Muddy hell as Hatters are held

Luton Town 2 (2) Gateshead 2 (2)

HATTERS fought back from 2-0 down to draw against 10-man Gateshead at Kenilworth Road today, writes Mark Wood.

On a bizarre afternoon the Tynesiders surged into a 2-0 lead after just 16 minutes as Town’s record of 595 minutes without conceding a goal came crashing down around their ears.

But in an action-packed first half Luton battled back to parity thanks to goals from Danny Crow and Claude Gnakpa before Tynesiders skipper Ben Clark was sent off in stoppage time for a second booking.

In complete contrast the second half was a massively dull affair as clueless Town struggled to create anything against the well-drilled Tynesiders who worked incredibly hard and defended with their lives on mudbath of a pitch that made it difficult to play any semblance of football.

Town made three changes from the side that hammered York City 5-0 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night for the visit of Gateshead.

With Dan Gleeson (leg injury) and Andy Drury (hamstring) ruled out through injury in came Ed Asafu-Adjaye and Crow, while Alex Lawless was preferred in midfield to youngster Godfrey Poku who dropped to the bench.

Town made a bright start with Lawless firing over after just 35 seconds, but a minute later they should have been ahead.

Mark Tyler’s massive clearance was headed into Crow’s path by Gnakpa, but one-on-one with the keeper the desperately out of form striker rolled wide when he really should have scored.

But against against the run of play the Tynesiders snatched the lead on 10 minutes. Sunderland loan man Michael Liddle ran through the middle unopposed and his 25-yard grubber was allowed to bounce in off the far post past the motionless Tyler.

Town almost levelled in scintillating fashion four minutes later. Lawless’ near post corner was met sweetly on the volley by Zdenek Kroca but his effort flew just over.

However, things got even worse for the Hatters as the visitors doubled their lead on 16 minutes. Martin Brittain’s powerful cross deflected off Jake Howells and looped past the powerless Tyler.

With the crowd growing increasingly restless Luton missed another great chance to get on the scoreboard on 25 minutes.

Gnakpa produced some great work on the right and his cross was flicked on by Lloyd Owusu right into the path of Matthew Barnes-Homer but, with only the keeper to beat, Town’s leading scorer could only fire at Tim Deasy, before sending his second attempt well over.

Town though did pull a goal back two minutes later. Owusu’s touch found Barnes-Homer and his first time pass sent Crow clean through, who kept his composure to round Deasy before firing home.

It was almost 2-2 just after the half hour when Lawless’ deflected cross arced into the path of Owusu but Deasy saved well at his feet.

The Tynesiders though looked dangerous on the break and almost had a third on 34 minutes. The dangerous Brittain sent in another tantalising cross but Jon Shaw could only send his diving header wide when it seemed easier to score.

But Town were level nine minutes before the break. Kroca’s flick from Howells’ cute free-kick hit the far post but Gnakpa was on hand to somehow stab the ball home.

Luton were certainly struggling on a mudbath of a pitch and the northerners always looked dangerous going forward and almost retook the lead on 41 minutes.

Joan Simun Edmundsson’s effort crept just wide and James Curtis flashed across goal from the resulting corner.

Right on the stroke of half time the game took another twist when Gnakpa broke down the right and Gateshead captain Ben Clark caught him as he slid in. Having earlier been booked for a foul on Owusu referee R Merchant had little option to send the centre-half off, but it seemed more than slightly harsh on the defender.

Gateshead manager Ian Bogie was sent to the stands at the break and the second half got off to a slow start with Gateshead happy to keep hold of the ball whenever possible to let the clock run down.

Barnes-Homer lashed well over 10 minutes in after Asafu-Adjaye’s cross ran to him at the far post, while defence-minded Gateshead looked to hit Town on the break whenever they could with Shaw having an effort deflected behind just before the hour.

Town were finding chances hard to create against the well-drilled Tynesiders as Lawless ballooned a rare one well over with 19 minutes to go.

Substitute Taiwo Atieno got a dangerous Gnakpa cross tangled under his feet and Howells struck well wide as things became increasingly desperate.

A bad defensive header let Crow in but he lost his bearings and couldn’t make Deasy work as Town seemed devoid of ideas of how to break the 10 men down.

Three minutes were added but clueless Luton simply couldn’t find a winner with Crow spiralling well over and Atieno just unable to connect with Gnakpa’s low cross as a frustrating afternoon finished all square.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Matthew Barnes-Homer (Taiwo Atieno 68), Zdenek Kroca, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells, Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Adam Watkins 84), Claude Gnakpa, Danny Crow, Lloyd Owusu (Godfrey Poku 62). Substitutes not used: JJ O’Donnell, Lewis Kidd.

Tynesiders: Tim Deasy, Kris Gate, James Curtis, Ben Clark (C), Martin Brittain, Phil Turnbull, Jon Shaw (Brian Wake 75), Gary Mulligan (Nathan Fisher 80), Michael Liddle, Joan Simun Edmundsson (Craig Baxter 46), James Tavernier. Substitutes not used: Paul Farman, Josh Gillies.

Bookings: Clark 36, 45+3.

Sent off: Clark 45+3.

Referee: R Merchant.

Assistant referees: D Appleby and N Smith.

Fourth official: J Mellor.

Attendance: 5,958 (Gateshead 30).

Star Hatter: Alex Lawless. Provided some rare quality on a scrappy afternoon.