Foursome Town ease past Eastbourne

Blue Square Bet Premier

Eastbourne Borough 2 (1) Luton Town 4 (1)

EFFICIENT and entertaining Luton Town made light of the conditions to soar to a 4-2 victory against Eastbourne Borough at a windswept Priory Lane, writes Mark Wood.

Twenty-nine goals in seven games had been scored at Eastbourne before Saturday and Luton’s visit was little different as the action flowed from end to end.

Twice the Hatters got their noses in front only to be pegged back, but ultimately George Pilkington’s early strike, Matthew Barnes-Homer’s lob and Danny Crow’s late double proved decisive.

Town made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 at home to league leaders Crawley Town last Tuesday.

Claude Gnakpa was suspended and striker Taiwo Atieno was ruled out with a calf injury, while Shane Blackett dropped out of the 16-man squad entirely.

As a result in came Crow up front, Jake Howells into the midfield and Amari Morgan-Smith on the left wing.

With a stiff wind at their backs Town attacked from the off with Dan Gleeson blasting a long-range effort wide after just two minutes.

The conditions were having a big say on proceedings and Morgan-Smith’s curler took a huge deflection as it landed on the roof of the net with Rikki Banks well beaten.

On the velveteen surface the Hatters were producing some lovely football, but were probably guilty of over-playing soon after when Barnes-Homer had a shot charged down in the box.

Andy Drury’s corners were looking dangerous and, after Keith Keane had just failed to get on the end of one, Luton broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.

Drury’s set-piece was headed superbly back across goal by Keane and captain Pilkington was lurking inside the box to steer his header home off a post.

Drury’s 35-yard free-kick dipped just over midway through the half before Crow should have doubled Luton’s led on 25 minutes.

Barnes-Homer’s pistol-like cross picked the former Cambridge man out in the box but he could only fire his close-range header over.

Inventive Town went close again when Jake Howells’ through ball was brilliantly dummied by Keane but, as Morgan-Smith chased the ball through Brighton loan man Steve Cook, who had just been booked, timed his tackle perfectly in the box to cut out the danger.

The home side were looking to play on the break and almost got back into the game on the half hour when Cook’s cross found Matt Crabb lurking at the far post and he volleyed across the face of goal.

Having been in complete control for the first half hour Town began to struggle and The Sports, who have scored goals for fun at home this season, equalised with nine minutes of the half left.

The hosts were gifted a soft free-kick and Crabb’s teasing delivery was flicked home by Cook.

Eastbourne were the beneficiaries of some more kind refereeing moments later when Crow’s strike appeared to smack Langston’s hand in the box but referee I Cooper waved away Town’s appeals for a penalty.

With conditions now in their favour Eastbourne started the second half on the front foot with Richard Pacquette slamming just wide in the opening moments.

The wind was making for an enthralling if disjointed game and Howells swept a free-kick just wide on 55 minutes after Morgan-Smith had been felled just outside the box.

Crow should have put Luton’s noses in front again seconds later when but he could only flick Drury’s drive straight at Banks from point-blank range.

The Hatters had been playing well for much of the second half and got their rewards on 63 minutes.

A through ball was superbly cushioned on by Crow and the onrushing Barnes-Homer lobbed home in front of the away fans.

Buoyed by that goal Town continued to press but were caught with a sucker punch on 67 minutes.

Jamie Taylor did well on the left to create room to slide in a dangerous cross and as Howells went to sleep in the six-yard box, Simon Johnson sneaked to slide home from close range.

The Hatters deservedly snatched the lead back five minutes later as Drury’s pull-back picked out Barnes-Homer and, although his shot was saved, Crow was lurking to poke the ball home.

Things got even better when the Hatters made it 4-2 on 75 minutes.

Drury and Crow combined well on the edge of the box and home captain Ben Austin threw out a cynical hand to stop the pass reaching the striker, leaving the referee with no alternative but to point to the spot.

Crow made no mistake as he confidently drove into the bottom right-hand corner.

Sensing yet more goals Town went for the jugular.

Morgan-Smith’s 25-yard bouncing bomb somehow deceived Banks and he was fortunate to see the ball rebound of the post, go across the face of goal and spin out.

There were late substitute appearances for Godfrey Poku and Dan Walker as Drury worryingly limped off clutching his hamstring, but by that point the game was already over.

The Sports: Rikki Banks, Ben Austin (C), Steve Brinkhurst (Ethan Strevett 85), Steve Cook, Matt Crabb, Neil Jenkins, Simon Johnson, Matt Langston, Richard Pacquette (Andy Atkin 85), Jamie Taylor, Simon Weatherstone.

Substitutes not used: Gary Elphick, Nathan Crabb, Darren Baker.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Freddie Murray, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Amari Morgan-Smith (Godfrey Poku 90+3), Matthew Barnes-Homer, Andy Drury (Dan Walker 90+4), Zdenek Kroca, Jake Howells, Danny Crow.

Substitutes not used: Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Adam Watkins, Kevin Pilkington.

Bookings: Cook 27; Langston 54.

Referee: I Cooper.

Assistant referees: R Baker and P Harris.

Fourth official: I Fissenden.

Star Hatter: Danny Crow. A real pest.

Attendance: 2,518.