Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 1 Luton Town 5

Friday, July 16 2010

It may have been a drubbing, but there were no long faces at Top Field after the first pre-season friendly of the summer.

Luton’s fast-moving side proved too much for a Canaries’ team that is in the early stages of its pre-season planning.

Hitchin’s management were pleased with the workout, however, using the game primarily as a fitness exercise. But the Hitchin fans in the 878 crowd caught a glimpse of the style of football they can expect to see in 2010-11 and most were enthused by the passing game being developed by messrs Williams and Burke.

Luton paid Hitchin the compliment of fielding their first team and the gulf in class showed in the early stages. Luton scored twice in the first eight minutes with identical goals.

In the fourth minute, a low cross by Matthew Barnes-Homer was turned into the net from five yards by one of the Hatters’ new signings, Danny Crow.

Crow was instrumental in Luton’s second goal four minutes later, sending over an equally inviting low ball for Adam Newton to tap home at the far post.

Adam Murray and Kieran Toner both had chances to extend Luton’s lead before Andy Drury made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time, a close range shot through Martin Bennett’s legs after a neat pass into space by Newton.

Hitchin’s most notable first half effort was ruled out, a well-taken effort by new signing Bradley Harrison.

Luton changed their entire team in the second half, the first wave of substitutes coming at the interval. Hitchin started to come into the game against this second string, notably when Louis Lee’s free kick rebounded off a post.

Hitchin got the ball in the net on 74 minutes, recalled striker Gary Dixon, who had been on the pitch for just four minutes, acrobatically forcing the ball home after a good cross from Thomas Mustapha.

Luton finished the game with a flourish, however, with a 25-yard drive from Stefan Bailey and a suspiciously offside-looking goal from Kevin Gallen right on the whistle.

Match Statistics

Hitchin Town (0)1   Luton Town (3)5
Dixon 74                 Crow 4, Newton 8, Drury 45, 
                            Bailey 84, Gallen 90
Att: 878

Hitchin: Bennett, Fontenelle (Byfield 70), Pepper, Smith, Gilbert, Lamacraft (George 60), Howell, Lee (L.Donnelly 77), Arlick (Mustapha 70), Harrison (Dixon 70), Burke

Referee: R.Mackay