Town lose out to Luton Town in a 3-2 away defeat

Luton: James Shea, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Jack Stacey, Danny Hylton (James Collins, 45), Elliot Lee, Andrew Shinnie, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jorge Grant (James Justin, 77).

Subs: Marek Stech, James Justin, Harry Cornick, Jake Jervis, James Collins, Luke Gambin, Lloyd Jones.

Town: Joel Coleman, Ryan Haynes, Mat Sadler, Shaun Whalley, Greg Docherty, Lee Angol, James Bolton, Alex Gilliead (Fejri Okenabirhie, 77), Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent, Anthony Grant (Ollie Norburn, 77).

Subs: Omar Beckles, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Lenell John-Lewis, Steve Arnold, Doug Loft, Ollie Norburn, Ryan Barnett.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Assistants: Matthew Smith and Joe Clark

Fourth official: Nicholas Cooper

Attendance:  8518 (379)

Town couldn’t quite grab all three points on the road against Luton Town, despite taking an early lead.

Goals from Shaun Whalley and Lee Angol wasn’t enough to see Askey’s side pick up all three points at Kenilworth Road as Luton Town scored three past the Shrews.

Team News: John Askey makes one change to his starting 11 that will face the Hatters; Lee Angol is introduced into the starting 11 ahead of Lenell John-lewis.

First Half:

Town’s opening 10 minutes showed some positive signs with a fast-paced direct approach.  True to form, Shaun Whalley was looking dangerous on the wings, combining well with James Bolton down the right side.

In the 22^nd minute Town were awarded a deserved penalty. Whalley was continuing to trouble the Hatters back four, as the winger dribbled past two defenders before being brought down by Jack Stacey.

With the ball on the spot, Whalley stepped up and put Town in the lead, sending the Hatters goalkeeper, James Shea, the wrong way and slotting home into the left side of the net.

Luton had their first real dangerous attack with just 10 minutes of the half left to play. George Grant found himself on the edge of the box with a yard of space, the attacking midfielder let off a shot, but his effort was blocked and Town cleared the ball well.

Lee Angol was given a yellow card as the half drew to a close. The referee, Carl Boyeson, deemed Angol to have raised his elbow as the Town striker challenge for a lofted pass.

The half came to an end with Town a goal to the good. Whalley gave his side the lead in the 22^nd minute and Askey’s men remained resolute throughout the rest of the half.

Second half:

It only took the Hatters five minutes into the second half to register an equaliser. Luton’s Jorge Grant won a free kick on the edge of Town’s box in a dangerous area. Grant struck a wonderful looping effort towards goal that had the beating of Joel Coleman, putting Luton back on level terms.

The Hatters were in the ascendancy for the first 15 minutes of the half. Nathan Jones’ men were having the better of the chances, but Town’s back four were doing well to weather the storm.

Town were handed a second goal in the 66^th minute. Angol wouldn’t have believed his eyes when the Hatters goalkeeper dropped the ball on the floor, so close to the Town striker. Angol sneakily nicked the ball away from Shea and fired home into the empty net.

Luton Town’s number seven, Jack Stacey, did a great job of redeeming his earlier foul, that lead to Town’s penalty. Some smart passing play around the box found the winger through on goal and Stacey fired the ball home into Joel Coleman’s near post, once again levelling the score-line.

Just for minutes later, Luton capitalised on their good form and found another goal, which took the home side into the lead. A big deflected free-kick saw the ball loop into the empty side of the goal.

Luton were awarded their own penalty in the 82^nd minute, Luke Waterfall got a slight nick on Pelly Ruddock- Mpanzu and the referee awarded the Hatters a spot kick. However, Coleman did ever so well to get down and save the penalty, which looked destined for the bottom left corner of the net.

Agol came agonisingly close to getting Town an equaliser in the last knockings of the game. Ryan Haynes did well to beat his man and find Angol in the box with a driven cross. The striker couldn’t make a solid contact and the keeper claimed the ball, averting any danger for the Hatters.

The highly eventful game ended 3-2 on the score line to the home side. Lee Angol and Shaun Whalley’s goals wasn't enough to see Askey’s men take any points away from the home side.