebrations by the visiting players and manager Ian Holloway, who clearly weren’t sure if they would be taking their place in the quarter-final draw or not.

Hatters: James Shea ©, Reuell Walters, Nigel Lonwijk, Christ Makosso, Harry Fox, Lamine Fanne (Marvelous Nakamba 71), George Saville (Dawid Gawel 87), Zack Nelson, Shayden Morris, Jerry Yates, Emilio Lawrence (Ethon Archer 71). Subs not used: Lucas Thomas, Joe Johnson, Vladimir Paternoster, Jack Lorentzen-Jones.

Robins: Lewis Ward, Filozofe Mabete, Will Wright, James Ball, Ollie Clarke (C, Tom Nichols 77), Tom Wilson-Brown (Billy Kirkman 46), Gavin Kilkenny, Joe Snowdon (Joel McGregor 46), Aidan Borland, Ollie Palmer (A Drinan 46), Michael Olakigbe (Darren Oldaker 80). Subs not used: Connor Ripley, Jake Tabor. Booked: Mabete 22, McGregor 60, Walters 77, Archer 90. Referee: Peter Wright. Attendance: 3,243 (585 Robins).