ELLIS ERROR GIVES LUTON THE POINTS

  Forest Green Rovers  0 – 1  Luton Town 

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 Blue Square Premier favourites Luton Town always looked unlikely opponents for Forest Green to get their season rolling against and so it proved at the New Lawn. Mark Ellis, signed on loan from Torquay earlier in the day along with Steve Adams, had a debut to forget as he gifted Tom Craddock the 57th minute winner with a short backpass.

While Forest Green restricted Luton to few clear cut chances it took them 67 minutes to have a shot and they only came to life late in the game when the visitors were able to comfortably hang on.

After timid opening exchanges, Andy Taylor cleared George Pilkington’s header off the line following a Luton corner on 11 minutes.

Luton were enjoying most of the possession without hurting Forest Green but came close to taking the lead when Asa Hall headed inches wide from ten yards after Freddie Murray’s pin-point cross from the left.

Four minutes later, Ellis got on the wrong side of Kevin Gallen from Pilkington’s long ball and the ex-QPR striker sent a low cross into the six-yard box which was crucially blocked by Mark Preece with Craddock waiting to pounce.

Ellis’ horror moment came when a routine header back to goalkeeper Terry Burton lacked pace and Craddock nipped in the slot the ball into the net.

Forest Green finally had their first effort on goal on 68 minutes as Paul Stonehouse burst forward and shot wide from 25 yards which seemed to lift the home side until they were brought back down to earth five minutes later.

Luton were awarded a penalty when Shane Blackett played a one-two with Andy Burgess down the left and burst into the box where he was caught by Taylor. Craddock stepped up but his effort come crashing back off the underside of the crossbar.

Ross Stearn was lively after coming off the bench too late and Forest Green had their first shot on target when the former Bristol City youngster cut in from a good run down the left before shooting straight at Mark Tyler from 20 yards with five minutes to go.

Tyler wasn’t tested again though as Luton held on.

Forest Green Rovers: Burton; Taylor, Preece, Ellis, Stonehouse; Challinor (Stearn, 79), Smith, Adams, Platt (Lloyd, 84); Brown; Davies. Subs not used: Else, Pugh, Pass.

Luton Town: Tyler; Reynolds, White, Pilkington, Blackett; Burgess, Keane ©, Hall, Murray (Jarvis, 46); Gallen, Craddock(Basham, 90). Subs not used: Gore, Howells, Gnapka.

Att: 1,805