- Joined
- Jun 8, 2004
- Messages
- 6,808
from Sportinglife.com/ sorry couldn't do link:
________________________________________
FOOTBALL LIVE REPORTS
Rowan Vine scores in the second minute for Luton.
Luton 2 Preston 0
Click here for full match stats
Preston surrendered their position at the Coca-Cola Championship summit after first-half goals from Rowan Vine and Carlos Edwards handed Luton a much-needed victory.
Striker Vine opened the scoring in the second minute and winger Edwards doubled the lead in the 19th minute.
It was an advantage which proved insurmountable for Paul Simpson's side who had arrived at Kenilworth Road on top of the division for the first time since 1951.
The defeat saw North End knocked off their perch as Birmingham claimed top spot following their 3-0 demolition of Plymouth at St Andrews.
Luton had chances after the break to extend their lead but were ultimately left to breath a sigh of relief after bringing to an end their horrendous seven-match losing streak.
Vine's early strike lifted the gloom and laid the platform for a vibrant opening period from manager Mike Newell's rejuvenated side.
With little more than 60 seconds played, Chris Bell broke free down the left flank and crossed low for Vine to score from 12 yards and claim his 10th goal of the season.
Ahmet Brkovic threatened to double their advantage in the 14th minute when he collected possession and fired an 18-yard shot narrowly wide.
Four minutes later, Luton's second goal arrived as Edwards collected Dean Morgan's pass and fired home from six yards for his sixth goal of the campaign.
The Hatters were dominant and midway through the half Vine came close to claiming his second with a shot which whistled just wide of Carlo Nash's post.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Luton twice came close to extending their lead.
In the 32nd minute, a cross from Kevin Foley was met with a firm header by Leon Barnett which forced Nash into making a smart stop.
Less than a minute later, a tremendous delivery from Trinidad & Tobago winger Edwards found Brkovic's head, but Nash was again on hand to make a crucial stop.
Preston finally showed their quality and Luton goalkeeper Dean Kiely had to stop Tommy Miller's mishit 25-yard strike.
Preston boss Simpson replaced Miller at the break and replaced him with Brett Ormerod.
And five minutes after the restart a cross from Simon Whaley found highly-rated Preston striker David Nugent who could only fire wide.
Yet Luton remained a threat and Brkovic tried his luck from 20 yards with a shot that went narrowly wide and in the 56th minute Simpson replaced the ineffective Patrick Agyemang with Danny Dichio.
But the balance of play continued to swing between both sides and after Chris Sedgwick fired over for North End, Steve Robinson tested Nash with a shot from distance.
Chances became few and far between as the second half progressed but Warren Feeney's 18-yard effort came close to giving Luton their third.
A late rally from Preston saw Ormerod and Nugent both denied by Kiely as Luton held on for a fully deserved three points.
________________________________________
FOOTBALL LIVE REPORTS
Rowan Vine scores in the second minute for Luton.
Luton 2 Preston 0
Click here for full match stats
Preston surrendered their position at the Coca-Cola Championship summit after first-half goals from Rowan Vine and Carlos Edwards handed Luton a much-needed victory.
Striker Vine opened the scoring in the second minute and winger Edwards doubled the lead in the 19th minute.
It was an advantage which proved insurmountable for Paul Simpson's side who had arrived at Kenilworth Road on top of the division for the first time since 1951.
The defeat saw North End knocked off their perch as Birmingham claimed top spot following their 3-0 demolition of Plymouth at St Andrews.
Luton had chances after the break to extend their lead but were ultimately left to breath a sigh of relief after bringing to an end their horrendous seven-match losing streak.
Vine's early strike lifted the gloom and laid the platform for a vibrant opening period from manager Mike Newell's rejuvenated side.
With little more than 60 seconds played, Chris Bell broke free down the left flank and crossed low for Vine to score from 12 yards and claim his 10th goal of the season.
Ahmet Brkovic threatened to double their advantage in the 14th minute when he collected possession and fired an 18-yard shot narrowly wide.
Four minutes later, Luton's second goal arrived as Edwards collected Dean Morgan's pass and fired home from six yards for his sixth goal of the campaign.
The Hatters were dominant and midway through the half Vine came close to claiming his second with a shot which whistled just wide of Carlo Nash's post.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Luton twice came close to extending their lead.
In the 32nd minute, a cross from Kevin Foley was met with a firm header by Leon Barnett which forced Nash into making a smart stop.
Less than a minute later, a tremendous delivery from Trinidad & Tobago winger Edwards found Brkovic's head, but Nash was again on hand to make a crucial stop.
Preston finally showed their quality and Luton goalkeeper Dean Kiely had to stop Tommy Miller's mishit 25-yard strike.
Preston boss Simpson replaced Miller at the break and replaced him with Brett Ormerod.
And five minutes after the restart a cross from Simon Whaley found highly-rated Preston striker David Nugent who could only fire wide.
Yet Luton remained a threat and Brkovic tried his luck from 20 yards with a shot that went narrowly wide and in the 56th minute Simpson replaced the ineffective Patrick Agyemang with Danny Dichio.
But the balance of play continued to swing between both sides and after Chris Sedgwick fired over for North End, Steve Robinson tested Nash with a shot from distance.
Chances became few and far between as the second half progressed but Warren Feeney's 18-yard effort came close to giving Luton their third.
A late rally from Preston saw Ormerod and Nugent both denied by Kiely as Luton held on for a fully deserved three points.