Dons hold hot Hatters

LUTON Town were left cursing the woodwork as they were held to a second successive goalless draw at leaders AFC Wimbledon tonight, writes Mike Simmonds.

After an even first half, the Hatters completely bossed the second period, but Andy Drury and Jason Walker both hit the crossbar, while Matthew Barnes-Homer side-footed at keeper Seb Brown from just five yards out.

Hatters boss Richard Money said: “I don’t think you could see a much more one-sided second half, anywhere at any time but you’ve got to score and just at the minute we’re missing some good chances.

“We hit the woodwork and the goalkeeper is again man of the match, it tells it all.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that things are decided over the course of the season.

“Wimbledon are in the shake-up with us, we’ve taken four points off them.

“I suppose we shouldn’t be too disappointed with that but we are very disappointed that we haven’t taken all three points that I thought we thoroughly deserved.”

Money named an unchanged side for the fourth successive league game and both sides started cagily as the visiting Hatters knew a win would put them top.

Dons thought they had claims for a penalty on 21 minutes as George Pilkington slid in on Danny Kedwell to win the ball, but the rebound fell to Kirk Hudson, whose arrowed drive was superbly tipped behind by Mark Tyler.

Claude Gnakpa’s over-enthusiasm almost saw the Frenhcman receive a red card as he lunged in on Fraser Franks, but escaped with a yellow, while Amari Morgan-Smith had to leave the field after a strong 50-50 challenge and was replaced by Alex Lawless.

Hatters had a great chance on 35 minutes when Barnes-Homer teed up Drury, and his left-footed daisycutter was palmed aside by Brown, who reacted well to claim Danny Crow’s follow up cross.

Town striker Crow thought he had broken the deadlock moments before the interval, but his instinctive shot was somehow clawed away by Brown.

Controversy reigned from the ensuing corner as Drury’s delivery was flicked upwards by Lawless, and bounced over Brown, who claimed he was being held and was just cleared as Pilkington lurked at the far post.

The game started to open up just before the break as Jamie Mulley’s angled drive was pawed aside by Tyler.

The second period belonged entirely to Luton as Drury moved to the left wing, with Lawless reverting to his favoured centre midfield berth.

Walker was soon sent on to replace Crow and somehow the visitors weren’t ahead on 59 minutes as Walker’s shot was blocked by Ismail Yamkubu.

But the rebound dropped to Barnes-Homer, who just had to beat the prostrate Brown, only to put his close-range shot straight at the keeper.

Walker then wasted a glorious chance. As he raced clean through he tried to dink his effort over the advancing Brown, but the keeper managed to stick an arm out to block.

The recent signing then missed an even better opportunity as faced with Brown one-on-one again from Keith Keane’s quick free-kick, his left-footed effort clipped the bar and went over.

And it looked like it wasn’t going to be the Hatters’ night when Drury then cut in from the left flank and thumped a stinging drive that smashed the bar and rebounded out.

Despite their dominance, Hatters almost switched off in defence as the unmarked Jolley put a header into Tyler’s gloves, while Sam Hatton’s 40-yard free-kick was gathered by the Luton keeper at the second attempt.

Although the point saw the Hatters edge above Crawley into second, the south coast side worryingly now have three games in hand on Money’s side.

AFC Wimbledon: Seb Brown, Sam Hatton, Fraser Franks, Steven Gregory (Ryan Jackson 77), Ismal Yakubu, Jamie Stuart, James Mulley, Sammy Moore (Rashid Yussuff 70), Danny Kedwell (C), Luke Moore, Kirk Hudson (Christian Jolley 63). Substitutes not sued: Jack Turner, Mark Nwokeji.

Luton Town: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Jake Howells, George Pilkington, Zdenek Kroca, Claude Gnakpa, Keith Keane, Andy Drury, Amari Morgan-Smith (Alex Lawless 19), Danny Crow (Jason Walker 54), Matthew Barnes-Homer. Substitutes not used: Godfrey Poku, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Alex Lacey.

Referee: W Barratt.

Assistants: M Eva and C Hatzidakis.

Fourth official: M Thompson.

Bookings: Gnakpa 21.

Attendance: 4,287.