Luton start Wales tour with a defeat

A goal in each half for striker Chris Sharp and Chris Williams’ late strike was enough for the home side against a Town team which involved a mixture of first team and youth players.

Luton boss Gary Brabin, himself a former TNS player and assistant manager, started with Kevin Pilkington between the posts, with Godfrey Poku, Dean Beckwith, trialist Will Antwi and Jake Howells in defence.

Robbie Willmott and Christian Tavernier patrolled the flanks, as Adam Watkins and Alex Lawless were in central midfield behind the front two of Danny Crow and Aaron O’Connor.

Town could have scored in the opening moments when Willmott’s cross found Christian Tavernier at the back post but his touch was too heavy and keeper Alex Ramsay fell on the loose ball.

TNS threatened early on too as Tom Roberts cut through the defence but with just Pilkington to beat, he side-footed against he post. The Hatters stopper was tested again soon afterwards too, getting down smartly at his near post to save a half volley from distance.

On 15 minutes, Town produced a moment of quality as Watkins fed Willmott on the right and his cut back found Crow 16 yards out, but instead of taking a touch, he shot first time and the ball sailed harmlessly over.

The hosts took the lead in comedic fashion after 18 minutes though due to errors from both Poku and Pilkington. The makeshift right back’s looping throw didn’t have enough legs to reach Pilkington, whose chest control saw him robbed by Sharp and the striker slotted his shot past the covering Beckwith and into the net.

Hatters were being restricted to efforts from range as Crow’s blast was fumbled by the keeper, only for a recovering defender to clear.

Town did have the ball in the net on 30 minutes when Watkins’ drive fell to the feet of O’Connor, but he was flagged offside as he rounded the keeper and the goal was chalked off.

Poku was having a difficult time at full back as Chris Williams turned him one way and then the other before crossing for Sharp, whose hooked shot was excellently turned around the post by Pilkington at full stretch.

Luton created the odd chance of note when Howells searching ball was chased down by O’Connor who beat two defenders, but not the keeper, who bravely blocked at his feet.

Pilkington was tested again by Williams’ speculative cross shot, as the keeper had to tip the ball away from danger.

TNS came close just before the break once more when Alex Darlington’s shot hit a Hatters defender and the onrushing Williams couldn’t direct his close range volley on target.

Town almost drew level when O’Connor broke the offside trap this time and took the ball past the keeper, but Marcus Giglio was on hand to slide his low drive off the line.

The hosts were inches away from being 2-0 ahead on the stroke of half time as Roberts wrapped his left foot around a viciously curling shot, but it cannoned over via the crossbar.

Town made five changes at half time, bringing on JJ O’Donnell, Alex Lacey, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Keith Keane and Jean Phillipe Yam Fam, with Howells, Antwi, Beckwith, O’Connor and Lawless making way.

The hosts, already well into their pre-season programme, started the second half stronger once more with Darlington letting fly from range as only Pilkington’s strong right hand denied them a second.

It was 2-0 on 60 minutes though when Sharp turned Lacey 30 yards from goal and then outsprinted the defender before coolly finishing past Pilkington.

Brabin made changes immediately with Ash Deeney, Drewe Broughton, Ryan Da Silva and Amari Morgan-Smith replacing Watkins, Willmott, Crow and Tavernier.

Town huffed and puffed, but were caught offside far too often, although Poku, finally moved back into central midfield, sent a volley off target.

Lacey redeemed himself with a fine block on Greg Draper and Luton should have pulled one back when O’Donnell’s hanging cross was only punched clear by Ramsay under challenge from Broughton, but Da Silva rushed his shot and thumped it well over.

Poku, revelling in his favoured position, then drove forward and hit a powerful drive that Ramsay flapped clear, but the scoring was completed in the closing stages when Asafu-Adjaye was dispossessed and Williams advanced on Pilkington, before slipping the ball under the veteran keeper with ease.

Hatters: Kevin Pilkington, Godfrey Poku, Jake Howells (JJ O’Donnell 46), Adam Watkins (Ash Deeney 63), Dean Beckwith (Alex Lacey 46), Will Antwi (Ed Asafu-Adjaye 46), Robbie Willmott (Ryan Da Silva 63), Alex Lawless (Keith Keane 46), Aaron O’Connor (Jean Phillipe Yam Fam 46), Danny Crow (Drewe Broughton 63), Christian Tavernier (Amari Morgan-Smith 63).