Town beat Portuguese opponents in practise match
The Hatters warmed up for their pre-season friendly programme with a 1-0 win in a practise match against Portugese Segunda Division outfit Farense on Tuesday night.
Stephen O’Donnell’s header just after the half-hour mark was enough to give the Town victory in sweltering conditions at the Vila Real de Santo Sports Complex in Faro.
John Still named separate XIs in each half, and included trialist Craig Mackail-Smith in the opening period. The former Brighton, Peterborough and Dagenham frontman thought he’d won a penalty in the opening stages when he was upended by the Farense goalkeeper, but the referee ignored the Hatters’ protests.
However, the Town did go in front 10 minutes before the break when O’Donnell, one of the Hatters’ summer recruits, nodded home Luke Guttridge’s corner.
It was all change at the break but the Town continued to edge possession in what was turning into a very physical battle.
As the game wore on, chances came the Hatters’ way and Jack Marriott came close to making it 2-0 midway through the second period when firing just over.
In the final stages the Town, sporting their new sky blue training kit, pushed for a second goal but the Farense goalkeeper was equal to a tremendous 30-yard free-kick from the Hatters’ most recent recruit, Danny Green.
First half: Justham (sub King 30); O'Donnell, Trialist, Wilkinson, Griffiths, Lawless, Guttridge, Doyle, Hall, McQuoid, Mackail-Smith.
Second half: King (sub Trialist 60), Williams, Cuthbert, McNulty, Onyemah, Green, Smith, McGeehan, Trialist (sub Lawless), Benson, Marriott.
The Town return to the UK at the weekend before travelling to Lowestoft for their first friendly on Sunday (2.30pm).
Meanwhile the Hatters’ Under-18s came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Southend in their opening pre-season friendly.