Out-of-favour midfielder Owen Garvan lashed in a stunning third goal to help Town’s reserves to a 3-1 victory at Luton this afternoon. Liam Trotter and Pablo Couñago (pen) had already hit the target before Garvan slammed home an Ed Upson corner from the edge of the area off the underside of the crossbar.
Town might have gone ahead early on but Tommy Smith’s header was too close to the keeper. Smith wore a bandage on the hand injury which has kept him out of the Blues’ most recent first team games.
Liam Trotter put Town in front in the 18th minute, picking up the ball in his own half of the field and exchanging a couple of passes before being flicked in on goal by Pablo Couñago.
Blues keeper Ian McLoughlin making a smart save on 31 but had no chance with Mark Nwokeji’s 40th minute shot which saw the home side back on terms at the break.
Garvan forced an early second half save from the Luton keeper, then from the subsequent corner Trotter had a header cleared off the line. Couñago headed over moments later when he should have done better.
Northern Irish U17 international midfielder Josh Carson, playing as a full-back, fantastically charged down Nwokeji’s shot in the 53rd minute, the striker having got beyond McLoughlin after beating the offside trap.
Couñago shot wide, then on 72 the Blues were awarded a penalty after an Ed Upson cross had been handled. The Spaniard sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
On 80 Owen Garvan scored the goal of the game, striking Ed Upson’s corner from the left first time from the edge of the area and into the net off the underside of the bar. The midfielder will rarely score a better goal in his entire career.
Late on, Couñago hit the post with the Blues worthy winners against the Blue Square Premier side’s second string.
Midfielder Ed Upson was probably Town’s man of the match, sending in cross after excellent cross from the left, Reggie Lambe - the subject of a lengthy interview in a Bermudian newspaper today - in particular wasting a good chance for the Blues to add to their lead.
Owen Garvan stood out in the second half even before his goal, while Liam Trotter also did well, particularly first half. At the back Tommy Smith, Troy Brown and Tom Eastman were again impressive.
Town chief scout Steve McCall was spotted amongst a host of representatives from various clubs including Charlton and Liverpool.
Reserves: McLoughlin, Brown, Carson, Garvan, Smith, Lambe, Trotter, Couñago, Healy, Upson. Subs: Lavery, McKeown, Cawley, Clark, Brandon.
Thanks to Terry Roberts.