Luton Town 5-1 Gateshead

Blue Square Bet Premier

Jake Howells and Jamie Hand both scored twice as Luton Town thrashed Gateshead at Kenilworth Road to climb to third in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Stuart Fleetwood teed up Howells for the opener after keeper Paul Farman was adjudged to have picked up a back pass.

Howells' low 18-yard shot doubled the Hatters' lead before Aaron O'Connor headed in John Kissock's cross.

Jon Shaw pulled a goal back but substitute Hand sealed victory with a clever finish and a fine volley.

Gateshead drop from second to fifth in the table after their second heavy defeat in three games.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Luton Town manager Gary Brabin told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It is a fantastic scoreline and a fantastic performance and I believe we are going in the right direction, but we can't get too carried away.

"We are picking up results along the way and we know we can get better. That's a big plus for me.

"Gateshead are a good side. We knew they would be difficult and they started quite brightly. But the lads responded brilliantly and thoroughly deserved the three points."

Gateshead boss Ian Bogie told BBC Newcastle:

"I've got no complaints because the goals we conceded were comical.

"We started brightly, dominated possession, should have taken the lead when we hit the crossbar but then they've taken the lead and you can't believe what you see sometimes - the first goal - the goalkeeper should ultimately kick it, he's given the kick away and they've scored.

"If you come to Luton with an expectant crowd, at 2-0, it's a mountain to climb and second half we never came out, so we're desperately disappointed, it's a mauling."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Luton Town

  • 01 Tyler
  • 06 Pilkington
  • 12 Blackett
  • 15 Howells
  • 18 Osano
  • 34 Kovacs
  • 04 Keane
  • 11 Willmott (Kissock - 60' )
  • 19 Dance
  • 08 Morgan-Smith (O'Connor - 12' Booked )
  • 13 Fleetwood

Substitutes

  • 30 Pilkington
  • 27 Hand
  • 20 Kissock
  • 28 Watkins
  • 14 O'Connor (Hand - 76' Booked )

Gateshead

  • 13 Farman
  • 05 Curtis
  • 14 Baxter
  • 20 Carruthers
  • 25 Henderson
  • 04 Gate
  • 08 Turnbull Booked
  • 11 Cummins (Brittain - 66' )
  • 16 Gillies (Fisher - 58' )
  • 09 Shaw Booked
  • 10 Odubade (Nix - 83' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Alnwick
  • 02 Anaclet
  • 07 Brittain
  • 18 Nix
  • 12 Fisher
Ref: Whitton
Att: 6,285

Match Stats

Shots

8 7

On target

7 6

Corners

5 1

Fouls

13 9

Live Text Commentary

93:57 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +3:14 Booking

Booking Jamie Hand is booked.

90:00 +1:56 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Hand - Luton 5 - 1 Gateshead Jamie Hand grabs a goal from just outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Luton 5-1 Gateshead.

88:40

Nathan Fisher takes a shot. Save by Mark Tyler.

87:03

Craig Baxter crosses the ball, Shane Blackett makes a clearance.

86:00

Stuart Fleetwood is ruled offside. Paul Farman restarts play with the free kick.

85:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on George Pilkington by Jon Shaw. George Pilkington takes the direct free kick.

85:13

Curtis Osano sends in a cross.

84:03

A cross is delivered by James Dance.

82:16

Keith Keane takes the free kick.

82:16 Substitution

Substitution (Gateshead) makes a substitution, with Kyle Nix coming on for Yemi Odubade.

82:16 Booking

Booking Jon Shaw is booked.

82:10

Unfair challenge on Jake Howells by Jon Shaw results in a free kick.

78:22

Stuart Fleetwood provided the assist for the goal.

78:22 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Hand - Luton 4 - 1 Gateshead Jamie Hand grabs a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Luton 4-1 Gateshead.

77:48

Yemi Odubade concedes a free kick for a foul on Curtis Osano. Direct free kick taken by Janos Kovacs.

76:49

Martin Brittain provided the assist for the goal.

76:49 Goal scored

Goal - Jon Shaw - Luton 3 - 1 Gateshead Goal scored by Jon Shaw from deep inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Luton 3-1 Gateshead.

76:29

Janos Kovacs challenges Nathan Fisher unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Martin Brittain.

75:05 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Hand replaces Aaron O'Connor.

73:41

Yemi Odubade sends in a cross, Curtis Osano makes a clearance.

72:34

Jake Howells takes the free kick.

72:34 Booking

Booking Phil Turnbull receives a yellow card.

72:30

Jake Howells fouled by Phil Turnbull, the ref awards a free kick.

70:57

Curtis Osano fouled by Chris Carruthers, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jake Howells.

69:39

Assist on the goal came from John Kissock.

69:39 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron O'Connor - Luton 3 - 0 Gateshead Aaron O'Connor finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Luton 3-0 Gateshead.

