Date: Saturday 12th December, 2009
Competition: FA Trophy 1st round
Weather at kick-off: bright, cold
Goals:
United: Crow 6', Holroyd 30', 36'
Luton: Hatswell o.g. 68'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott (Jai Reason 78'), Paul Carden (c), Sam Ives, Courtney Pitt (Andy Parkinson 87'); Chris Holroyd (Mark Beesley 87'), Danny Crow.
Subs not used: Rory McAuley, Laurie Walker.

Booked: Reason foul 85'

Luton Town:
Kevin Pilkington, George Pilkington, Alan White (Tom Craddock 46'), Shane Blackett (Matthew Barnes-Homer 46'), Fred Murray (Lewis Emanuel 19'); Claude Gnakpa, Rossi Jarvis, Kevin Nicholls (c), Keith Keane, Adam Newton; Kevin Gallen.
Subs not used: Shane Gore, Asa Hall.

Booked: Nicholls foul 90'

It was third time lucky for United against the Hatters as the U's swept Luton aside with three goals in the first 30 minutes on their way into the second round of the FA Trophy. Danny Crow set United on their way and Chris Holroyd ended his personal goal drought with a brace to make Wayne Hatswell's second half own goal irrelevant.

Martin Ling made three changes to the team that drew 2-2 at Eastbourne, recalling fit-again pair Dan Gleeson and Anthony Tonkin to defence in place of Rory McAuley and Darryl Coakley, and restoring leading scorer Chris Holroyd to the attack in place of Lee Phillips. Several players including goalkeeper Danny Potter shook off the effects of a bug to play.

Luton manager Richard Money named the same side that knocked Rotherham out of the FA Cup on Tuesday, with veteran Kevin Gallen the sole striker and fellow forwards Tom Craddock and recent signing Matthew Barnes-Homer confined to the bench.

Despite the low attendance, caused by factors like the all-ticket restriction, the 12.30pm kick-off, the proximity to Christmas and the high number of home games, the atmosphere was lively and the match started at a lively tempo with both sides keen to take control.

United were attacking the Newmarket Road end and scored in front of those fans after just six minutes, Courtney Pitt firing the ball goalwards from the edge of area and Danny Crow nipping in to divert it inside the near post from eight yards.

Three minutes later Chris Holroyd did well to earn a corner and Pitt's delivery caused panic in the area, but Luton managed to scramble it away and Willmott's booming cross flew out of play, and when Luton forced a spell of pressure two minutes later Wayne Hatswell came to the fore with a series of powerful headers.

Making his second consecutive start, youngster Sam Ives was a bundle of energy in midfield while the returning Holroyd caused problems with his pace up front as United's flowing football was not just pleasing on the eye but effective.

Former U Fred Murray had to limp from the pitch for attention after 17 minutes and received applause from both sets of fans as he was eventually replaced by Lewis Emanuel, but the early support had settled and at times the match was played in an atmosphere more like a training or reserve game.

That changed though on the half hour when Pitt again turned provider, capping a good move with a floated cross into the head of Chris Holroyd, who had peeled away from his marker and looped a deft header over Pilkington to score his first goal in seven games.

It was sixteenth goal of the season and he made it seventeen six minutes later with a clinical finish. Receiving the ball just inside the centre circle, Wayne Hatswell spotted his opportunity and unleashed a typical powerful drive from 45 yards, and although it was deflected to Chris Holroyd who turned smartly inside the area and fired beyond Pilkington to make it 3-0.

The goal caused a bad-tempered inquest in the Luton defence as some of their fans headed for the South Stand exits, and although Claude Gnakpa cut inside to shoot a minute later the ball was blocked by the alert Tonkin.

Brimming with confidence, United looked dangerous with every attack and three minutes before half-time Robbie Willmott seized on a loose pass and tricked his way forward, but with Crow racing through the middle in support the winger went for goal and sliced the ball wide.

The U's ended the half well on top as Crow's reverse pass to Gleeson was desperately hacked behind for the first of two stoppage time corners, before angry Luton keeper Pilkington finally claimed the ball.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Well, there's a thing - United are 3-0 up and in complete control. Surely they can't throw this one away? Luton looked dispirited, they look disjointed at the back, and some of their fans have had enough already. If the U's can keep them at bay for the next 15 minutes or so, then surely a place in Round 2 beckons."

Second half:
Luton keeper Kevin Pilkington stayed out on the pitch throughout half-time, and manager Richard Money made a double change for the start of the second half, sending on strikers Barnes-Homer and Craddock in place of central defenders Blackett and White, who had been involved in the angry inquests following Holroyd's two goals.

The resulting reshuffle saw Adam Newton move to right-back, Craddock wide left, while George Pilkington and Keith Keane were paired in the centre of defence as they attempted to steady the ship.

Chris Holroyd seized on a chance five minutes in but it was a difficult angle and he couldn't direct it inside the post, and a minute later Gallen's shot was blocked by Hatswell and Brian Saah completed the clearance.

The second half was subdued in comparison to the first, but on 55 Danny Crow had a chance similar to the one he scored when a corner was chipped in by Willmott and Crow got a foot to it, but this time the ball was close enough to Pilkington to clutch the ball.

Two minutes later Holroyd leapt above the Luton keeper and two defenders but flicked a header just wide, and at the other end two minutes later the Hatters attacked down the left and Gallen drew a smart low save from Potter, Gleeson completing the clearance.

The remaining Luton fans were given something to cheer about from an unlikely source mid-way through the half when Wayne Hatswell got his head to Nicholls' free kick but the ball skimmed off the top of his head and beyond Potter into the net.

The goal gave Luton some urgency and United had defending to do but coped well, epitomised by the cool head of Saah and the workrate of Pitt who tracked back to make a brave challenge on Gnakpa to cut out a promising run.

Martin Ling made his first change on 78 to send on Jai Reason in place of Robbie Willmott, who had worked hard but not had the effect he would have wanted, and Reason collected the first booking seven minutes later for a challenge on Gnakpa who went dramatically to ground, then sauntered away once the yellow card was produced.

Ling's final substitutions came on 87 as Andy Parkinson replaced Courtney Pitt, who left the pitch to an ovation after setting up two goals in a great performance, and Chris Holroyd received similar applause as he was replaced by Mark Beesley.

Parkinson was involved immediately as Reason and Ives linked well to work the ball through for him but the midfielder was always stretching at the far post and couldn't direct the ball inside the post, and at the other end Danny Potter was clattered as he tried to collect a cross and Newton met the loose ball first time but lashed it wide.

Three minutes into stoppage time with the game all but over, Luton captain Kevin Nicholls was booked for a needless foul on Parkinson just before the whistle confirmed United's progress into the second round of the FA Trophy. The draw takes place on Monday.

Referee: Mr James Adcock

Attendance: 1,665 (away 517)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"United eased their way into the second round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable win against Luton. With both managers playing their strongest side there was never a question of the match being taken anything but seriously, and there was no question of the drama of the two previous games between the sides as the match was effectively over by half-time. Danny Crow got United off to the perfect start after just six minutes and Chris Holroyd broke his goal drought with a brace to cap a scintillating first half. The second half was all about United not giving Luton the sniff of a way back, and apart from a ten minute spell when Wayne Hatswell deflected one into his own net, that's just what they did."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Chris Holroyd - scored two goals to effectively send United through to round two. Honourable mentions to the whole team - it was an excellent team performance."

Ref: Mr Adcock - hardly mentioned during commentary, and usually only as a nod that he'd made the right decision. 8/10."

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