It’s advantage Luton after rapid brace of strikes in play-off tie

10:43am Friday 4th May 2012 in News

LUTON Town took a clear advantage into Monday’s Blue Square Bet Premier play-off semi-final second leg in North Wales after toppling visiting Wrexham 2-0 last night.

The hosts quickly took command of the tie with a brace of goals in eight first-half minutes to the delight of a 9,012-strong crowd at Kenilworth Road.

First, Andre Gray seized on a cut-back from Stuart Fleetwood to drill in from six yards in the 22nd minute.

As Wrexham fans thought their favourites had recovered their composure, the lead was doubled on the half-hour.

Former City midfielder Alex Lawless broke from deep to feed Gray, who backheeled the ball into Fleetwood’s path to notch his 16th goal this season.

Wrexham applied sterner pressure in the second half but were unable to breach the resolute Hatters’ defence.

Comments(13)

Sir Alex says...
10:52am Fri 4 May 12

Game set and match Luton on that display!
Wrexham were woeful and I would fully expect another Luton win in the return leg.

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Some old bloke says...
11:42am Fri 4 May 12

I saw the match on TV and I have to say Luton were impressive and Wrexham were poor, especially in the first half.
Once again there were dubious refereeing decisions, including giving a goal kick (definitely not a free kick of any kind) after the Luton keeper had made a great save to prevent an otherwise certain goal. The ref also stopped play as Wrexham were breaking clear because a Luton player had hurt his leg - no foul, just that he had a poorly leg.
You never know what might happen in the second leg - as someone one once said, it's a funny old game. If there is a god, the coin-chuckers will have a really bad day and get hammered.

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Al-YCFC says...
11:51am Fri 4 May 12

I really enjoyed last nights game. Luton played an attractive, open game against an out of form Wrexham. If York do manage to get the the final Chambers, Blair, Gray and Fleetwood on the same pitch could provide an excellent advert for non league football. On saying that Mansfield are favorites to get to the final and I would not write Wrexham off. They didn't earn such a huge amount of points this season playing like they did last night. I can't wait till Monday. Undoubtedly the most exciting season York have had for years.

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openallhours says...
12:00pm Fri 4 May 12

Al-YCFC wrote:
I really enjoyed last nights game. Luton played an attractive, open game against an out of form Wrexham. If York do manage to get the the final Chambers, Blair, Gray and Fleetwood on the same pitch could provide an excellent advert for non league football. On saying that Mansfield are favorites to get to the final and I would not write Wrexham off. They didn't earn such a huge amount of points this season playing like they did last night. I can't wait till Monday. Undoubtedly the most exciting season York have had for years.
Hate to say it, but it's not looking good for us. Even if we beat Mansfield, the prospect of facing Luton in the final is not what we would have wanted - their 40'000 fans compared to our 10'000 would be their 12th man (just like with Oxford).

I sincerely hope I'm wrong and I am an optimist, but the reality of the situation is too much to ignore.

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OLD - HEAD says...
12:04pm Fri 4 May 12

My mates couldnt really understand why I was hoping that City would finish fifth and play Wrexham. Well last nights performance was the reason why. I felt confident that it would be a City v Mansfield final. But now Luton are emerging as our likely opponents, if we get through on Monday. I have to admit that Luton Town are the team that I wish we had seen the back of. I know we have beaten them three times this season, that will count for nothing. But if we believe that we are good enough to win the play-offs, then we have to beat whoever we play.

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Eric el Rojo says...
2:28pm Fri 4 May 12

to go up we have to beat Mansfield/Luton/Wrex
ham, simple.....

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Mike Warwick says...
4:18pm Fri 4 May 12

The reality is that we have been better against Luton all season, its not going to stop now. C'mon CITY!!!

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oldmanvecrayke says...
7:03pm Fri 4 May 12

Again its all about passion and desire, if we do want to seriously play in the 'proper league' then we have to beat Mansfield on Monday, then who we get in the final, it doesn't matter who it is or how many thousands of fans they have, we've got overcome the odds !!!!!!!! c'mon boys

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Tug job says...
10:12am Sat 5 May 12

OLD - HEAD wrote:
My mates couldnt really understand why I was hoping that City would finish fifth and play Wrexham. Well last nights performance was the reason why. I felt confident that it would be a City v Mansfield final. But now Luton are emerging as our likely opponents, if we get through on Monday. I have to admit that Luton Town are the team that I wish we had seen the back of. I know we have beaten them three times this season, that will count for nothing. But if we believe that we are good enough to win the play-offs, then we have to beat whoever we play.
Agreed, Old Head, I dread the prospect of the coin-chuckers taunting us with "we only win when it matters".

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YorkSteve says...
3:18pm Sat 5 May 12

We need to get real, we beat Luton time and again when they were managed by that clueless idiot Brabin. Under Buckle I think they are a new team, I fear they will hammer us.

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YorkCityLuke says...
6:44pm Sat 5 May 12

YorkSteve wrote:
We need to get real, we beat Luton time and again when they were managed by that clueless idiot Brabin. Under Buckle I think they are a new team, I fear they will hammer us.
How does that make sense?! Buckle is a new manager, they're not different players. York can beat any team in this league if they play to their full potential, and we have NEVER been 'hammered' by anyone under Mills. If I recall correctly, no team has yet beaten us by more than 2 goals.

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danfaulkner says...
7:50pm Sat 5 May 12

Errrr............ I think we smashed you 5-0 nil in Jan 2011 so yes we have beat you by 2 goals before!:)

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YorkCityLuke says...
8:19pm Sat 5 May 12

danfaulkner wrote:
Errrr............ I think we smashed you 5-0 nil in Jan 2011 so yes we have beat you by 2 goals before!:)
Yeah I suppose you might have half a chance if we field a 9 man side sans goalkeeper. Not lost by more than 2 goals this season, and already beaten Luton twice in the league and over 2 legs in a cup. Why on earth should we worry?

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