Note: it was my intention to only report on away games this season and I may well adopt that due to other pressures on time; I am spending an ever increasing amount of time writing on my other site Stockwhittler. However, after yesterday’s glorious performance, I just could not resist writing a few notes.
Well after that Blackpool disappointment and period of hardly thinking about football, it was good to get back to the Kenny for our opening game of the season. The last three seasons have seen us open with some interesting “holiday break” trips at Carlisle, Accrington and Plymouth. Admittedly home to Yeovil did not seem to have quite that exciting touch but could hardly have suspected we would see such a great team performance that was about to be served to the faithful Kenny audience. After last Saturday’s final friendly of the pre-season, Nathan made one change to the starting line up bringing in Olly Lee for D’Ath who picked up an injury in training. That’s a shame for D’Ath as he was really buzzing in that last friendly. Straight from the kick off the Hatters were tearing at the Glovers apart and should have really been ahead within 30 seconds when Collins had space in the area to slot the ball past the keeper: right place right time but the finish was just a little off and the keeper made a decent save. Collins had another chance that was cleared away. Then after seven minutes, we started to get that slight groundhog day feeling when Yeovil took the lead from a free kick in a fairly central position outside of the area. It was a well placed free kick but to be honest I felt that Stech’s positioning as the kick was taken could have been better. Thankfully, and it did feel like a relief, we were not behind for long. Pelly knocked a decent ball out to Vassell on the left-hand side and the born again Vassell who now is aware of team mates on the pitch, sent a lovely weighted cross for Olly Lee to smack beautifully into the corner of the net from the right-hand side of the area. Nice to hear the crowd singing a praising song for Olly with a slight rearrangement of the Colchester verse from last March in that laydown and die defeat.Then a few minutes later a lovely move involving Pelly and Shinnie who knocked a lovely ball through to Collins to powerfully race forward and slot the ball past the Yeovil keeper: what a beautifully worked goal. Five minutes later it was three to the Hatters with McCormack connecting with a headed clear corner to volley a superb and unstoppable shot past the keeper. Heavens this was great stuff to watch not just in seeing us come back so well having fallen behind but in the overall way we were playing. Hang on though, more was to come in this astonishing first half with Vassell scoring two in quick succession. Vassell’s first was simply down to his pace and power as he latched onto a through ball and shrugged off the accompanying attention of two Yeovil defenders to race on and score. The second was a beautiful finish from Vassell as he latched on to an intelligent ball from Collins; there is quite a lot to James Collins game, and our Isaac raced away to sweetly finish the move slotting the ball past the keeper. Yeovil then had an opportunity to pull one back from the penalty spot after McCormack over enthusiastically went in for the ball. Nothing to fear as Stech made a decent save from a fairly poorly taken penalty. So, there we were reaching half time with a rampant and unflattering score line of 5-1; when did that happen last? In fact, it could so easily have been 6-1 at half time when a well hit Olly Lee shot smacked against the post and came out: simply great stuff. The second half seemed to want to continue in a similar fashion as the first albeit at a slightly less relentless pace. After 58 minutes it was goal number six for the Hatters with Collins smacking the ball into the roof of the net as he ran in on the left side of the penalty area quickly followed by the completion of Collins hat-trick that came about with a shot from some distance on the right-hand side. Our Mr Collins is certainly a lot more than a “Plan B” option. Yeovil then pulled one back as our defence showed the weaker side of our game in not getting near Zoko as he physically went in for a header despite the close attention of two defenders. Still, not to worry, maybe we can happily live with that touch of aerial allergy if we manage to score more than the opposition. With a lot of injury time added mainly due to an injury to Stech when he needed extensive treatment, you could have forgiven the Town for simply riding the last few minutes out but why do that when you are leading by 7-2. In comes a beautifully weighted cross from brother Olly to brother Elliot and he heads the ball comfortably into the net: 8-2 and time for the final whistle. I enjoyed that: it’s good to be back at the Kenny! Overall impression: Probably the best all round team performance for the Hatters since that majestic 5-0 away win at Alfreton back in December 2013: it was truly a top notch total team performance without a single weak link in the team. We seem to have a spine welding the team together and that spine runs from Stech, Cuthbert, McCormack and Collins: just what we needed. It was also good in the first half to see how Pelly and McCormack were so ably covering for each other and both ready to knock the ball out to either Olly of Shinnie. So on first viewing, it looks like Nathan has had a really good early summer shopping spree being well backed by the board of 2020 and Gary Sweet. My appetite is restored and the indigestion suffered post-Blackpool banished; roll on Barnet next Saturday. A few thoughts on individual performances: I suppose I could simply cut out this bit and say that everybody had a really good game because without exception they did in the all round team performance. Stech: had a decent game and made a couple of very good saves including saving a penalty. I reckon he got his positioning a little wrong for the free kick in that opening goal but that apart, he looks a good keeper. Stacey: a sound and solid game; he looks another very good acquisition by the Jones/Hartford partnership. Potts: defensively Potts was real quality both on the ground and in the air. I keep getting the feeling that with his heading ability he would make a really decent centre back if needed in that role. Sheehan: he looked calm and in control plus ever willing to bring the ball away constructively with that cultured left clog as he moved out of defence and upfield. Cuthbert: good determined game looking very comfortable and in control all match. McCormack: he had a great first league for the Hatters and looked every part the organising midfielder we have craved for the past couple of seasons. I feel sure he will have a big influence on the other more creative types in midfield allowing them to flourish. Shinnie: a very impressive game with some excellent passing and constantly looking for the ball; it would be nice to convert him to a permanent Luton player. Pelly: had a very good game and looked a much more fired up player than in recent seasons. Maybe the influence of McCormack was having a positive effect on Pelly’s play and long may that continue. Incidentally, Pelly’s performance tailed off quite markedly once McCormack left the field just after the hour mark. Olly Lee: what a totally different player Olly can be once released from that most unnatural defensive holding role. His passing and shooting, the strong parts of Olly’s game, were excellent. As well as scoring, Olly hit a post with a decent shot and almost got onto the end of another loose ball just plucked away by the keeper. Vassell: just about every time the ball came through to him his natural pace and physique left the Yeovil defender standing. He took both of his goals very well and I certainly hope that the club is successful in tying down the “animal” with an extended contract. Collins: in this game, he looked to be so much more than an old fashioned target man. When not in possession he was moving around making space for himself and seeking the ball: with the ball he was ever willing to take a shot at goal. The Subs: Rea: came on to give a break to McCormack: no criticism meant of Rea but we did drop a gear, Pelly included, once McCormack was taken off. Lee: on for that hat-trick man Collins weighed in with a nicely taken goal for goal number 8 for the Hatters. Mullins: on for Shinnie; looked calm and in control. Luton Line Up: Stech, Stacey, Sheehan, Cuthbert, Potts, McCormack (Lee. E), Pelly, Lee. O, Shinnie (Rea), Collins (Mullins), Vassell. Subs (not used): Shea, Cook, Senior, Gambin.
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Hi there, welcome to my site where I chronicle various things about the Hatters, a team I have followed since the mid 60’sArchives
December 2017
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