Lawless gives Hatters vital three points

Blue Square Bet Premier

GRITTY Hatters ground out a hard-fought victory as they were made to work hard for their 1-0 win at bottom side Altrincham on Saturday, writes Mark Wood.

A controversial first goal from Alex Lawless on his second game for the club made sure Town earned victory in their 5,000th competitive game.

It may have taken an age for the linesman to raise his flag to signal his effort had crossed the line, but Town just about shaded this game as they had a late second from Danny Crow ruled out for offside by the same official.

The Hatters made one change from the team that started against Wrexham on Thursday night.

Crow was adjudged to have recovered sufficiently from a swollen groin to start up front, with Claude Gnakpa restored to his normal position on the wing and Jake Howells dropping to the bench.

Town made a good start to proceedings raining in their first shot after just two minutes.

Matthew Barnes-Homer laid Dan Gleeson’s long ball into the path of Crow and his shot spiralled over.

The Robins defied their bottom-of-the-league placing in the opening encounters but Town gradually started to come into it.

Barnes-Homer and Andy Drury combined well on the quarter-of-an-hour mark but Crow couldn’t quite force his improvised cross home.

A tug then seemed to stop Barnes-Homer bursting through before Ryan Brown made an important intervention to stop the striker getting off a shot as he once again got in behind.

Nicky Clee broke up Luton’s pressure with a sharp effort from long range that was easily fielded by Mark Tyler, but it was the visitors who were well on top.

The Hatters were finding it difficult to break down their lowly opponents and seemed to lack spark and finesse on the ball.

Every time Town worked themselves into a good position the final ball went astray as a tame half drew to a frustrating goalless close.

The Hatters made a bright start to the second half and a wondrous swerving 30-yard effort from Drury warmed Altrincham keeper Stuart Coburn’s gloves in the opening seconds.

Town took the lead with the best move of the match two minutes in. Barnes-Homer broke clear on the right and his low cross was deftly turned over Coburn by Lawless.

The ball looked to be well over the line by the time it was finally hacked clear, but play ensued for several seconds before the linesman finally flagged.

The late indication clearly incensed the home players and fans with Coburn being booked for his protests.

Buoyed by that strike Drury whizzed another effort just over before Town were forced to defend manfully on 57 minutes with George Pilkington doing well to block Andy Milne’s powerful strike on the edge of the area and Gleeson putting in an important second challenge.

Pilkington volleyed a Drury corner well wide just after the hour as they searched for a killer second, while Shaun Densmore blasted over on 66 minutes.

With the clock ticking down the Robins started to work their way back into it and Tyler had to be alert to save substitute Damian Reeves’ – who scored Altrincham’s goal in the first game of the season at Kenilworth Road back in August – drive.

Wes Baynes then twice went close blasting a venomous free-kick just wide and flicking a header over.

Substitute Howells almost made an instant impact as Crow laid his pass into the path of Barnes-Homer whose smash was deflected just wide.

Lawless should have sealed victory with 10 minutes to go when Barnes-Homer teed him up on the edge of the box, but he ballooned his effort well over when he should have at least hit the target.

A mis-hit effort from Drury flashed wide while Luton were denied a second by the linesman’s flag with two minutes to go.

Howells drilled a shot into the box which deflected in off Crow, only for the linesman’s flag to rule it out.

Barnes-Homer could well have put the gloss on the result in the second minute of stoppage time when he raced on to Drury’s long clearance but he could only drag his shot wide as the Hatters held on for a massive three points.

Robins (4-5-1): Stuart Coburn, James Smith (C), Rob Williams, Shaun Densmore, Michael Twiss, Nicky Clee (Damian Reeves 59), Ryan Brown, Anthony Danylyk (Chris Denham 65), Wes Baynes, Matt Somner, Andy Milne.

Substitutes not used: James Coates, Marc Joseph, Robbie Lawton.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Freddie Murray, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Matthew Barnes-Homer, Andy Drury, Zdenek Kroca, Alex Lawless, Claude Gnakpa (Jake Howells 77), Danny Crow (Dan Walker 90+4). Substitutes not used: Taiwo Atieno, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Pavel Besta.

Referee: R West.

Assistant referees: A McIntyre and Lawrence.

Fourth official: M Walsh.

Booked: Danylyk 34; Pilkington 41; Coburn 48; Kroca 73; Crow 90+2.

Attendance: 1,416 (Luton 559).

Star Hatter: Dan Gleeson. The most solid of defensive displays from the straightforward full-back.