Just like last Saturday, a beautiful sunny day for a game of football but unlike last week the foul odour of the Colchester ground was for the group I was with, replaced with the aroma of a roast lunch served in the Eric Morecambe. I can’t believe that for two consecutive seasons I have managed to use my diamond hospitality as I normally let it drift despite the club kindly sending me reminders.
So having been well fed it was time to negotiate Kenny’s equivalent of the Hampton Court Maze and try to find the seats: will Power Court will be so entertaining I wonder? Our visitors Blackpool had been in splendid form of late, taking 16 points from the last 18 points on offer including wins against the impressive Stevenage and a “Luton style” 3-0 away win at Plymouth, oh those were the days! Whereas our recent form has been more reminiscent of an England cricket middle order collapse with just 6 points from the last 18 on offer. More worryingly since that wonderful victory at Yeovil the players seem to have been gripped by stage fright as the prize of automatic promotion rapidly drifted from our control to reliance on others collapsing; would we be able to re-emerge as a team over the next 7 games and take a playoff place? Well let’s not panic Captain Mainwaring, corporal Jones has confidence in the troops and the ability to shuffle the pack. Today’s shuffle saw super Danny Hylton discarding the bubble wrap and returning to the starting eleven along with Olly Lee and James Justin. Those making way from last week’s starters were the injured Cook along with Marriott and Gray. To me the line-up looked quite pleasing with players just about selected in positions they are suited to; three centre backs and on paper at least, a touch more availability in midfield. This formation put Justin at left back where he is good but for me, his best position is right back but with jack Senior still unavailable due to injury and Sheehan held together with duct tape, the options were a touch limited. Compared to the post-Yeovil games, the first half was a big improvement with players playing for one another rather than a bunch of individuals who had only just met each other. The Blackpool manager Bower made the same mistake that Morecambe’s Bentley made and chose not to close Olly Lee down. Now although Bower is a touch smug, that tactic was a real mistake. Most times Olly has played he has been nullified by speedy close attention; yesterday he was given the same Morecambe freedom and was able to knock some superb passes around the field. With D’Ath showing lots of energy in midfield; he also had a very good second half at Colchester, he combined that energy with the taking of corner kicks and also some very decent tackles in midfield. The first half saw us come close on a number of occasions particularly with a shot from Hylton well saved by goalkeeper Lyness. Lyness was in truth having a very commanding game for such a vertically challenged keeper but part of that may have been down to the many crosses that were simply placed just far too close to the keeper: that in itself was a shame as although O’Donnell had stopped aiming for Beech Path, his placing was just to kind to Lyness. In that first half Blackpool also had their moments firstly with Macey making an acrobatic save to divert a well-placed shot around the post for a corner then a beautiful chance for the perfect hat-trick man Cullen. That chance for Cullen was probably the best chance of the first half when the little chap somehow evaded Cuthbert in the air and sent a misplaced header past Macey’s left-hand post. All in all not a bad first half’s entertainment when compared to the offerings of the last five games. The first period of the second half seemed to have goalless stamped all over it with both sides probing but not really getting close creating a meaningful chance on goal. Then the Blackpool version of Vassell made a spectacular overhead kick from a few yards out that Macey somehow managed to react to so splendidly and divert the ball onto the top of the crossbar and over for a corner kick: that was one splendid save. Straight away the action moved to the other end of the pitch with Pelly cutting in from the left inside the penalty area to see his nicely placed shot splendidly saved by Lyness. Both managers made substitutions with Jones bringing on Palmer for Vassell, Marriott for Hylton and finally late on, Gambin for O’Donnell as Jones went for the points. In fact, the substitution of O’Donnell led to a rather amusing moment with Pelly barking instructions to the relaxed Justin to “please move to right back, there is a good chap”. Finally, just at a time when we had probably all settled for the fact we would not get a winner, a winning goal emerged from the giant substitute Olly Palmer. It really was great credit to Palmer that he battled his way like an unstoppable tank through the physical Blackpool challenges to lay the ball out to Gambin whose low shot was parried by Lyness but only into the path of that unstoppable Palmer tank to smack the ball into the net from close range. Oh just how wonderful it is to win a game. Overall Impression: I thought that the changes to formation and style paid off for the Hatters and we just looked so much more comfortable then we have looked in recent weeks. Ok, it was not an earth-shattering performance but nevertheless a great shift from the tatters of that first half effort at Colchester. So to my estimation, we need say 9 points from the remaining 6 games: can we do that? Well if the next 6 teams give Olly Lee as much freedom as he was given yesterday then that would be a great help. I also like the look of D’Ath who was constantly in the game; if he plays and helps keep that midfield engine running then the others will surely benefit. Finally, it was really nice to see our crowd applauding Mark Cullen as he was substituted. Mark appreciated the applause and returned likewise to all sides of the ground: nice and as it should be for our hero of the battle of Cambridge: doubt I will ever forget that goal celebration. Some thoughts on individual performances: Macey: well I keep saying I like the guy and reckon if we get half a chance to land him on a permanent contract then we should take it. A couple of good saves yesterday coupled with that super save from Blackpool’s Vassell. O’Donnell: I always seem to write the same words about SOD and I am not his greatest critic. He gives you bags of energy but lacks that consistency in terms of quality delivery that could turn the corner for him. Cuthbert: decent game but he must be wondering how he lost Cullen for that first half header. Rea: doing what he does best i.e. playing as a defender and not a drifter of a centre-half in the deep midfield wilderness: a very decent game. Sheehan: thankfully the duct tape holding Sheehan’s limbs & other bits & pieces together held together for the 90 minutes for the brace defender. Justin: had a decent game on the left and continues to develop but probably best at right back. Incidentally, I reckon Jones is doing the right thing with the likes of Justin in terms of a bit of exposure at a time followed by bench warming; similar to how Pleat developed Mitchell Thomas. Pelly: how do we turn Pelly’s good game into a stunning one? On so many occasions his superb surges forward were executed so well until it came to that last touch; I reckon he will get there. Lee: give him the freedom that Morecambe and Blackpool offered and he will play; let's hope that other teams in the remaining fixtures do similar. Olly is not a holding midfield player Nathan simply a lad with a Hoddle type passing gift if given the space. D’Ath: looks to be another decent signing by Jones; been there, done it and now the rust has been removed from his season of on the shelf storage, looking a decent midfield player. Vassell: not a bad game particularly in the first half but faded in the second half. Hylton: as Hylton is so important to us, a 50% fit bubble wrap Hylton is of more use that no Hylton at all. Given his fitness, he had a very decent game and almost tucked one away in the first half. The Subs: Palmer: yes, the Palmer tank was indeed a game changer and takes full credit for that winning goal. Strangely for such a giant he seems better on the ground than in the air. Marriott: had a few good cross-field runs at the Blackpool defence: a goal or two would work wonders for his confidence. Gambin: a late substitute and it was his shot that the keeper parried to Palmer to grab the points for the Hatters. The Teams: Luton: Macey, O'Donnell (Gambin 86), Cuthbert, Rea, Sheehan, Justin, Pelly, Lee, D'Ath, Vassell (Palmer 66), Hylton (Marriott 75). Subs not used: Moore, Bakinson, Famewo, Smith. Blackpool: Lyness, Mellor, Robertson, Potts (Odelusi 86), our ex-Hatter hero Cullen (Vassell 66), Flores, Aldred (C), Osayi-Samuel (Delfouneso 66), Daniel, Payne, Danns.. Booked: Danns 52, Lee 75. Attendance: 7,968 (418 away). Referee: Christopher Kavanagh.
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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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