Ex-Town star sent off as workmanlike Hatters grind out victory

Luton Town 2 (1) Newport County AFC 0 (0)

HATTERS old boy Ryan Charles was sent on his Newport debut as Luton cruised to a 2-0 victory over their Welsh visitors at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Charles was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on Dan Gleeson in the first half as Aaron O’Connor’s flick header from a corner put them ahead moments later.

Workmanlike Hatters made hard work of finishing off the Exiles, but Danny Crow’s brave close-range strike in the second half made sure of the points in a largely uneventful game.

Town made two changes from the side that hammered Kettering Town 5-0 at Nene Park on Sunday. Crow recovered from illness and Gleeson from a back problem as they returned to the starting XI, with James Dance dropping to the bench and Curtis Osano out of the squad entirely.

Newport made five changes to team that lost 3-2 at Bath on New Year’s Day. Charles, signed from Cambirdge United on loan yesterday, was handed his debut along with Andy Sandell, signed on non-contract terms from Chippenham Town. Keeper Gyln Thompson, Sam Foley and Elliott Buchanan were also given starts as the Exiles looked to ease their relegation fears.

Town got off to a bitty start with too many touches going astray and it was the visitors who got the first sight of goal on eight minutes when the ball ran to Buchanan unopposed on the edge of the box, but he dragged a good chance wide.

Luton responded as Alex Lawless jinked his way through and pulled his effort wide four minutes later.

In truth though it was a massive uneventful opening and when Foley did find space his awkward effort was miles off target, while Gary Warren headed over from a corner.

Adam Watkins finally created some space on 27 minutes but stroked straight at Thompson from range.

Referee K Evans looked increasingly out of his depth with some baffling decisions, but the Exiles almost snatched the lead on the half-hour mark when a nudge on Greg Taylor created room for Buchanan and his snapshot from an acute angle was touched on to the bar by Kevin Pilkington with Foley unable to force home the follow-up header.

A Jake Howells free-kick was glanced wide glanced wide by Janos Kovacs before the game turned in Luton’s favour on 33 when Charles went flying in on Gleeson on the halfway line and was instantly shown a red card.

Two minutes later Luton were ahead when Howells whipped in a corner to the near post and O’Connor’s glancing header found the far corner.

A mazy run from Foley ended in the midfielder firing just wide with five minutes of the half left, while injury forced off Gleeson who was replaced by Dance on 41 minutes.

The Hatters continued to struggle against 10 men with far too many passes going astray, but they did almost make it two in the second minute of stoppage time when Dance surged forward from right-back and O’Connor teed up Howells who could only curl wide from the edge of the box.

Town had shouts for a penalty knocked back four minutes into the second half when Watkins was shoved over in the box by Foley

Some lovely interchange play by Dance and O’Connor slipped Crow through, but his first-time effort never threatened Thompson’s goal.

A great interception by Keith Keane put him in on 54 minutes only for Ismail Yakubu to recover in the nick of time and put in an important tackle.

County captain Warren was booked for an untidy challenge on O’Connor on halfway, while Watkins could only stab miles wide after a nice Luton move on the hour.

Taylor followed suit with another wayward effort that went out for a throw before the Hatters finally put the game to bed with a second on 66 minutes.

Dance’s astute pass from the back set Luton on their way and Watkins’ ball found the onrushing Taylor whose inviting cross was finished off by Crow lurking at the far post.

The diminutive striker slid in for his eighth goal of the season, but collided with the upright and needed a couple of minutes’ treatment before returning to the fray.

A forceful Lawless run ended with the midfielder drilling just wide on 68 minutes and seconds later Watkins rolled a tame effort at Thompson.

A knock forced captain George Pilkington off as he was replaced by Robbie Willmott with 10 minutes to go and Keane dropped back into the centre of Town’s defence.

Quick feet saw O’Connor threaten with eight minutes to go but a good block denied him a second.

Substitute Fleetwood then show good intent but, after some great approach play, lacked a finish, while an overly-ambitious Willmott effort went miles over.

O’Connor floated a lovely cross to Taylor at the far post in stoppage time but the full-back’s header lacked purchase as Luton eased to their fourth-straight league victory to narrow the gap at the top to eight points.

Hatters: Kevin Pilkington, Dan Gleeson (James Dance 41), Greg Taylor, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C, Robbie Willmott 80), Alex Lawless, Danny Crow (Stuart Fleetwood 75), Aaron O’Connor, Jake Howells, Adam Watkins. Substitutes not used: Mark Tyler, John Paul Kissock.

Exiles: Glyn Thompson, Gary Warren (C), Ismail Yakubu (Lee Baker 87), Sam Foley, Nathaniel Jarvis (Jake Harris 73), Andrew Hughes, David Pipe, Ryan Charles, Paul Rodgers, Elliott Buchanan(Robbie Matthews 58), Andy Sandell. Substitutes not used: Danny Potter, Darryl Knights.

Bookings: Warren 55; Sandell 71.

Sent Off: Charles 33.

Referee: K Evans.

Assistant Referees: G Kane and P Lavelle.

Fourth Official: B Knight.

Attendance: 6,108 (Newport 228).

Star Hatter: Jake Howells. A class act, although quieter than of late.