Morgan-Smith hits treble in Hatters FA Cup romp

FA Cup fourth qualifying round

Luton Town 4 (3) St Albans City 0 (0)

THERE were no banana skins at Kenilworth Road on Saturday as Luton progressed easily into the first round proper of this season’s FA Cup.

Near neighbours St Albans City rarely threatened and were ruthlessly punished by the Hatters with Amari Morgan-Smith claiming a super hat-trick and Danny Crow scoring his fifth goal in three games.

Town made one change from the side that hammered Forest Green Rovers 6-1 in the league on Tuesday night for the visit of the Blue Square South strugglers in this FA Cup fourth round qualifying tie.

With Andy Drury struggling with a hamstring problem it was decided to rest him with Claude Gnakpa coming into Luton’s starting XI.

The game got off to a slow start with chances at a premium. George Pilkington looped a header harmlessly over on 11 minutes while the swerve on Harry Beautyman’s long range effort caused Mark Tyler some problems soon after.

A surging run out of defence from Jake Howells finally enlivened the game on 17 minutes. His pass released Matthew Barnes-Homer but Claude Gnakpa failed to connect properly with his half-cleared cross and Paul Bastock easily saved.

The Hatters did finally grab the lead on 23 minutes.

Barnes-Homer’s pass released Gnakpa on the right who angled in a great deep cross to the far post. Bastock went after it but could only palm the ball into Morgan-Smith’s path who stabbed home off a post.

The goalscorer should have double Luton’s advantage four minutes later when Howells’ clever through ball sent him clear but the former Ilkeston man could only prod wastefully wide with just Bastock to beat.

The impressive Howells then laid on the second for the in-form Crow on 32 minutes.

Having been clattered in midfield the youngster was swiftly back on his feet to take a quick free-kick.

He found Crow, whose first touch was perfect as he swept home past the despairing dive of Bastock.

The game was then as good as over as Luton made it three six minutes later after a flowing move.

Crow’s awareness released Barnes-Homer on the right and his brilliant centre was perfect for Morgan-Smith to power home his second of the day.

It should have been four four minutes before the break when Howells’ astute pass found Crow in acres of space but he could only wastefully chip over.

Barnes-Homer’s 35-yarder flashed wide in the closing stages and Gnakpa drove straight at Bastock before Crow wasted another gilt-edged opportunity before the break.

Morgan-Smith and Freddie Murray combined excellently on the break and when the ball fell to Crow in the area he could only drive wide of the mark.

Again the second half got off to a slow start but Gnakpa did superbly on 52 minutes to muscle his way to the byline, but his cross was just too high for Zdenek Kroca to head home.

Shouts for handball against Beautyman were waved away four minutes later before the Hatters were inches away from a fourth just after the hour.

Morgan-Smith raced on to Keith Keane’s pass and his pass fell nicely for Crow but his shot thumped the bar and bounced clear with no-one able to capitalise.

The woodwork then saved the visitors again on 66 minutes. Gnakpa twisted and turned his way into the box but could only drive against the near post with Bastock beaten.

Morgan-Smith’s long range free-kick was easily fielded by Bastock before young substitute Dan Walker came close to bursting through with 14 minutes to go.

A mistake from Kroca almost let the Saints back into the game seconds later. His error allowed Jean-Michel Sigere in but Pilkington’s last-ditch tackle took the ball just wide of the far post.

Pilkington’s raking pass put Walker in again with 11 minutes left, but having stepped inside his man he could only flash his effort wide.

Substitutes Godfrey Poku and Walker then combined brilliantly but the former Saints midfielder fluffed his lines and screwed horribly wide.

Morgan-Smith finally completed a deserved hat-trick on 84 minutes to make it five goals in six games.

Walker broke from the midfield and laid the ball into Morgan-Smith’s path who unveiled an exquisite chip over the helpless Bastock to complete his treble.

Inih Effiong flicked a rare St Albans chance over in the closing minutes while ex-Hatter David Deeney’s piledriver flew just wide.

Gnakpa teed Walker up in stoppage time but Bastock pulled off a brilliant point-blank stop and Ben Martin headed Keane’s subsequent in-swinging corner off the line as Town eased to a straightforward victory.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson (Ed Asafu-Adjaye 55), Freddie Murray, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Amari Morgan-Smith, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Godfrey Poku 63), Zdenek Kroca, Jake Howells, Claude Gnakpa, Danny Crow (Dan Walker 72).

Substitutes not used: Taiwo Atieno, Shane Blackett, Pavel Besta, Kevin Pilkington.

Saints (4-4-2): Paul Bastock, James Fisher, Peter Smith, Adam Martin (Jean-Michel Sigere 39), Ryan Frater (C), Adam Everitt, Harry Beautyman, David Deeney, Sean Shields, Inih Effiong, Moses Odubajo (Robbie Martin 73).

Substitutes not used: Mark Peters, Sam Barker, Ross Dedman, Ben Martin, Glodi Kweme.

Referee: S Burt.

Assistant Referees: S Pawley and A Tonks.

Fourth Official: M Wardell.

Booking: Deeney 60.

Attendance: 4,144 (Saints 537).

Star Hatter: Amari Morgan-Smith – Looks the real deal with his first Hatters hat-trick.