Hatters battle back from the brink at Top Field

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Hitchin Town 2 (2) Luton Town 4 (1)

WORK-IN-PROGRESS Luton fought back from two goals down to beat Hitchin Town 4-2 at Top Field tonight, writes Mark Wood.

Goals from John Frendo and Zak Burke had put the hosts 2-0 up in 21 minutes but Amari Morgan-Smith pulled one back from the spot before the break when Danny Crow was fouled in the box.

And Hatters sealed victory with two second half goals from former Lincoln City striker Drewe Broughton and a fourth a minute from time by Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Luton fielded a mixture of first-teamers and trialists handing debuts to summer signings Aaron O’Connor and Dean Beckwith, who was made captain for the day.

Beckwith started in defence alongside Dagenham & Redbridge trialist Will Antwi, a 6ft 1ins 28-year-old centre-half from Ghana.

The game got off to a slow start but the hosts snatched the lead on eight minutes when Danny Payne’s brilliant 25-yarder completely beat Mark Tyler but rebounded off the left-hand upright. However, the ball fell kindly for Frendo who coolly side-footed past the exposed Tyler.

Luton’s response was almost immediate, but fit-again Morgan-Smith’s long-range free-kick was well pushed away by Hitchin keeper Martin Bennett two minutes later.

But things got even worse for the Hatters when the Canaries doubled their lead on 21 minutes. A quick free-kick released Burke and he outpaced Antwi before skipping past Tyler and prodding home.

Luton looked to respond with Adam Watkins producing some neat footwork and Morgan-Smith having two shots blocked but they were struggling to create anything on their first outing of the season.

Gradually the Hatters started to work their way into the game. Ed Asafu-Adjaye’s cross picked out York City trialist Neil Barrett, but the 29-year-old midfielder’s tame effort was easily saved.

Crow then got in behind and his low cross was teed into Watkins’ path by O’Connor and his shot was blocked, while Crow snuck in behind again and, despite an untidy challenge by Lawrie Stewart, nothing was doing.

However, Crow once again got ahead of his man again on the half-hour and this time Joshua Bickerstaff’s dreadful tackle was punished with a penalty and Morgan-Smith smashed home his penalty in off the bar.

Watkins put a decent chance well wide while Jake Howells blasted a good chance well over.

Barrett’s opportunistic effort was easily saved by Bennett while O’Connor’s long-ranger was also easily fielded.

Keith Keane dragged a shot wide and Watkins turn and shot was headed off the line in the closing moments of the half.

Former Lincoln City striker Broughton was one of nine substitutes to be introduced at the break and he wasted a glorious chance on 64 minutes when Robbie Willmott slipped him through, blasting wide with only Bartolomiej Pedrycz 46) to beat.

Christian Tavernier’s low effort was easily saved on 68 minutes, while the lively Willmott had a good shot deflected wide.

Luton deservedly levelled though with 20 minutes to go when Alex Lacey’s astute pull-back was side-footed confidently home by Broughton.

Town were far more dominant in the second half and edged ahead with 13 minutes left when Pedrycz’s punched clearance fell to Broughton in the box and Hitchin-born striker drilled accurately home into the top corner.

More trickery from Willmott saw him skin Harry Holland before laying the ball on a plate for Barnes-Homer, but he could only sweep wide of the far post.

And Luton put the gloss on their win a minute from time when Barnes-Homer ghosted in behind Hitchin’s back line and deftly finished into the bottom corner to seal a 4-2 win.

Canaries: Martin Bennett (Bartolomiej Pedrycz 46), Tom Pepper (Tony Fontenelle 46), Joshua Bickerstaff, Lawrie Stewart, Marc Leach (Josh Cook 83), Louis Lee (C), Mark E’Beyer (Harry Holland 46), Callum Donnelly (Jamie Osbourne 66), Zak Burke (Ryan Adam 46), John Frendo (Jamie Arlick 46), Danny Payne.

Hatters: Mark Tyler (Kevin Pilkington 46), Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Godfrey Poku 46), Jake Howells (JJ O’Donnell 46), Keith Keane (Matthew Barnes-Homer 46), Dean Beckwith (Alex Lacey 46, C), Will Antwi, Aaron O’Connor (Robbie Willmott 46), Adam Watkins (Alex Lawless 46), Danny Crow (Drewe Broughton 46), Neil Barrett (Ryan Da Silva 66), Amari Morgan-Smith (Christian Tavernier 46). Substitutes not used: Lewis Kidd, Ash Deeney, Jean-Philippe Yamfam

Referee: R Smith.

Assistant referees: C Scott and A Waters.

Attendance: 835.

Star Hatter: Robbie Willmott. Added some real zest in the second half.