Development game action captured by Gareth Owen
Development game action captured by Gareth OwenThe Town development squad came from two goals down to win 5-2 against Portsmouth at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Goatkeeper Craig King’s clearance rebounded off Paul McCallum in the third minute to give Pompey an unfortunate lead, and the visitors’ doubled their tally when Craig Westcarr finished well.
But the Town were a different animal after the break and Alex Wall reduced arrears when he placed home an accurate free-kick from inside the six-yard box after Portsmouth were penalised for a back-pass.
And three minutes later the Hatters were level when Ricky Miller teed up Ryan Hall who rode one challenge before burying a superb low shot into the bottom corner.
With their tales up the Town went in search of more goals and they took the lead just after the hour mark when Hall’s right-wing corner was met by the head of Scott Griffiths and his downward effort beat the Pompey goalkeeper.
In front heading into the final five minutes, the Hatters upped the ante and added two further goals in the closing stages.
Firstly Wall made it 4-2 when tucking home after Miller was denied by the bar and the Portsmouth keeper, and a minute later the Hatters made it five when Wall turned creator – racing away down the left to slide a pass across for Shaun Whalley to slide home in the six-yard box.
The result keeps the Town top of the Final Third Development League with just two fixtures left to play.
Town: King, Griffiths, Onyemah, Williams (sub Justin 85), Whalley, Doyle (sub Trotman 46), Miller, Wall, Hall, Robinson, Galliford. Subs not used: Gooch, Craig, Smith.