Town indebted to Tyler in Knitters stalemate

AN inspired performance from goalkeeper Mark Tyler kept Luton Town in the FA Trophy as they were held to a goalless draw by BLue Square North side Hinckley United tonight, writes Mike Simmonds.

Tyler was called upon to make a host of important saves, especially in a second half that was largely dominated by the Knitters and their fleet-footed striker Andre Gray, as his side belied their position near the foot of the table.

The hosts also had two goals disallowed on what was a disappointing evening for Town, who named a strong side, including the likes of Stuart Fleetwood, Robbie Willmott and James Dance, as they were distinctly below par in the final third of the pitch.

Town boss Gary Brabin made nine changes to the side that beat Stockport County 1-0 as only Dance and Fleetwood kept their places..

That meant starts for Tyler, Curtis Osano, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Alex Lacey, JJ O’Donnell, John Paul Kissock, Willmott, while teenagers Alasan Ann and Colby McAdams made their full debuts.

Unfortunately Ann’s stint lasted a mere five minutes as he injured his ankle in the opening salvos and, despite trying to play on, limped from the field to be replaced by 18-year-old Jake Woolley, who made his bow for the club.

Kissock almost broke the deadlock in stunning fashion on eight minutes, when his long ranger was superbly tipped over the bar by the arching Denham Hinds.

Town should have been behind moments later when Lacey dallied over a long ball and Gray nipped in, but Tyler was out to bravely deny the striker.

Woolley came within inches of a goal on 20 minutes when McAdams was sent clear down the right and his lovely cross was met by the striker, who found the side-netting from close range.

O’Donnell stormed forward and arrowed a shot wide, while Fleetwood took Willmott’s pass in his stride but put his effort too close to Hinds.

Hinckley looked a far better side than their 20th placing in the table suggested as Gray found space only to send a shot into the night’s sky.

Fleetwood’s dinked header was hacked off the line by Paul Lister, before both the striker and Dance miskicked, allowing Hinds to tumble on the loose ball in a rare attacking foray.

The Knitters enjoyed a fine spell just before the break with Gray proving a constant menace as first he induced the impressive Asafu-Adjaye into a crucial sliding challenge before belting a strike past Tyler and into the corner of the net, only to see his moment of glory cut short by the linesman’s flag.

On the whistle, Willmott found Kissock with a clever corner and the midfielder jinked his way into a shooting position only to tamely find Hinds.

Gray continued to be a menace in the second half as he broke away to face Tyler one-on-one, but the keeper spread himself well to save, while the forward’s rebound was wide of the mark.

The striker was through once more moments later and cut the ball back to find Sam Belcher, whose shot was blocked by team-mate Danny Newton.

Tyler had to come to the rescue yet again when Gray neatly found Craig Farrell, who had his close-range blast parried behind.

Luton tried to regain a foothold in the game as Fleetwood’s deflected drive was well handled by Hinds, while 17-year-old Jerry Nash was introduced for his Luton debut on the hour, replacing McAdams.

On 75 minutes, the visitors came close to taking the lead when Willmott’s cross was flicked over his own bar by Mark Dudley, while Kissock, who was a flurry of step-overs and tricks, teed up Woolley to blast off target.

Hinckley then had another goal disallowed for pushing from a corner and Fleetwood almost snatched a late, late winner but Hinds was out to block, before the keeper could have been left with egg on his face when Dance charged down a clearance, but it rebounded away from danger.

Newton almost won it in sensational style in the dying seconds, with a mazy run and goalbound shot that hammered into Lacey and away, leaving Hatters with a replay on Monday that they could really do without.

Knitters: Denham Hinds, Sam Belcher (Jake Holt 72), Mark Dudley, Richard Lavery, Paul Lister, Calum Flanagan, Lloyd Kerry, Andy Gooding (C, Daniel Bragoli 67), Craig Farrell, Andre Gray, Danny Newton. Substitutes not used: Rob Oddy, Tom Byrne.

Hatters: Mark Tyler (C), Curtis Osano, JJ O’Donnell, Alex Lacey, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, James Dance, John Paul Kissock, Colby McAdams (Jerry Nash 60), Stuart Fleetwood, Alasan Ann (Jake Woolley 5). Substitutes not used: Lewis Kidd, Charlie Smith, Brett Longden.

Bookings: Gooding 59.

Referee: Darren Bond.

Assistant Referees: James Wilson and Richard Woodward.

Fourth official: Andrew Fox.

Attendance: 754.

Star Hatter: Mark Tyler.

For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our Hatters Microsite.