Super second half showing sees Hatters ease past Southport with Rendell double

Blue Square Bet Premier: Luton Town 3 (1) Southport 1 (1)

A great second half showing from the Hatters, including a Scott Rendell brace, saw Town claim a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southport at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Stuart Fleetwood’s early strike had set Luton on their way, but they stalled after that as Andrew Parry deservedly levelled in stoppage time.

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But Town upped their game after the break with Rendell to the fore, netting twice, and passing up several opportunities of a first Town hat-trick as Luton turned on the style to easily win out.

Town made three changes from the side that clawed back a 2-1 win at Tamworth on Tuesday night. Fresh from signing on-loan from Guiseley on Thursday, Simon Ainge partnered Connor Essam at centre-half, while Fleetwood and Yaser Kasim both put back into the starting XI.

Dean Beckwith missed out with a foot injury, while Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and Jon Shaw dropped to the bench.

And Luton made the ideal start as they took the lead on four minutes. Andre Gray did well to latch on to a long ball forward and he held the ball up before picking out Fleetwood on the edge of the area to beautifully curl home his ninth goal of the season.

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The hosts continued their bright start as JJ O’Donnell picked the ball up in the middle and Tony McMillan did well to hold on to his low 30-yard strike destined for the bottom corner.

The game was stopped for almost two minutes as the fourth official was forced to replace an injured linesman.

Shaun Whalley was looking dangerous on right for Southport and, having skipped past Jake Howells on 21 minutes, Essam will have been relieved to see his touch loop over the bar.

And the Sandgrounders went close from the resulting corner when Mark Tyler punched clear and Chris Almond’s header back into the box dipped just over the bar.

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A darting run by Jake Howells saw him drag wide on the half hour, while Almond’s tame effort went wide after a brief stoppage while O’Donnell received treatment.

Essam was booked for a poor sliding challenge on Karl Ledsham after the attacker had already stepped past Ronnie Henry.

The Sandgrounders were causing problems from their numerous set-pieces with lethargic Luton struggling to clear. A wayward Alan Moogan effort never threatened the goal before Alex Lawless was booked for a lunge on Chris Lever close to the halfway line.

And the visitors deservedly levelled on the stroke of half time when Parry intercepted and strode forward unchallenged from the back and was allowed to fire home into the bottom left-hand corner from just outside the area.

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The Kenilworth Road faithful made their thoughts known after the goal and at the half time whistle, while in the third minute of stoppage time Lawless went close to restoring their lead when his swirling effort from range was eventually gathered by McMillan.

Both sides had chances in the first minute of the second half, Ledsham stroking at Tyler on the turn and Gray whipping in a brilliant cross only for Rendell to see his header blocked by the covering defender.

Southport went close again when substitute Steven Tames whipped in a great cross but Whalley was unable to turn home before the Hatters retook the lead with a sumptuous goal on on 49 minutes.

Fleetwood’s backheel was perfect for O’Donnell to run on to and his great ball into the box found Rendell sliding in to net his third goal of the season despite the best efforts of McMillan.

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Town proceeded to ram home their advantage as Howells cut a dash from left-back beating Tames and Chris Lynch as he surged into the box but, having done the hard bit, he saw his cross cut out.

Fleetwood was swiftly on to it though and Parry’s misplaced challenge resulted in the referee pointing to the spot.

Rendell stepped up to take Town’s first penalty of the season and confidently fired down the middle to put the Hatters 3-1 up after 55 minutes.

And Rendell was denied his first Hatters hat-trick moments later when Kasim released O’Donnell and his ball into the box found the target man who was thwarted by a great sprawling save from McMillan.

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Now firmly in control O’Donnell drove wide from Gray’s cross with Rendell unable to turn home before Gray saw his shot blocked.

Almond took a tumble in the box on 65 minutes, but nothing was doing, and Ledsham was unable to capitalise on his cross.

Fleetwood wasted a glorious chance to make it four with 20 minutes to go when he was quickly on to a weak back header, but one-on-one with the keeper, McMillan saved well with an outflung foot.

Howells flew down the left seconds later, Moogan booked retrospectively for a terrible lunge as he raced clear, but the move eventually petered out as Lawless fired harmlessly wide.

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More good work from O’Donnell saw him whip in a wonderful cross but Lynch’s touch just took it away from Rendell before the Sandgrounders almost hit back with a controversial goal when the linesman flagged for offside but play was waved on and Whalley dragged wide on 76 minutes.

Town proceeded to play with real panache and flair, threatening every time they went forward.

Playing with real swagger O’Donnell was twice denied by good blocks as the Hatters finally displayed the quality football so far lacking for much of this season.

Good approach play at the end saw Rendell presented with one last chance before being replaced as a fine second half showing saw the Hatters over the line, even if Tames did almost pull one back at the death as he spiralled a good chance over the bar.

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Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Alex Lawless, Scott Rendell (Jake Robinson 90+4), Jake Howells, Simon Ainge, Stuart Fleetwood, (Jon Shaw 87) JJ O’Donnell, Yaser Kasim (Lathaniel Rowe Turner 80), Connor Essam, Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray. Substitutes not used: Dan Walker, Dean Brill.

Sandgrounders (4-5-1): Tony McMillan, James Smith (Steven Tames 46), Chris Lever, Andrew Parry, Simon Grand (C), Shaun Whalley, Karl Ledsham, Chris Almond (Russell Benjamin 80), Alan Moogan (Liam Willis 72), Chris Lynch, Godfrey Poku. Substitutes not used: Steve Akrigg, Zac Hibbert.

Bookings: Essam 36; Lawless 44; Moogan 71.

Referee: B Huxtable.

Assistant Referees: L Wood and M Smith.

Fourth Official: A Degnarain.

Attendance: 5,696 (Southport 77).

Star Hatter: Scott Rendell. Predatory in front of goal and could have had even more.

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