Luton Town v Scunthorpe United

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Football League Trophy

Luton Town :
Brill, Asafu-Adjaye, Pilkington, Spillane, Emanuel, Keane, Nicholls, Hall, Jarvis (Parkin 117), Martin, Craddock (Gnakpa 85).
Subs not used:
Button, Davis, Roper.

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Pearce (Wright 85), Mirfin, Williams, Sparrow (Woolford 77), Lansbury, McCann, Hurst (Togwell 63), Hooper, Hayes.
Subs not used:
Lillis, May.

SULSESC REPORT

by Keith Solomon at Wembley

A Sunday lunchtime kick off was naturally less of a hardship to myself and most others based in the South, but all those with claret and blue blood in their veins were united as one, amid the swathes of Hatters in and around Wembley for the JPT final.

A relief in many ways to be able to sweep all else aside and concentrate on a football match, this one began with events coming at a swift pace. Matt Sparrow's 5th minute effort was put out for a corner by Luton's keeper, Brill, followed by Murphy thwarting Pilkington at the other end.

Just before the quarter hour mark, outnumbered but vociferous in their backing, the Iron's followers leapt from their seats with glee. Hooper's effort was fired into the net to give United the early lead, in what already looked destined to be an open encounter.

There seemed little or no chance of Gary Hooper's effort turning out to be the only goal and one of a number of balls over the top of the Iron defence paid dividends for Luton, Martin sliding the ball past Murphy for an equaliser on the half hour.

With the match reaching half time with the teams locked at 1-1, there was an opportunity to look around a venue it would be quite nice to get used to being in...Well, we can dream can't we?

Not having a whole season's endeavour resting on a single game, as is the case in play off finals, offered the chance to enjoy the Iron's day out at the albeit new, Wembley. This and other carefree matters kept myself and others amused until the second half restart, one began with Henri Lansbury having two efforts, both forced out for corners by the Luton rearguard.

Despite the introduction of Sam Togwell, Luton were enjoying a spell in the ascendency and with a little over twenty minutes left on the clock, Craddock fired home to give the Hatters a 2-1 lead....oh bother, as we say.

Pressure on the Luton goal brought no reward, Lansbury perhaps having the best chance, but it was beginning to look like beers and tears for the Iron, as the clock sped mercilessly towards full time.

Three minutes before the end of the scheduled ninety, disappointment was joyfully put on hold. Grant McCann's leveller, in a game that was so open and positive, sending the Iron's supporting cast into raptures of relief and excitement.

2-2 and the game goes into extra time, but within five minutes of it starting, United have fallen behind 3-2. Gnapka's lob over Murphy was well executed and the Iron have to try to claw themselves back into the game once more.

The second half of extra time had it's ooh and aah count for the Iron, but once Mirfin had to be taken off on a stretcher and it was ten against eleven, perhaps the writing was as good as on the wall.

Lengthy injury time wasn't enough to allow United to equalise and send the game into the lottery of penalties and so it was Luton who I suppose lifted the trophy, I and others having made our way out of the stadium before this, disappointed, but not by the lack of effort.

Home from a Scunny match in about an hour, I could get used to that! Come to think of it, another trip to Wembley in a month or so wouldn't go amiss either.

In my opinion, We weren't horribly denied justice in defeat, but had probably played our part in one of the better spectacles at Wembley in recent times. Another 'home' game at Wembley to see the Iron victorious in the play-off final will do very nicely thank you, even if it means sleepless nights beforehand. (I'm sure I and others will bear that burden gladly, given the chance!)

We had a day out, got to spend it with our mates and played a part in a game that I'm sure the uncommitted will have enjoyed. We lost it, but along with winning, that's what football's about, something we should perhaps remember amongst everything else that seems to get embroiled in its name these days.