Harriers exit Trophy at hands of slick Luton (From Worcester News)

Harriers exit Trophy at hands of slick Luton

9:43pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News

Harriers 1
Luton 2

FA Trophy third round

HARRIERS'S FA Trophy hopes came to end as they slipped to defeat by classy Luton at Aggborough in the third round on Tuesday night.

Steve Burr's troops battled throughout and came close to forcing a late leveller but in truth the Hatters were the better side.

The hosts were left chasing shadows as the Bedfordshire outfit kept the ball expertly and if not for the heroics of keeper Dean Lyness would have won by more.

Luton had started the brighter side and kept the ball well with some slick passing but Harriers's defence stood resolute.

The hosts created the first chance in the 10th minute.

Lee Vaughan, making first start in a month after recovering from a knee injury, delivered a right cross which keeper Mark Tyler weakly touched onto the head of Kyle Storer but the surprised midfielder could only direct the ball wide.

Storer came even closer in the 14th minute after he had been brought down by Charlie Henry. His 30-yard free-kick arced over the wall and headed for the top left corner but it didn't have the power to beat Tyler, who made a decent save.

Luton continued to keep the ball but had to be wary as the home team tried to hit them on the break.

But the home found themselves trailing 1-0 in the 24th minute.

Fleetwood pulled the ball back from the byline and Jake Howells finished with aplomb.

The hosts nearly replied when Mickey Demetriou whipped in a cross from left but as Jamille Matt stooped to head the ball into the back of the net, Shane Blackett made a timely block.

Matt though conjured up Harriers' 35th minute leveller. The big hitman slipped Bradley free and the attacking midfielder slotted a well-taken left-footed effort beyond the keeper.

Home shot-stopper Lyness then produced heroics to keep the scores level, flinging himself to the right to push away Fleetwood's thumping penalty after Luke Jones had fouled Greg Taylor.

Matt nearly put the hosts ahead but from a Nick Wright cross headed a fraction wide.

Lyness produced another fine save when he denied Fleetwood with his legs, but the Hatters hitman grabbed his goal on the stroke of half-time, pouncing on a poor back pass by Mike Williams before slamming a shot into the back of the net.

Williams early atoned for his error with a long range effort which deflected wide.

Lyness was called into action to deny Howells.

Nick Wright nearly produced a fine leveller in the 62nd minute, gliding past two defenders as he cut in speedily from the left wing but steered his shot the wrong side of the left hand-post.

Luton were monopolising the ball but Bradley causes fright in the 69th minute when his 30-yard effort was taken at the second attempt by Tyler as Wright slid in to pounce on the rebound.

Matt then failed to make contact on Wright's driven low ball from a few yards out.

Howells could have put the game beyond the hosts in the 79th minute with a lightning Luton raid but headed wide unmarked.

The hosts had a 91st minute goal ruled out for offside. Matt had got a head to substitute James McQuilkin's free-kick and Wright had volleyed into the back of the net but the assistant referee had raised his flag smartly for off side.

Harriers: Lyness; Vaughan; Jones; Mike Williams; Guinan (McQuilkin, 54); Wright; Gittings (Vincent, 60); Matt; Demetriou; Storer (Marc Williams, 85); Bradley.

Unused substitutes: Hankin; Briscoe.

Luton: Tyler; Osano; Taylor; Beckwith; Blackett; Lawless; Henry (O'Donnell, 86); Willmott; Kissock (Watkins, 74); Fleetwood (Woolley, 67) Howells.

Unused substitutes: Kovacs; Pilkington.

JJ O'Donnell; Pilkington. Referee: Stephen Bratt (West Midlands). Attendance: 1,186 (111)