Report: Luton Town 3-2 Iron

The Iron have lost 3-2 to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the match, manager Stuart McCall made one change from the side that beat Charlton Athletic 5-3 on Tuesday night. Midfielder Matthew Lund, who returned from suspension, replaced Charlie Goode.

The game’s first big chance resulted in a Luton goal, who took a 1-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes. Harry Cornick broke free following a ball over the top and the forward slotted it past Jak Alnwick from a tight angle.

However, seven minutes later, the Iron were back on level terms through striker Lee Novak. United initially had a corner-kick cleared before Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and captain Rory McArdle combined to keep the attack alive. The ball dropped to Josh Morris inside the box, who saw his shot saved by James Shea, but Novak placed the rebound in the bottom right corner to equalise.

The Hatters soon regained their advantage after an impressive strike from Elliot Lee. Jorge Grant touched the ball to Lee, who cut onto his left foot and rifled his shot into the top left corner from the edge of the box.

A few minutes later, Lee looked to grab his second of the afternoon. He stood over a free-kick 20-yards out, curling it along the ground and towards the bottom right corner, but Jordan Clarke stuck out his leg to block the attempt.

Lee’s fellow forward James Collins then had an opportunity for the hosts after he chopped the ball onto his left foot. However, his effort hit the side netting.

United then came close to their second equaliser. The ball was worked into the Hatters’ area and Novak’s low cross just evaded the unmarked Morris, who had slid in at the far post. 

Luton quickly turned defence into attack, giving Collins another chance. A cross from the right curled into the box, but Alnwick managed to get enough behind a Collins header to prevent it from going in.

After the interval, the Iron won themselves a free-kick on the left side which Morris floated in the area. Novak got up to meet it, but his header was directed wide of the target. 

In the 54th minute, Stephen Humphrys tried his luck from 25-yards out, but his effort was deflected and looped up into Shea’s arms. 

The Iron continued to search for a leveller when Ryan Colclough whipped a dangerous corner into the box, but Humphrys could not angle it goalwards. 

Alnwick then had to be alert for the Iron at the other end. Collins was put through in the box and steered a powerful low shot at the goal, which Alnwick palmed away after getting to the ground quickly. 

68 minutes in and Scunthorpe had a goal disallowed. A cross was put into the area, which Lund headed down for Novak to score, but the linesman had raised his flag for offside. 

The Iron goalkeeper then made another superb stop to deny Grant. A low cross was fizzed into the box and the attacking midfielder got a slight touch on the ball, but Alnwick again got down quickly to save.

The Hatters then broke forward from an Iron free-kick with Cornick, who drove into the area and looked set to pull the trigger, however Funso Ojo raced back to poke the ball away from the forward.

In the 86th minute, the hosts did get their third goal of the game. James Stacey was played through in the area and he slid it across the six-yard box and substitute James Justin converted home to make it 3-1. 

Stacey then tried to get a goal of his own, but Alnwick made a good save, with Collins firing the rebound over.

There was late hope for the Iron when they managed to get one goal back through Humphrys. The striker got a slight touch on a cross from the right to score, but it wasn’t enough as Luton held on.

TEAM LINE-UPS
Luton Town: Shea, Potts (Sheehan, 88’), Bradley, Pearson, Stacey, Lee (Justin, 43’), Cornick, Rea, Mpanzu, Grant, Collins.
Unused substitutes: Isted, McCormack, Shinnie, LuaLua, Jarvis.

Scunthorpe United: Alnwick, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Ojo, Lund, Humphrys, Morris, Novak (Thomas, 80’), Burgess, McArdle, Colclough.
Unused substitutes: Flatt, Dales, Perch, Lewis, Goode, Butroid.

Referee: Kevin Johnson.

Attendance: 8,682 (432 away).