SNEAKY BLINDER
Harry hid to pick keeper’s pocket
HARRY CORNICK was able to fully enjoy scoring the cheekiest goal of the season as Luton confirmed their play-off slot.
Nathan Jones’ side will now face Huddersfield at Kenilworth Road on Friday in the semi-final first leg.
Hatters forward Cornick embarrassed Reading keeper Orjan Nyland by sneaking up behind him and pinching the ball.
Nyland, the former Aston Villa keeper, won’t want reminding he’s dropped the clanger of the season. The Norwegian was first to a ball into the box that Town star Cornick tried to latch on to.
The Luton man’s own momentum carried him past the goalkeeper – who promptly forgot all about him being there.
Cornick lurked behind him in the hope he might put the ball down – and when Nyland did exactly that he nipped in to find an empty net.
Cornick said: “I just thought I would try my luck and lo and behold it worked. Their fans were
LUTON TOWN: Ingram 6; Burke 7, Bradley 7, Naismith 7; Bree 7, Lansbury 6, Campbell 7 (Snodgrass 77), Bell 7; Clark 6; Cornick 7 (Muskwe 67, 5), Jerome 7 (Hylton 90). Subs not used: Isted, Potts, Mendes Gomes, Lockyer. READING: Nyland 5; Thomas 6, Morrison 7, Holmes 6 (Abrefa 84, 4), Rahman 6; Mcintyre 6, Laurent 6; Hoilett 6 (Dele-bashiru 77), Ejaria 7, Meite 6 (Scott 74, 4); Joao 5. Subs not used: Southwood, Tetek, Ehibhatiomhan, Abbey. MAN OF THE MATCH: Harry Cornick. Hatters striker’s cheeky goal will long be remembered at Kenilworth Road. REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson 6. screaming, ‘Man on, man on!’ – I thought they were going to give me away but he didn’t hear me.
“I thought, ‘Surely one of their players would be watching and scream at me’ but a couple of our lads said they had no idea, they just turned around and saw I’d scored.
“It’s a gift, but I’m happy to take it.”
Cameron Jerome – who had seen Nyland deny him in the first minute – thumped a shot against the bar early in the first half but no second goal followed Cornick’s steal.
Luton, already hit by injuries to half a team of key men, were on empty for the final half hour – and six minutes of added time was mostly a result of so many going down with cramp.
Reading – already safe – were not fussed about forcing an equaliser and nor were their fans, who had brought inflatables to show they were already in holiday mode.
Manager Paul Ince, who could soon quit if financial problems are not sorted in the next few days, backed his hapless keeper.
Ince said: “I’m glad it wasn’t a game we needed something from as he’d say more than ‘Oops’ after that mistake. These things happen, though you don’t want it to happen to your goalkeeper.
“He will get over it, he’s a big, strong lad and he kept us in the game in the second half.”