Post by QPR Report on Apr 22, 2009 7:37:09 GMT
And appropriately, Kevin Gallen was Luton's star
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Chairboys-unseat-Hatters.5191797.jp
Luton Today Chairboys unseat Hatters
Date: 21 April 2009
By Mark Wood
High-flying Wanderers oust tame Town
Coca-Cola League Two
Luton Town 0 (0) Wycombe Wanderers 1 (0)
A dreadful opening 45 minutes at Kenilworth Road gave way to a tame second half strike from John Akinde as high-flying Wycombe closed in on promotion.
Neither side created anything of note in a dire first period and the big striker's one moment of magic proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Substitute Kevin Gallen seemed to invigorate turgid Hatters late in the second half, but they never really looked like unlocking the organised Chairboys.
Town made two changes from the team that drew 1-1 at near neighbours Barnet on Saturday. Out went suspended skipper Kevin Nicholls and defender Ed Asafu-Adjaye and in came Ian Henderson and Chris Martin, after serving a two-game ban, as manager Mick Harford named a more attacking line-up.
There was also a place on the bench for the first time for young defender Jack Wood, who turned 17 last week and scored twice in Monday's 2-1 reserve win at Southend United.
Both teams sported black armbands in memory of former Luton skipper and Wycombe manager Mike Keen who died at the age of 69 recently after short illness.
A fine through ball by Michael Spillane put Martin away on eight minutes, but the on-loan Norwich striker slipped at the crucial moment as he tried to create space in the box.
Despite having all to play for the Chairboys showed no more urgency and passion than already relegated Hatters and chances were at a premium as Henderson skewed a dreadful effort well wide.
An abysmal opening 35 minutes offered virtually nothing in the way of entertainment, with both sides' similar formations completely cancelling each other's out.
Neither side were able to create anything and Henderson's tumble under an untidy challenge from Lewis Hunt in the box two minutes later summed up both teams' lack of creativity.
With a minute of the half left Spillane sold himself too easily, allowing Jon-Paul Pittman to gallop down the left. His cross found Lewwis Spence, but his toe-ended poke span well wide.
In the dying seconds of the half, Town finally tested Wanderers keeper Jamie Young. Spillane's deep cross from the right found Henderson in the box, but his flick header was easily saved by the Wycombe stopper as a dreadful and uneventful opening 45 minutes dragged to a close.
Wanderers began the second half much more positively and Akinde should have done far better when Gary Holt picked him out with a great cross three minutes after the break, but the unmarked Wycombe striker headed wastefully over.
Substitute Stuart Beavon flashed a shot just wide two minutes later as the visitors appeared to be a completely different team after their half time team talk.
And the Chairboys snatched the lead on 56 minutes as Akinde atoned for his earlier miss. Wanderers' showed great determination to muscle Sol Davis off the ball before firing home past the wrong-footed Dean Brill from the edge of the area.
Pittman then got the better of Keith Keane, but his drilled cross was well held at his near post by Brill.
With Luton limping to defeat Harford rung the changes on the hour, introducing fit again duo Lewis Emanuel and Gallen for Henderson and Rossi Jarvis.
Sol Davis and Gallen combined to carve out an opportunity for Martin, but Town's top scorer could only lob harmlessly over the bar.
The Hatter finally found some zest and started to put nervous Wycombe under pressure with a succession of David Livermore corners. A mass of bodies repelled an Emanuel hammer blow, while George Pilkington just couldn't get his shot away from inside the six yard box.
Emanuel thundered wide with 11 minutes left, while Martin shot from the edge of the area on 85 minutes was straight at Young.
Hatters: Dean Brill, Sol Davis, Keith Keane (C), George Pilkington, Ian Henderson (Lewis Emanuel 60), David Livermore, Asa Hall, Rossi Jarvis (Kevin Gallen 60), Chris Martin, Michael Spillane, Tom Craddock. Substitutes not used: Ian Roper, Sam Parkin, Jack Wood.
Chairboys: Jamie Young, Lewis Hunt, Craig Woodman (Luke Oliver 80), David McCracken (C), Frank Sinclair, Gary Holt, Jon-Paul Pittman (Matt Bloomfield 88), Lewwis Spence, John Mousinho, John Akinde, Matt Phillips (Stuart Beavon 46). Substitutes not used: Lee Sawyer, Ashlee Jones.
Referee: Mick Russell (Hertforshire).
Assistant referees: I Smedley and D Margetts.
Fourth official: C Francis.
Booking: Phillips, 5, Henderson 57; Akinde, 82.
Star Hatter: Kevin Gallen. Luton only started to play after his introduction.
