Quakers victory is oh so simple

A WONDERFUL second half display saw Luton Town crush Darlington on Tuesday night as they regained valuable ground in the race for the Blue Square Bet Premier title, writes Mike Simmonds.

Town completely dominated from the opening moments of the game, but it took until Claude Gnakpa’s 68th minute strike, his fourth in four games, and eighth in 12, to break their opponents’ resistance.

Lloyd Owusu got in on the act too, with a quickfire double, while the excellent Alex Lawless also scored as the hosts moved to second in the table, just one point behind AFC Wimbledon, who went down 4-1 at York City.

Boss Richard Money recalled fit-again Amari Morgan-Smith to replace the departed Andy Drury, with new recruits Robbie Willmott and Luke Graham named on the bench.

Midfielder Lawless was quick to show there was life after Drury, as he was behind all the Hatters moments of danger in the opening period, and was a hub of creativity all evening.

First, he whipped in a dangerous free-kick that saw Owusu thunder a header over the bar, before consecutive corners saw Zdenek Kroca’s header tipped over, while Owusu was off target.

Dan Gleeson and Matthew Barnes-Homer sent wayward shots wide from distance, before Gnakpa sent Jake Howells’ inch-perfect cross past the post.

Barnes-Homer nodded Keith Keane’s delivery wide, but despite barely getting out of their half, Quakers missed the best chance as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson stabbed wide from eight yards. In stoppage time, Lawless’ corner was met by Gnakpa, who headed into the turf, allowing Russell to touch the ball over the bar.

Money made a change at half time, replacing Barnes-Homer with striker Jason Walker and Morgan-Smith was denied a run on goal in cynical fashion as he he was crudely tripped by Paul Arnison as he was about to burst clear.

Hatters had shouts for a penalty on 56 minutes when Walker’s cross hit defender Adam Quinn, but despite the howls from the majority of the 5,770 crowd, referee R Whitton gave nothing.

Willmott received a warm reception when introduced on 58 minutes for Morgan-Smith.

Just as the the visitors were starting to enjoy their best spell, Gnakpa, who had been hugely frustrating, found the bottom corner with a pinpoint low left-footed drive from 20 yards.

It was almost 2-0 immediately, but Gleeson fired straight at Russell, while Gnakpa blasted horribly over when clean through, but the second did arrive on 73 minutes when Owusu collected Howells’ cross, turned and slotted past Russell.

Hatters started to show their party tricks from then, as Gnakpa’s cross was deftly glanced into the bottom corner by Owusu, while Lawless got the goal he deserved, finding the net with the outside of his right boot in the closing stages.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Keith Keane, George Pilkington, Amari Morgan-Smith (Robbie Willmott 58), Matthew Barnes-Homer (Jason Walker 46), Zdenek Kroca, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells, Claude Gnakpa, Lloyd Owusu (Luke Graham 86). Substitutes not used: Godfrey Poku, Kevin Pilkington.

Quakers: Sam Russell, Paul Arnison, Jamie Chandler (Chris Moore 60), Ian Miller, Liam Hatch, Greg Taylor (Nathan Modest 83), Aaron Brown, Adam Quinn, Aman Verma, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, John Campbell. Substitutes not used: Curtis Main, Michael Smith, Danzelle St Louis Hamilton.

Bookings: Arnison 49; Kroca 89.

Attendance: 5,770 (77 Darlington).

Star Hatter: Zdenek Kroca. So assured at the back.