Hatters caught hook, line and sinker by Cod Army

Luton Town 1 (1) Fleetwood Town 3 (1)

LACKLUSTRE Luton put in a disappointing performance as Fleetwood Town triumphed on their first-ever visit to Kenilworth Road, writes Mark Wood.

An early Lloyd Owusu opener proved to be a false dawn for the Hatters as the Cod Army adapted far better to the awful pitch, claiming an equaliser seconds later before winning it with two fine second-half strikes.

Jake Howells was also worryingly stretchered off as the Hatters showed a lack of urgency and desire in the second half.

Having taken a break from the league with a 1-0 FA Trophy victory over Gloucester City last Friday night, Luton named the same side that beat Darlington 4-0 in their last Blue Square Bet Premier match.

The game got off to a slow start but suddenly burst into life from the sixth minute. Jamie McGuire flashed an effort well wide and seconds later Luton were ahead.

Matthew Barnes-Homer outmuscled Fleetwood captain Sean Gregan on the right and squared for in-form striker Owusu to sweep Luton into the lead.

But Town’s led lasted just two minutes as Gareth Seddon was allowed to waltz clear in the box and calmly stroke home past the exposed Mark Tyler.

The Cod Army continued to push with Tyler grasping Jamie Mullan’s effort at the second attempt on 11 minutes and Magno Vieira getting the better of George Pilkington seconds later, only for the Town captain to recover and tackle just as Fleetwood’s dangerman was preparing to pull the trigger.

Claude Gnakpa could only flick Alex Lawless’ teasing free-kick wide on the quarter-of-an-hour mark while Dan Gleeson saw a howitzer deflect of Gregan and behind moments later.

The game was shaping into an intriguing encounter and Luton had good shouts for a penalty waved away on 19 after Amari Morgan-Smith seemed to be chopped down on the edge of the box.

Barnes-Homer and McGuire were booked for squaring up to one another midway through the half, while a defensive mistake from Zdenek Kroca almost let Seddon in on 24 minutes but the lanky Czech recovered in time.

And the Cod Army went close seconds later when McGuire’s header down from a well-flighted corner forced Tyler to tip over with the ball dropping in.

The impressive McGuire was then stretched off on the half hour following an earlier clash with Owusu.

Some nice build up play ended with Keith Keane driving over the bar while Luton were indebted to a last-gasp clearance from Dan Gleeson with Sean Clancy lurking at the far post.

A testing Fleetwood corner was then headed back across goal on 38 and substitute Nathan Pond somehow put it over with Vieira better placed.

But Town were desperately unlucky not to be ahead four minutes before the break when Lawless let fly with a brilliant swerving dipping effort that looped over Scott Davies and crashed off the bar and out.

And in injury time Luton again went close when Morgan-Smith beautifully headed Lawless’ cross down into the path of Barnes-Homer who snatched at his effort and drove well wide.

The Cod Army almost made a dream start to the second half when Mullan picked out Seddon with a great cross and Tyler pulled out a fine one-handed save low to his right.

Seddon squeezed in another shot at Tyler moments later before Fleetwood snatched the lead with a blinder on 53 minutes when Anthony Barry let the ball run across his body before letting fly with a 30-yard beauty into the top right-hand corner.

And it got even worse two minutes later when a ball through the middle completely bisected Luton’s defence and Seddon raced through, skipped past Tyler and swept into the unguarded net.

Gnakpa had claims for a penalty turned down just past the hour before having a shot deflected just past the post by Alan Wright.

Substitute Luke Graham had a header from a corner cleared off the line before a terrible knee-high challenge by Pond, deserving of a red card and only punished by yellow, ended with Howells being stretchered from the field with his leg in a splint.

A scrappy and frustrating second half wasn’t helped by a referee who seemed well out of his depth.

Jason Walker had a header deflected wide and Pilkington headed over, but in truth a comeback never looked on the cards as Fleetwood cantered to a far to simple a victory.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Amari Mogan-Smith (Luke Graham 59), Matthew Barnes-Homer, Zdenek Kroca, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells (Godfrey Poku 68), Claude Gnakpa (Jason Walker 76), Lloyd Owusu. Substitutes not used: Danny Crow, Kevin Pilkington.

Cod Army (4-4-2): Scott Davies, Shaun Beeley, Alan Wright, Anthony Barry, Sean Clancy, Magno Vieira, Jamie Mullan, Jamie McGuire (Nathan Pond 31), Gareth Seddon (George Donnelly 82), Will Haining, Sean Gregan. Substitutes not used: Danny Hurst, Danny Rowe, Jamie Milligan.

Bookings: Barnes-Homer 22, McGuire 22, Clancy 42, Pond 66, Pilkington 88.

Referee: L Collins,

Assistant referees: D Woolford and M Rushton.

Fourth official: M Eva.

Star Hatter: Keith Keane. Ran his socks off and Luton needed more like him.

Attendance: 6,227 (Fleetwood 76).