Lambs carved apart by confident Hatters

POWERFUL Hatters overwhelmed one-dimensional Tamworth as they romped to a 3-0 win to silence the Lambs at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Tamworth’s spoiler tactics intermittently frustrated the Hatters, but as the game progressed the Town were able to carve the Lambs apart at will as all that was lacking was the mint sauce.

Stuart Fleetwood gave the Hatters a first half lead with an opportunistic strike, Janos Kovacs doubled their advanrage with a second half header and Fancino Francis’ own goal rounded off an easy win for Luton as they stretched their unbeaten league run to 13 games.

After the bad weather had limited Luton to just one game in the last two weeks, Town made four changes from the side that had triumphed 2-1 last time out at Kidderminster in the FA Trophy.

In came the established centre-half pairing of captain George Pilkington and Hungarian Kovacs, with Dean Beckwith and Shane Blackett dropping out of the squad entirely.

Midfielder Andre Boucaud was handed his debut and fit-again striker Aaron O’Connor started with Robbie Willmott dropping to the bench and the impressive Charlie Henry failing to make the matchday 16.

Town played some neat passing football in the opening stages without threatening and it was the visitors who had the first real effort on nine minutes but Liam McDonald’s poke was deflected wide.

Boucaud showed some good early touches as Luton’s full-backs pushed forward at every opportunity.

Nick McKoy was booked for a crude challenge on the debutant and Luton were ahead seconds later as they took the lead on the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Curtis Osano lined up an ambitious 30-yard drive and his low effort through a crowd of bodies took a deflection into the path of Fleetwood who rounded the slow moving Jonathan Hedge and thumped home from a couple of yards out.

But the goal came at a price as Osano was immediately substituted and replaced by Adam Watkins, with Alex Lawless moving to right-back.

Tamworth certainly lived up to the ‘spoiler’ tag Luton boss Gary Brabin had given them at Friday’s press conference with plenty of shirt pulling and added bite in their tackles.

And the Lambs went close on 23 minutes when Jean-Paul Marna let rip with powerful blast that was goalbound until Greg Taylor superbly headed it away.

Heavy rain and a muddy pitch were making for a scrappy encounter and when Luton did produce some quality just after half an hour they couldn’t find an end product.

Boucaud whistled an effort wide as Town’s pressure increased and they almost got a route one second with four minutes of the second half left. Pilkington’s agricultural clearance from the back looped over the top of Tamworth’s defence and, although Fleetwood was able to outpace the backline, he could only roll in a tame effort that was easy for Hedge, who gathered at the second attempt just ahead of O’Connor.

Richard Tait pulled off a great last-ditch block to thwart Watkins from releasing Fleetwood, while at the other end Pilkington put in a superb sliding tackle to snuff out Kyle Patterson’s cross with Charlie Reece lurking at the back post.

Watkins and O’Connor linked brilliantly at the start of the second half as a power cut hit Kenilworth Road, but Watkins’ tempting cross was just headed away before Howells could get on the end of it.

A dangerous low cross was almost turned into his own net by Kovacs six minutes in, before Scott Barrow was booked for a poor challenge on Howells.

Town went close again on 54 minutes when Kissock’s hanging corner was headed goalwards by Kovacs, but neither Fleetwood nor O’Connor were unable to force home in the ensuing scramble.

Watkins then drove forward from midfield and looked like he had threaded O’Connor through, only to be thwarted by a dubious offside call.

Hedge then had to be alert as Howells’ cross was diverted goalwards by Francis before the keeper was forced to palm away Boucaud’s curler just after the hour.

And the Hatters finally put clear water between the teams as Kissock curled in a free-kick and the unmarked Kovacs was able plant his header home from close range.

Chez Isaac slid a harmless effort wide and Boucaud produced a good block from McKoy as the Lambs looked for a way back into the game.

A third should have arrived on 73 minutes when a short corner routine ended in Howells picking out Kovacs, but his header met with a strong hand from Hedge with McKoy’s follow-up header squirming just wide.

A deserved third did arrive with 11 minutes to go. Fleetwood’s cross was superbly turned back across goal by Howells and Francis put through his own net from just a couple of yards out with Kovacs desperately trying to claim the goal.

Substitute Craig McAllister found old friend Fleetwood, but he could only curl tamely at Hedge, while Watkins sent an effort just past the near post.

Playing with increasing confidence, Taylor sent a low drive just wide with four minutes to go and Watkins then sent a header against the foot of the post from a Lawless cross as Town eased to victory.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Greg Taylor, George Pilkington (C), Alex Lawless, Stuart Fleetwood, Aaron O’Connor (Robbie Willmott 90+1), Jake Howells, Andre Boucaud, Curtis Osano (Adam Watkins 16), John Paul Kissock (Craig McAllister 65), Janos Kovacs. Substitutes not used: Danny Crow, Kevin Pilkington.

Lambs (4-4-2): Jonathan Hedge, Richard Tait, Francino Francis, Jean-Paul Marna (Iyseden Christie 77), Charlie Reece (Keiron St Aimee 60), Liam McDonald (Danny Thomas 74), Kyle Patterson, Paul Green (C), Chez Isaac, Scott Barrow, Nick McKoy. Substitutes not used: Duane Courtney, Connor Gudger.

Bookings: McKoy 13; Barrow 52; Green 90+2.

Referee: R Merchant.

Assistant Referees: P Harris and S Franklin.

Fourth Official: A Mead.

Attendance: 5,833 (Tamworth 66).

Star Hatter: Janos Kovacs. Dangerous at set-pieces and never troubled at the back.