Joyous boss Jones eyes days of glory

“LET’S get this great club back where it belongs,” crowed promoted Luton boss Nathan Jones after Olly Lee and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu bagged two late goals as the Hatters waved a jubilant goodbye to League Two football at Kenilworth Road.

Danny Hylton had bagged his 50th goal for the Hatters – his 21st in the league this term – as the hosts threatened to run riot in the first half, but for the outstanding efforts of Forest Green Rovers goalkeeper Cameron Belford.

And after the break, Rovers, who secured a spot in the division for next season with a point against Yeovil in midweek, punished Town’s profligacy, with Christian Doidge crashing in his 20th of the season.

With the match fizzling out, Lee smashed in from 15 yards before Mpanzu’s curler deflected into the bottom corner in a three-minute grandstand finale that kick-started the party atmosphere.

“We haven’t finished yet – these are the building blocks. Let's get this great club back where it belongs,” Jones said.

“We’re building a football club and this is just the first phase of what we’d like to achieve, and I think we thoroughly deserve it, and I’m very, very proud of this football club.

“The first half was, at times, as good as we’ve played and we should have been out of sight.

“It should’ve been two, three, four, but these are a dangerous side and they play with real freedom, and they did that in the second half.

“They got the goal from poor defending and it looked like it was going to peter out. Then we made a real positive change, brought [Harry] Cornick on and then finished really strong.

“Pelly showed that he’s adding a lot to his game. Olly Lee has had his best season since becoming a professional and that goes to show he’s a wonderful footballer.”

Rovers boss Mark Cooper said: “I thought we were brilliant in the second half. We deserved to get something out of the game but when you’re at the top of the league, you earn that little bit of luck they got.

“We had chances to kill the game in the second half but we didn’t. I’m really proud of the players.

“It’s an achievement for us to stay in the EFL and we can be stronger next year, which I’m sure we will be.”

The final whistle sparked jubilant home celebrations and, after a lap of honour from the players, Hatters fans spilled onto the pitch, where the party really began.