69:19

John Kissock takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post,

68:09

Chris Carruthers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Dance. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Jake Howells, save made by Paul Farman.

67:27

Nathan Fisher sends in a cross, save made by Mark Tyler.

65:34 Substitution

Substitution Martin Brittain on for Michael Cummins.

64:13

Centre by Chris Carruthers, Jon Shaw takes a shot. Save by Mark Tyler.

63:43

James Dance delivers the ball.

61:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Baxter on John Kissock. Jake Howells restarts play with the free kick.

59:36 Substitution

Substitution Robbie Willmott goes off and John Kissock comes on.

59:36

Effort on goal by James Dance from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

58:30

Unfair challenge on Craig Baxter by Stuart Fleetwood results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Yemi Odubade.

57:43 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Fisher comes on in place of Josh Gillies.

55:23

Craig Baxter produces a cross.

54:04

Stuart Fleetwood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeff Henderson. Direct free kick taken by Jeff Henderson.

51:55

Josh Gillies crosses the ball, clearance made by Jake Howells.

51:34

Robbie Willmott challenges Craig Baxter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Phil Turnbull.

50:22

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Robbie Willmott.

49:51

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jake Howells, clearance made by Michael Cummins.

49:47

The ball is delivered by Stuart Fleetwood.

49:16

A cross is delivered by Stuart Fleetwood.

48:22

The assistant referee signals for offside against Stuart Fleetwood. Free kick taken by Jeff Henderson.

47:32

Keith Keane challenges Jon Shaw unfairly and gives away a free kick. James Curtis takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:57 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:40

The ball is swung over by James Dance.

45:00 +0:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Shane Blackett on Yemi Odubade. Kris Gate takes the free kick.

43:07

Assist on the goal came from Aaron O'Connor.

43:07 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Howells - Luton 2 - 0 Gateshead Goal scored by Jake Howells from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Luton 2-0 Gateshead.

40:00

Unfair challenge on Josh Gillies by Curtis Osano results in a free kick. Phil Turnbull takes the free kick.

38:26

Josh Gillies crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Keith Keane makes a clearance.

38:26 Booking

Booking Booking for Aaron O'Connor.

38:19

Unfair challenge on Chris Carruthers by Aaron O'Connor results in a free kick.

37:08

Robbie Willmott concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Baxter. Direct free kick taken by Craig Baxter.

36:39

Yemi Odubade takes a shot. Save made by Mark Tyler.

36:26

Centre by Josh Gillies, clearance by George Pilkington.

33:16

Assist by Stuart Fleetwood.

33:16 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Howells - Luton 1 - 0 Gateshead Jake Howells finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Luton 1-0 Gateshead.

29:29

Corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott to the near post, Keith Keane takes a shot. Save made by Paul Farman.

29:11

Curtis Osano takes a shot. Paul Farman makes a save.

28:20

Craig Baxter sends in a cross, clearance by Curtis Osano.

25:12

James Curtis delivers the ball, Michael Cummins takes a shot. Josh Gillies takes a shot. Save by Mark Tyler. Outswinging corner taken by Chris Carruthers from the left by-line played to the near post, George Pilkington makes a clearance.

24:21

Aaron O'Connor challenges Josh Gillies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Phil Turnbull crosses the ball in from the free kick, Janos Kovacs makes a clearance.

21:59

The ball is sent over by Craig Baxter, Jon Shaw takes a shot. Mark Tyler makes a save.

21:35

Yemi Odubade sends in a cross, Janos Kovacs manages to make a clearance.

20:46

Robbie Willmott fouled by Craig Baxter, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by George Pilkington.

20:03

The offside flag is raised against Stuart Fleetwood. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Farman.

16:48

Josh Gillies crosses the ball, Janos Kovacs manages to make a clearance.

14:01

Foul by Aaron O'Connor on Chris Carruthers, free kick awarded. Josh Gillies delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance made by George Pilkington.

13:27

The assistant referee flags for offside against Stuart Fleetwood. James Curtis takes the indirect free kick.

12:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Curtis Osano on Chris Carruthers. Paul Farman takes the direct free kick.

12:31

Curtis Osano sends in a cross.

11:25 Substitution

Substitution Amari Morgan-Smith goes off and Aaron O'Connor comes on.

11:10

The ball is sent over by Shane Blackett.

8:19

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott, clearance made by Craig Baxter.

6:30

The ball is swung over by Chris Carruthers, clearance by George Pilkington.

4:19

Jake Howells fouled by Yemi Odubade, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Tyler restarts play with the free kick.

3:29

Jake Howells sends in a cross, Jeff Henderson manages to make a clearance.

0:14

Unfair challenge on Jon Shaw by Janos Kovacs results in a free kick. Kris Gate takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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