Tyler heroics help to see Hatters through against resurgent Magpies

Late heroics from standout keeper Mark Tyler ensured it was Luton Town’s name that would be in the hat for tomorrow’s FA Cup third round draw as they held on to beat resurgent Dorchester 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

The Hatters were completely dominant in the first half, leading through Andre Gray’s strike, and when Alex Lawless made it 2-0 on 68 minutes it looked like Luton would canter to victory.

But Arran Pugh pulled a goal back moments later as rejuvenated Dorchester played with a renewed belief and vigour that had previously been missing, and Tyler was forced to pull off a number of brilliant saves as Town ground out their passage to the next round.

Luton were forced into one change from the side that drew 2-2 against the same opposition in the first round of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, Dean Beckwith coming in at centre-half for the cup-tied Simon Ainge.

The hosts weathered some early pressure before almost taking the lead with a move straight off the training ground on six minutes. Lawless rolled a clever corner into the box as Scott Rendell peeled off, but leathered against Pugh and behind.

Magpies skipper Mark Jermyn whistled over while the Hatters crafted another chance on nine minutes when Lawless found JJ O’Donnell following an incisive run and neither Gray nor Rendell could connect with his dangerous cross across the face of goal.

Another Lawless dart ended in a well-placed free-kick for Luton but Jake Howells could only fire harmlessly over.

Rendell almost beat keeper Jason Matthew to a Ronnie Henry cross before O’Donnell was sent tumbling on the edge of the area despite his best effort to stay on his feet, and perversely no free-kick was forthcoming.

A poor back pass by Charlie Clough went straight to Gray on 16 minutes and his backheel found Rendell who curled his first-time effort wide.

Howells’ telling corner caused consternation in the Dorchester box with no-one able to get a telling touch as Jonathan Smith’s effort was deflected over and, from the subsequent corner, Beckwith’s dipping header was well saved.

Henry saw yellow for a foul on Jermyn on 23 minutes and the hosts almost took the lead two minutes later when O’Donnell’s clever pass released Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and his far post cross was headed wide by Lawless.

Luton got their reward for their dominance though with a fine goal after half an hour. Beckwith strode forward from the back and dinked a lovely ball over the top for Gray to run on to. He then nipped back from the byline and beat two players before burying an astute strike into the bottom left corner for his sixth of the season.

Gray was again looking a threat every time he ran at the Magpies’ defence and he did well to burst on to Rendell’s 38th-minute flick and draw a foul from last man Nathan Walker who earned himself a booking.

And the Hatters were inches away from a memorable second when O’Donnell burst down the left and his swerving low drive flashed inches wide of the far post.

Town started to play with more confidence and belief as Gray almost got in behind before curling over.

O’Donnell slipped Gray through on the stroke of half time but the in-form forward slipped at the vital moment.

One minute was added as Rendell’s close-range effort was deflected behind and Lawless whizzed an effort inches over as Town thoroughly deserved their 1-0 half time lead.

The visitors introduced Sam Malsom for Jon Chopereno-Garcia at the break as Ashley Nicholls fired in a wayward shot early in the second half – only their second effort of the afternoon.

With Town defending nervously at set-pieces the visitors took their chance to put them under plenty of pressure from two successive corners with Jamie Gleeson eventually powering his header wide.

A tame Nicholls effort was easily fielded by Tyler as Town seemed to lose their composure, while Janos Kovacs completely lost his man from a free-kick as Clough headed wide on 58 minutes, much to the anger of Tyler.

Lawless broke free at the other end but dragged a good chance wide, before the Hatters twice went close. Smith threaded Gray through as Matthews saved well at his near post before Beckwith headed at the keeper from Lawless’ subsequent corner.

O’Donnell bobbled a good opening harmlessly wide before an innocuous looking injury, believed to be a broken nose, forced Beckwith to be stretchered off as he was replaced by fit-again youngster Alex Lacey on 66 minutes.

And Town doubled their lead two minutes later when Howells’ beautiful reverse pass put Lawless into space and his drive found the bottom corner when Matthews should really have done better.

But the Magpies hit straight back to make it 2-1 on 71 when a clever short corner was backheeled across Luton’s box and Pugh was on hand at the far post to side-foot home.

Inspired Dorchester came roaring forward and the Hatters were indebted to Tyler’s heroics to keep them ahead.

First Tyler did brilliant to get a hand to substitute Malsom’s flick header on 73 minutes before then bravely saving at the feet of two vultures to win a free-kick.

Seconds later Ben Watson broke on to a ball over the top and Tyler did superbly to beat away his effort as Lacey headed behind before Malsom fired in from an acute angle and Tyler produced another brilliant one-handed save to deny the substitute.

For a time it was all Dorchester as they thought they could complete what had looked like an unlikely comeback.

At the other end Henry’s superb cross was half cleared and Howells drove wide, while the well-marshalled Jake Gosling found space with five minutes to go but fired right at Tyler.

Smith was booked with four minutes to go, while a Lawless lash was deflected behind.

A massive six minutes of injury time were added and Tyler again came to Luton’s rescue when substitute Dan Thompson was allowed to turn and fire in a great shot destined for the bottom corner before Tyler threw out a strong paw to again deny the Magpies.

A clash of heads late on between Rendell and Pugh forced both to leave the field before Town almost grabbed a third in six minutes into injury time.

Matthews’ ball failed to reached Neil Martin and Lawless was quickly on to but, as he closed on goal, the keeper saved his near-post effort well as Town hung on to progress to the third round for the first time since 2010.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Dean Beckwith (Alex Lacey 66), Janos Kovacs, Alex Lawless, Scott Rendell, Jake Howells, JJ O’Donnell (Arnaud Mendy 90), Jonathan Smith, Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray (Stuart Fleetwood 80). Substitutes not used: Dean Brill, Jon Shaw, Adam Watkins, James Dance.

Magpies (4-4-2): Jason Matthews, Nathan Walker, Neil Martin, Charlie Clough, Arran Pugh, Jamie Gleeson, Jake Gosling, Ashley Nicholls, Ben Watson, Mark Jermyn (C, Dan Thompson 71), Jon Chopereno-Garcia (Sam Malsom 46). Substitutes not used: Nick Crittenden, George Colson, Jake Smeeton, Lewis Morgan, Alan Walker-Harris.

Bookings: Henry 23; Walker 38; Nicholls 77; Smith 86.

Referee: C Berry.

Assistant Referees: C Fitch and E Smart.

Fourth Official: M Wilson.

Attendance: 3,287 (Dorchester 458).

Star Hatter: Mark Tyler. Late heroics made sure it was Luton’s name in the hat for the third round draw.