Luton Town: Hatters edged out of Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as Gillingham strike late

Gillingham 2 Luton Town 1

It may not have been as late as some of the hammer blows that have struck Luton Town this season but Bradley Dack’s goal towards the end for Gillingham knocked them out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Costly late lapses blighted the start of the Hatters campaign and, after their excellent recent run, this was a reminder of how cruel football can be.

It was much-changed team named by manager John Still, but it was one that led the League One side 1-0 at half-time thanks to Cameron McGeehan scoring four minutes before the break.

It looked as if first team coach Hakan Hayrettin’s belief that any side named by Luton was good enough to claim victory was being vindicated but the Gills reminded why they are riding high in their division in the second half.

The JPT may be a much-maligned competition, but it is one that Hatters fans hold close to their hearts and sadly, there will be no repeat of the glorious run of 2008/09.

Luton named a completely different back four to the one named at Hartlepool as Alex Lawless, Magnus Okuonghae, Mark O’Brien and Dan Potts all came in.

Jack Marriott was also rewarded for his recent heroics from the bench with a start in a match at Priestfield that was low key to the point where Luton took the lead.

Potts was able to swing in an accurate cross from the left that was attacked by McGeehan at the back post and he guided a header beyond Gillingham ‘keeper Stuart Nelson for his fifth goal of the season.

The start of the second half saw yet more changes for Town as Still replaced McGeehan, Luke Guttridge and Olly Lee with Ryan Hall, Scott Griffiths and Danny Green in a triple substitution.

Gillingham began to force the visitors into more work defensively but Luton were able to hit them on the break with one such counter ending with Josh McQuoid being denied by a good save by Nelson.

The Gills were to then draw level on 65 minutes as a corner wasn’t cleared properly by Green and after Cody McDonald challenged Hatters goalkeeper Mark Tyler, Max Ehmer lashed into the net.

Town strived to restore their lead as Green sent a free kick from 25 yards just wide before Nelson had to come out to the edge of his area to beat Marriott to the ball.

But two substitutes were to prove to be their undoing with seven minutes left as Bradley Garrison beat Griffiths down the left wing before squaring for McDonald.

Tyler was able to block his shot but Dack was on hand to tuck in the rebound from close range and Luton were unable to find a way back in the time that remained.

Gillingham: Nelson, A Morris, Lennon, Ehmer, Dickenson (Garmston 74), McGlashan, Osadebe, Houghton (Dack 66), Hessenthaler, Norris (Williamson 63), McDonald

Unused subs: G Morris, Wright

Luton Town: Tyler; Lawless, Potts, Okuonghae, O’Brien; Doyle, Lee (sub Griffiths 46); McQuoid, Guttridge (sub Green 46), McGeehan (sub Hall 46); Marriott.

Subs not used: Justham, Wilkinson.

Referee: Michael Bull

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