Five star Hatters too strong for Histon

TOWN showcased the full force of their attacking capabilities by demolishing Histon at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, writes Mike Simmonds.

The Blue Square Bet Premier strugglers were simply swept away under an avalanche of Hatters attacks which saw five different players on the scoresheet, and that was without goals from leading marksman Matthew Barnes-Homer and Danny Crow, who missed out through injury.

New striker Jason Walker marked his debut with his first Luton strike, while Claude Gnakpa, Jake Howells, Andy Drury and Taiwo Atieno were all on target.

Town boss Richard Money opted to hand Walker an immediate start upfront alongside Barnes-Homer, while Alex Lawless came into the centre of midfield and with Dan Gleeson missing out through injury, Claude Gnakpa reverted to right back.

Walker showed his intentions from the start, as picked out by Keith Keane’s lofted through ball, he didn’t get the proper connection and his shot dribbled wide.

Although the new signing from Barrow was a constant menace, Hatters, who were playing their fourth game in 10 days, were uncharacteristically nervy at times, with player getting in each other’s way on more than one occasion.

Lee Wootton sent a 20-yarder over the top for the Stutes, before Hatters took the lead out of the blue seven minutes.

Walker’s busy attitude won a cheap free kick near the corner flag and another excellent Drury delivery picked out the unmarked Gnakpa who crashed his header home.

The goal settled Hatters down as Howells headed straight at Joe Welch, before Keane, on his 24th birthday, flicked his effort over.

Luton’s reshuffled backline was to cause them problems throughout the first half, with Gnakpa in particular being caught out in an advanced position as Histon were baring down on the Town goal.

When he did get back, he dallied over a clearance that gave Wootton a sighter, but his volley sailed wide.

Although not at their best defensively, there was no question of Luton’s frontline not firing and they moved 2-0 ahead on 19 minutes when a poor pass from Wootton put Jack Ainsley in trouble as Walker and Howells converged on him.

Howells won the ball and took off on a free run towards goal, before finishing confidently past Welch for his second goal of the season.

Histon were still having their moments as Antonio Murray’s volley was straight at Mark Tyler, while with Gnakpa on another foray forward, Daniel Sparkes was left in acres of space to direct an effort across goal but just out of the reach of the diving Murray.

Hatters continued to terrorise the Stutes defence though and grabbed their third courtesy of a wonderful team goal on 39 minutes.

It started with an unintentional skidding goal kick from Tyler though, which was deftly flicked wide by Walker where Drury’s first time pass played in Barnes-Homer. The striker looked up and lifted a glorious cross to the back post where Walker nodded into the net, for his first goal in a Town shirt.

Histon had the goal they were threatening just before the break though as with Gnakpa yet again neglecting his defensive duties, Murray flicked the ball through Zdenek Kroca’s legs to Wootton who galloped down the wing with no marker for company.

Cutting into the box, the on-loan Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder squared for Murray who slid his shot past Tyler despite the best efforts of Keane.

After the break, the mist rolled in on a gloomy Kenilworth Road as Shane Blackett came on for Murray, to slot in at left back.

Once again, Town started slowly as Histon put the ball in the box whenever they could. The first 10 minutes were reminiscent of the Bath City game as Stutes grew in confidence, leaving the home crowd frustrated, but Money withdrew Barnes-Homer for Atieno and Hatters began to set about putting the game to bed.

Walker charged down a clearance from Welch, who looked nervy whenever the ball was at his feet, but Atieno drove wide from 15 yards.

The substitute came close again soon after, picked out by Lawless’ lovely cross, he did everything right to powerfully head towards goal, but Welch produced a fine one-handed save, turning the ball behind.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye replaced Lawless just after the hour and finally Hatters had a solid shape about them, freeing the shackles on Gnakpa who relished his opportunity further upfield, running at the away defence whenever possible.

The fourth goal came on 69 minutes when Blackett’s clever header put in Drury, who advanced into the box and after twisting and turning, had his legs taken away by Ainsley for a clear penalty.

With no Crow on the pitch, Drury himself took the spot kick and confidently found the bottom corner for his fifth of the season.

Back in the groove now, Hatters kept pushing and midweek goalscorer Atieno showed his new-found confidence, taking Drury’s pass in his stride and clinically finishing with his left foot for the fifth on 78 minutes.

The striker almost had his second when a sweeping move from one side of the pitch to the other ended with Blackett’s whipped cross deftly turned wide by Atieno.

He clattered Welch at the same time though, leading to some lengthy treatment for the Histon goalkeeper, who was stretchered off with George Lawton coming on.

Tyler was called into some late action, blocking with his legs from Sparkes and then stopping Romone McRae’s follow up. Unfortunately the afternoon ended on a sour note as Blackett, who had just returned from a groin injury, crumpled after stretching to deliver a cross and had to limp off leaving Hatters with 10 men for the final moments.

There was still time for Gnakpa to have his second disallowed, heading home from Drury’s cross, but the flag was raised, while the winger tried his luck from distance and although Lawton spilled, he recovered to pinch the ball of birthday boy Keane’s toes.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Claude Gnakpa, Freddie Murray (Shane Blackett 46), Zdenek Kroca, George Pilkington, Andy Drury, Keith Keane, Alex Lawless (Ed Asafu-Adjaye 65), Jake Howells, Jason Walker, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Taiwo Atieno 53).

Subs Not Used: Godfrey Poku, Dan Walker.

Booked: Drury.

Histon: Joe Welch (George Lawton 90), Jack Ainsley, Zak Mills, Remy Clerima, Callum Stewart, Lee Smith (Romone McCrae 76), Erkan Okay, Jim Stevenson (Lewis Taaffe 76), Lee Wootton, Daniel Sparkes, Antonio Murray.

Subs Not Used: Danny Mills, Zac Attwood.

Booked: Okay, Zac Mills, Ainsley.

Att: 5,963

Ref: John Hopkins (Essex).