Attendance: 6,553 (Wycombe 1,116).
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Chairboys-unseat-Hatters.5191797.jp
Luton Today Chairboys unseat Hatters
Date: 21 April 2009
By Mark Wood
High-flying Wanderers oust tame Town
Coca-Cola League Two
Luton Town 0 (0) Wycombe Wanderers 1 (0)
A dreadful opening 45 minutes at Kenilworth Road gave way to a tame second half strike from John Akinde as high-flying Wycombe closed in on promotion.
Neither side created anything of note in a dire first period and the big striker's one moment of magic proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Substitute Kevin Gallen seemed to invigorate turgid Hatters late in the second half, but they never really looked like unlocking the organised Chairboys.
Town made two changes from the team that drew 1-1 at near neighbours Barnet on Saturday. Out went suspended skipper Kevin Nicholls and defender Ed Asafu-Adjaye and in came Ian Henderson and Chris Martin, after serving a two-game ban, as manager Mick Harford named a more attacking line-up.
There was also a place on the bench for the first time for young defender Jack Wood, who turned 17 last week and scored twice in Monday's 2-1 reserve win at Southend United.
Both teams sported black armbands in memory of former Luton skipper and Wycombe manager Mike Keen who died at the age of 69 recently after short illness.
A fine through ball by Michael Spillane put Martin away on eight minutes, but the on-loan Norwich striker slipped at the crucial moment as he tried to create space in the box.
Despite having all to play for the Chairboys showed no more urgency and passion than already relegated Hatters and chances were at a premium as Henderson skewed a dreadful effort well wide.
An abysmal opening 35 minutes offered virtually nothing in the way of entertainment, with both sides' similar formations completely cancelling each other's out.
Neither side were able to create anything and Henderson's tumble under an untidy challenge from Lewis Hunt in the box two minutes later summed up both teams' lack of creativity.
With a minute of the half left Spillane sold himself too easily, allowing Jon-Paul Pittman to gallop down the left. His cross found Lewwis Spence, but his toe-ended poke span well wide.
In the dying seconds of the half, Town finally tested Wanderers keeper Jamie Young. Spillane's deep cross from the right found Henderson in the box, but his flick header was easily saved by the Wycombe stopper as a dreadful and uneventful opening 45 minutes dragged to a close.
Wanderers began the second half much more positively and Akinde should have done far better when Gary Holt picked him out with a great cross three minutes after the break, but the unmarked Wycombe striker headed wastefully over.
Substitute Stuart Beavon flashed a shot just wide two minutes later as the visitors appeared to be a completely different team after their half time team talk.
And the Chairboys snatched the lead on 56 minutes as Akinde atoned for his earlier miss. Wanderers' showed great determination to muscle Sol Davis off the ball before firing home past the wrong-footed Dean Brill from the edge of the area.
Pittman then got the better of Keith Keane, but his drilled cross was well held at his near post by Brill.
With Luton limping to defeat Harford rung the changes on the hour, introducing fit again duo Lewis Emanuel and Gallen for Henderson and Rossi Jarvis.
Sol Davis and Gallen combined to carve out an opportunity for Martin, but Town's top scorer could only lob harmlessly over the bar.
The Hatter finally found some zest and started to put nervous Wycombe under pressure with a succession of David Livermore corners. A mass of bodies repelled an Emanuel hammer blow, while George Pilkington just couldn't get his shot away from inside the six yard box.
Emanuel thundered wide with 11 minutes left, while Martin shot from the edge of the area on 85 minutes was straight at Young.
Hatters: Dean Brill, Sol Davis, Keith Keane (C), George Pilkington, Ian Henderson (Lewis Emanuel 60), David Livermore, Asa Hall, Rossi Jarvis (Kevin Gallen 60), Chris Martin, Michael Spillane, Tom Craddock. Substitutes not used: Ian Roper, Sam Parkin, Jack Wood.
Chairboys: Jamie Young, Lewis Hunt, Craig Woodman (Luke Oliver 80), David McCracken (C), Frank Sinclair, Gary Holt, Jon-Paul Pittman (Matt Bloomfield 88), Lewwis Spence, John Mousinho, John Akinde, Matt Phillips (Stuart Beavon 46). Substitutes not used: Lee Sawyer, Ashlee Jones.
Referee: Mick Russell (Hertforshire).
Assistant referees: I Smedley and D Margetts.
Fourth official: C Francis.
Booking: Phillips, 5, Henderson 57; Akinde, 82.
Star Hatter: Kevin Gallen. Luton only started to play after his introduction.
Attendance: 6,553 (Wycombe 1,116).