Hatters are too strong for Stones in pre-season victory

Andrew Shinnie was on target as Luton beat Wealdstone this evening

Luton made it three wins from three in their pre-season friendly campaign with an assured and comfortable 3-0 win at National League side Wealdstone this evening.

Upping their preparations for the Championship season, Town went with Simon Sluga in goal, with Corey Panter and Peter Kioso the full backs, Martin Cranie alongside Sonny Bradley in the middle.

Andrew Shinnie, Ryan Tunnicliffe, new signing Jordan Clark and George Moncur occupied the midfield berths, with Kazenga LuaLua playing just off James Collins.

The hosts, promoted from National League South last season, had Hatters stopper Harry Isted between the posts for the evening, the keeper having had a spell on loan at Grosvenor Vale last term, where he caught the eye with some fine displays.

Nathan Jones’ side had the lead with their first real attack on nine minutes as Collins played in Moncur on the right.

His cross saw Tunnicliffe miss with an audacious backheel attempt, but LuaLua was waiting at the far post to take a touch and blast his sidefooted effort into the top corner via the fingertips of Isted.

Moncur went for glory himself on 11 minutes, scooping well over, as Wealdstone’s only attempt saw Jacob Mendy have a pop from a free kick some 25 yards out, but he got it badly wrong.

Moncur had another snapshot with 21 minutes gone, after Isted’s poor clearance fell for him, exchanging a swift one-two with Collins and shooting straight at the Town stopper from distance.

Midway through the half, Kioso, who impressed with his willingness to race forward all night, showed his intent once more, getting the ball out of his feet and whipping over a cross that was put behind for a corner.

From the delivery, Bradley rose highest at the far post, his header rebounding out to the edge of the box where Kioso, as most before him had done, flashing miles off target.

The difficulties of watching game on a live stream due to press not being allowed into games at the moment then came into play, the feed stopping for a good five minutes.

In that time, Clark doubled Town’s lead on 34 minutes with a goal that was described as ‘cracking’ by the official club website, gathering a loose ball to pick out the stanchion with his left foot.

With the gremlins now gone, Shinnie could have made it 3-0 from a good position just before the break, his curler missing by quite some distance.

The Town chief made just one change at the break, bringing on Sam Beckwith for Panter, as Hatters had their third goal just five minutes in.

Kioso found Collins whose backheel was take on by Tunnicliffe, the midfielder crossing for Shinnie to take a touch and beat Isted.

The stopper saved well from Clark’s low drive, using his legs to prevent Town's new-boy doubling his own tally for the evening.

With an hour gone, Jones rang the changes, bringing on Avan Jones, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea, Luke Berry, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elliot Lee, Danny Hylton and Hary Cornick, Panter also returning to play centre half alongside Pearson.

However, play then became scrappy for the visitors in the final exchanges, as if anything Wealdstone sensed a consolation, Sluga palming over Danny Green's free kick that would have just dipped under the bar.

Town are back in action this weekend when they travel to League One side Northampton Town.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Peter Kioso (Avan Jones 62), Corey Panter (Sam Beckwith 46), Martin Cranie (Matty Pearson 62), Sonny Bradley (Corey Panter 62), Ryan Tunnicliffe (Glen Rea 62), Andrew Shinnie (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 62), George Moncur (Luke Berry 62), Jordan Clark (Elliot Lee 62), James Collins (Danny Hylton 62), Kazenga LuaLua (Harry Cornick 62).