Luton labour to FA Cup victory over Forest Green

It was a case of job done and not much more for the Hatters as they made their way into the FA Cup second round with an attritional 2-0 victory over National League side Forest Green Rovers this afternoon.

Having moved ahead early on through Emilio Lawrence’s first goal of the season, the sparse crowd inside Kenilworth Road might have expected the floodgates to open against an opposition team sitting 16th in the table, but that never looked remotely likely as the contest laboured on, and if anything, the visitors went on to have the better of proceedings, badly let down by their finishing.

Home boss Jack Wilshere made seven changes for the tie, as revealed that Josh Keeley would start in goal ahead of James Shea, also brought in Harrison Ashby, Joe Johnson, Jake Richards, Callum Marshall, Dan Gore and Lawrence, replacing Kal Naismith, Izzy Jones, Liam Walsh, Kasey Palmer, Jamie Donley and Nahki Wells.

Midfielder Shandon Baptiste was also named on the bench for the first time since August of last year, joined by Christian Chigozie, Harry Fox and Devante Cole. It took Luton barely any time to take the lead with a goal of real class and pure simplicity on just four minutes, Dan Gore with an outside of the boot pass to release Lawrence on his left. The Manchester City loanee stood his defender up and played a one-two with Clark before clinically slipping his shot underneath the onrushing Craig Ross to score his first goal since netting at Wembley in the Vertu Trophy final victory over Stockport County last season.

Rovers made a bright response to falling behind, fizzing two shots in from range, one by Jayden Clarke that took a heavy deflection and forced the recalled Keeley into a smart stop, Sean Etaluku also curling into the side-netting. Having moved ahead, Luton didn’t ever really look like they were about to add to their lead, in fact if any side threatened, it was the visitors, George Johnston picking up a booking after diving in on Kyle Kelly.

Just before the half hour mark, Town did have a great opportunity to extend their advantage when Clark freed Mendel on the wing, who had Marshall in acres of space in the middle, but on his right foot, got it all wrong, disappointingly picking out keeper Ross. With 35 on the clock, the Hatters finally worked the visiting stopper once more as Johnson won a dubious free kick 25 yards from that saw Gore’s attempt, destined for the top corner, turned over acrobatically by the visiting stopper.

Johnston then made sure he got his positioning spot on to block a low shot as Rovers looked to restore parity, but they fell further behind on 41 minutes when Gore was the architect. This time, he won the ball back well from Clarke, advanced into the box and with options either side, picked out Clark, who was to score his third goal of the week via a deflection.

Wilshere made two changes for the start of the second half, as young defender Christian Chigozie came on for his FA Cup debut in place of Mads Andersen, while Palmer replaced Mendel as Luton made a decent start, Lawrence’s cross gathered by a diving Ross. Palmer saw his fierce drive deflect wide for a corner, as on the hour mark, he picked up a loose ball on the hour mark and feinted to shoot, finding Marshall, who teed up Lawrence, his low drive repelled by the legs of Ross.

Still it was Rovers who always looked the more likely, inches away from pulling one back when Kyle Kelly’s low shot took a slight nick as it flew must past the post with Keeley stranded. Town brought on Devante Cole and Walsh to try and shore up proceedings, as the visitors had clearly left their shooting boots in Nailsworth, Kelly whizzing wide on 70 minutes although did win a corner, as did Kelvin Abrefa moments later.

Had they been able to locate the target, it might have been a different target, finishing with 17 attempts, but working Keeley just twice, although he was almost beaten at the death when D’Mani Mellor’s cross-shot skimmed the bar, as Abrefa’s final attempt dribbled through to the Republic of Ireland international. Luton might have added an unfair gloss to the scoreline themselves, Cole unable to reach Richard’s low cross at full stretch, as the hosts were able to improve their unbeaten run to six games and can now take their place in Monday evening’s draw.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Harrison Ashby, Joe Johnson, Mads Andersen (Christian Chigozie 46), George Johnston, Dan Gore (Liam Walsh 64), Jordan Clark, Jake Richards, Tudor Mendel (Kasey Palmer 46), Emilio Lawrence (Nahki Wells 84), Callum Marshall (Devante Cole 64). Subs not used: James Shea, Harry Fox, Shandon Baptiste, Dawid Gawel.

Rovers: Ethan Ross, Jayden Clarke (C), Tate Campbell, Bryan Ifeanyi (Oliver Ewing 80), Sean Elaluku, Thomas McIntyre, Kyle Kelly (Joshu Osude 73), Filozofe Mabete, Kelvin Abrefa, Will Grigg (D’Mani Mellor 66), Ryan Rydel (Neil Kengni 66). Subs not used: Flachra Pagel, Tre Pemberton, Kyle O'Connor-Ajayi, Adeteye Gbadehan. Booked: Rydel 14, Johnston 25, Ifeanyi 42, Gore 50. Referee: Jamie Robinson. Attendance: 4,325.