Marriott gutted over late miss

With time ticking away, Marriott, who had already notched his seventh goal of the season in the first half, was sent racing clear by Luke Guttridge’s incisive through ball.

However, faced with O’s keeper Alex Cisak, the forward dragged inches wide of the far post, as Luton had to settle for a share of the spoils.

On the chance, Marriott said: “I was disappointed to see that go wide, as I expect myself to score that, especially having scored.

“It was a great ball from Gutts and everyone knows I like running on to the those balls, same for Macca (Craig Mackail-Smith), we like to be on the shoulder. It was bread and butter for me, I was high on confidence, looking for that far corner and it’s just slipped away a little bit.

“But that’s football, you see it at the top level, everyone misses chances, but I’m really disappointed with myself that I missed it as I do like a double.”

Marriott could have had a hat-trick in the game as he was denied by a smart stop from Cisak, before moments after breaking the deadlock, fired wide from a good position.

The opportunity after Cameron McGeehan broke away and opted to shoot from distance as Marriott continued: “On another day that comes to me and we’re 2-0 up before half time.

“I would have liked the ball earlier, but I’m not going to have a go at Cam for shooting like he wouldn’t have a got at me for shooting.”

Assistant boss Terry Harris praised Marriott’s performance during the encounter as he is now joint top scorer with McGeehan.

He said: “I think we had the best chance with Jack, where he put it just past the post, but it’s a work in progress and we’ll move on.

“Even after he scored, I think he had another one at the far post, but he’s going to become a very good player.

“He’s a young lad, he’s going to make mistakes, it’s the same as Dan Potts. What we have to do is keep working with them on the training field and make sure they progress.

“He’s a nuisance. He’s got a very low centre of gravity, receives the ball into his body and gets a turn on and he works hard.

“He’s got pace as well, I wouldn’t like to mark either Craig (Mackail-Smith) or Jack to be fair.”

Marriott has been paired upfront alongside Mackail-Smith for Luton’s last two matches and the summer signing believes the partnership is showing plenty of promise.

He added: “We are similar to each other but I think that works in our favour as we’re constantly running, constantly pressuring the defence and they don’t get a seconds rest, and it shows.

“It’s positive for us not only that we’re willing to work together, while we’re both quick so the ball in behind is always on.

“But after two games, we’re showing some signs of an understanding and that’s good.”