St Neots 1 Luton Town 3
A useful pre-season outing ended in a comfortable victory for the Hatters at St Neots.
Mick Harford gave 22 players an opportunity to run the off season break out of their system and although there was an element of ru
stiness – unsurprisingly – there was plenty to be positive about.
St Neots were willing opponents who had their moments, but the superior fitness and technique of the visitors proved telling.
At the impressive Rowley Park, Luton were straight on to the attack in the first few seconds, but it was St Neots who had the first chance, Leon Simpson forcing a smart save from Mark Tyler after latching on to Ian Edge's centre.
A couple of minutes later, Tyler reacted well to turn Edge's free-kick wide.
The hosts were looking sharp, especially on the break, but it didn't take Luton long to carve out an opportunity, Liam Hatch's diving header forcing Luke McShane into action.
There was a competitive edge to proceedings with a few tackles flying in – no bad thing for a pre-season friendly which can often resemble a glorified training session – and on 13 minutes the visitors went ahead.
Kevin Nicholls' corner found an unmarked Alan White at the near post and his firm header left McShane with no chance.
The game began to settle down into some sort of rhythm and although there were a few misplaced passes, both sides were trying to play to feet.
The width that was painfully lacking last season was in evidence with Adam Newton and Andy Burgess providing outlets on the flanks.
Newton was the next to try his luck with a good volley and halfway through the half, Hatch made a mess of an inviting Burgess cross.
The former Barton Rovers duo of Josh Sozzo and Simpson were a handful for the Hatters defence and after a couple of half chances for Luton, the former brought St Neots level in the 42nd minute.
Tony Scully was allowed to run unchecked through the centre and his low cross was met first time by Sozzo whose excellent finish left Tyler stranded.
The goal was deserved for endeavour alone but a minute later Newton put Luton back in front, Hatch's header at the far post from Burgess' looping cross was parried and Newton was left with the task of burying a volley from close range.
It was all change for the second period as Mick Harford shuffled his pack, making 10 substitutions in all, and Tom Craddock was the first to try his luck seven minutes in with a left-footed effort that flew harmlessly over.
Just as there was a lull shortly before the brace of goals at the end of the first half, the opening minutes of the second half had little in the way of meaningful action.
This changed just after the hour when in the 62nd minute, Jake Howells was on hand to clear Shane Fox's effort off the line.
They were left to rue their miss when, two minutes later, the overlapping Jason Mitchell's cross found Laurence Hunter at the far post and he made no mistake with a crisp half-volley finish.
Claude Gnakpa had a 69th minute effort saved low down as Luton presses and Hunter, just a few seconds later, failed to get any real power into his shot after creating some space.
The game was opening up as the hosts tired and Drew Talbot had a couple of shots a few seconds apart, the first deflected for a corner and the second thumped harmlessly over the bar.
Craddock, playing just behind the strikers, showed a handful of good touches in the final stages and with the Hatters in almost total control, they were able to easily close the game out.
ST NEOTS: McShane, Dogbe, Hurst, Fuff, Okai, Kenneford, Hyem, Edge, Scully, Simpson, Sozzo.
HATTERS: Tyler, Keane, Beavan, Gallen, White, Pilkington, Newton, Nicholls, Hatch, Charles, Burgess
2nd HALF: Edwards, Mitchell (Walker 80), Roper, Frater, Howells, Gnakpa, Jarvis, Hall, Hunter, Craddock, Talbot.
