Luton bounce back

Luton bounced back from their defeat by Alfreton on Saturday with an impressive performance against a young Liverpool XI.

After a lacklustre display at Alfreton, the Hatters looked more up for the task on Tuesday.

There were no household names in the Liverpool line up but they were the best of the Reds’ youngsters with a few reserves thrown in for good measure.

Luton took the game to their visitors and played some excellent football akin to that of the long winning run at the end of last season. If they can play like that every week they will be a match for anyone in the Blue Square Premier.

Luton might have had a hatful of goals and could have scored two in the first few minutes. Pilkington drew a good save from Bouzanis in the third minute and god work from Matthew Barnes-Homer and Danny Crow set up Adam Murray for another shot but he was crowded out before shooting.

Barnes-Homer was looking sharp and forced Bouzanis into another great save, spreading himself well to deflect the shot away with his legs.

More chances for the front two came and went and Drury also went close before on 33 minutes Keane almost got the breakthrough. It was looking that it was just a matter of time before someone in a Hatters shirt would find the net rather than whether.

on 38 minutes Drury sent over a perfect cross from the right straight into the path of Barnes-Homer’s run and he shielded th ball beautifully before rifling it high into the net with Bouzanis this time clutching at thin air. It was no more than the Town play had deserved and will have done Barnes-Homers’s confidence no harm at all.

Just before half time Luton made it two when Fred Murray clipped the ball from the left to Barnes-Homer who played it out to Drury who found Crow unmarked with a precision pass. Crow did not need asking twice to bury it.

On 56 minutes Drury sent in an excellent free kick to the far post finding Pilkington who headed across goal for Gleeson to stretch out a toe and guide the ball into the net.

More might have followed but the inevitable substitution merry-go-round did little for the Hatters’ shape and momentum and despite a few chances had to settle for the three.

Newton came on for Gleeson; Poku for Adam Murray; Walker (triallist from Bedford Town) for Crow; Watkins for Drury and Young Alex Lacey for Blackett.

Luton Town:

Tyler,

Gleeson, G. Pilkington, Blackett, F. Murray,

Drury, A. Murray, Keane, Howells,

Crow, Barnes-Homer.

Subs: K. Pilkington, White, Newton, Gallen, Craddock, Poku, Watkins, Walker, Bailey.

Liverpool: Bouzanis, Flanagan, Robinson, Cooper, Wisdom, Coady, Silva, Palsson, Saric, Fernandez, Bruna.

Subs: N’go, Chamberlain, Sokolik, Roberts, Weijl, Mendy.