COLLINS’ XMAS GIFT FOR HYLTS
TEN-MAN Luton sent Forest Green to the foot of the League Two table as they made it ten games unbeaten to retain top spot.
Forest Green failed to make the most of their chances and they were punished when skipper Alan Sheehan fired the free-scoring Hatters in front shortly before half-time.
Reduced to ten men when Jack Stacey was sent off by referee Lee Swabey for a dangerous challenge on Dan Wishart on the hour, Luton still looked the better side.
Danny Hylton made sure of the three points moments later, seizing on a howler from Rovers keeper Brad Collins to roll in his 13th of the season, with Barnet’s win enough to see them leapfrog the home side.
Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “I’m delighted with the result after going down to ten men. I don’t think we were at our best against a Forest Green side that started well and gave us problems.
“We were poor in the first half and were a bit fortunate not to go behind. But when you are not at your best, you have to find a way to win and we’ve done that.
“We scored a well-worked first goal, had a man sent off and then had a bit of luck with the second goal. At that point, the was over really.”
Rovers manager Mark Cooper fielded a youthful side, handing teenagers Jordan Stevens and Jordan Simpson their first League starts. And academy product Stevens almost opened the scoring, drawing a fine save from Hatters keeper Marek Stech.
Luton were again fortunate to escape when Christian Doidge outfoxed Johnny Mullins and Stech made another crucial save.
Moving up through the gears, the League Two leaders eventually imposed themselves and Rovers cracked on the stroke of half-time, Sheehan working a short corner routine with Hylton and then beating keeper Collins with a fierce drive that went in off the post.
Rovers should have equalised on 55 minutes, Doidge meeting Wishart’s cross with a powerful diving header, only to be denied by Stech’s reflex save.
Stacey then saw red when he caught Wishart in the side of the head with raised studs. Rather than take advantage of the extra man, Rovers’ keeper gifted the visitors a soft goal. Attempting to clear, Collins missed his kick and presented the gleeful Hylton with a simple tap-in. “We conceded two bad goals and didn’t take our chances at the other end,” said Cooper. “It’s about fine lines and we have to be more clinical. I thought we played some really good football in the first half and had two chances to go ahead. “Take those and it’s a different game. Instead, we’ve switched off at a corner and then suffered from an individual mistake.”