Snow hits Town’s efforts to move top

Luton Town 0 York City 0 – match abandoned after 55 minutes

LUTON Town were eventually beaten by the weather as despite getting their Blue Square Bet Premier clash with York City started on Saturday, it was abandoned due to snow after 55 minutes, writes Mike Simmonds.

With the second half only just underway, conditions were starting to become farcical and when both managers summoned referee Andy Hendley to the sidelines, he was left with no option but to call the game off.

Whether the match should have started at all remains a moot point as with snow forecast for the afternoon, both sides struggled to find their feet in the first half, which was understandable on a Kenilworth Road pitch better suited for polar bears.

The Hatters had sent out an SOS to supporters before the match to help clear the snow from the covers and it looked like it had worked as the game was able to start on time, but just before kick-off, the snow started to return with a vengeance.

Victory would have sent Hatters top of the league for Christmas and with that in mind, boss Richard Money made 10 changes from the side which had knocked Welling United out of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, with only goalkeeper Mark Tyler remaining.

Winger Amari Morgan-Smith, complete with a Petr Cech-style skull cap after fracturing his cheekbone against Charlton Athletic, was deemed fit enough to start, but it was York who undoubtedly settled better.

Sharper in possession and quicker to the ball, they looked as threatening as they could, whereas Luton’s best moments came through Morgan-Smith, who had an early shot well blocked by a covering York defender.

The Minstermen, who had come into the match on a fine run of form that had seen boss Gary Mills named the Conference manager of the month, continued to impress and took the useful tactic of shooting from distance, knowing full well, conditions were treacherous for both goalkeepers.

Midfielder Jonathan Smith tested Tyler from 20 yards, but the Hatters stopper scrambled across well to save low down.

Morgan-Smith was the main outlet for Hatters in the first half and he had claims for a penalty when clashing with Town transfer target David McGurk inside the area, but nothing was given.

Moments later, the same two players were at it again, although this time they looked more worthier claims from Town’s exciting number eight, but yet again the man in the middle wasn’t interested.

Imposing City striker Michael Rankine took it upon himself to try and break the deadlock, showing commendable power and skill to hold off the Luton defence and his low drive was well palmed away by Tyler.

Ashley Chambers, a player who Money had warned about in the press conference prior to the game then nutmegged Zdenek Kroca and drove forward, before his curling effort was well off target.

With 34 minutes on the clock, Andy Drury took off on a slalom-style run himself, twisting and turning before reaching the box where he also took a tumble, as the Kenilworth Road crowd howled for penalty.

It looked to the naked eye a clear-cut spot kick, but again nothing was given, although the midfielder did admit after the match, he had slipped on a frozen patch of pitch rather than have his heels clipped.

Drury’s dangerous free kick then deflected off Kroca and despite the big Czech defender not knowing too much about it, the ball bounced the wrong side of the post.

Luton boss Money had also commented on York’s counter-attacking skills before the match and they were showcased with a lightning break, but Neil Barrett sliced his shot well wide.

Kroca, back in his own penalty area, then made a perfect sliding challenge to win the ball from Rankine, before the striker, who was dangerous in both the air and on the floor, put a header from Chambers delivery over the bar.

Sensing his side were second best in the opening 45 minutes, Money withdrew Danny Crow at the break for midfielder Godfrey Poku, pushing Drury and Claude Gnakpa further upfield alongside Matthew Barnes-Homer.

The move worked well too as Poku began winning possession in central midfield and started to deny City the freedom they had previously enjoyed.

Chambers once again served notice of his intents, beating two Hatters defenders before his shot was blocked away by Kroca.

French winger Claude Gnakpa started to see more of the ball too, setting off on a driving run which was eventually ended by a foul challenge.

The free kick, just outside the box was taken by Drury, who curled a glorious effort up and over the wall and with keeper Michael Ingham a mere spectator, saw his shot cannon off the bar and away to safety.

In some ways, it was a good thing the shot didn’t go in, as within a minute the snow, which by this time was starting to fall with more and more regularity, was declared the winner.

Both teams will now have to do it all over again, at a date yet to be decided.

Luton Town: Mark Tyler, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Jake Howells, George Pilkington, Zdenek Kroca, Claude Gnakpa, Keith Keane, Andy Drury, Amari Morgan-Smith, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Danny Crow (Godfrey Poku 46).

Subs not used: Craig Hinton, Jason Walker, Alex Lacey, Dan Walker.

York City: Michael Ingham, James Meredith, Jonathan Smith, David McGurk, Daniel Parslow, Chris Curruthers, Neil Barrett, Michael Rankine, Ashley Chambers, Robbie Weir, Chris Smith.

Subs not used: Djoumin Sangare, Jamal Fyfield, David McDermott, Leon Constantine, Andre Boucaud.