SKYBET LEAGUE TWO

FOREST GREEN 0

LUTON TOWN 2

FOREST GREEN dropped to the foot of the League Two table as Luton Town cemented their place at the top of the tree.

Strikes from Allan Sheehan in first-half stoppage time and 68th minute Danny Hylton gift-wrapped goal made it a day to forget for Mark Cooper’s side.

Luton were reduced to ten men on the hour when Jack Stacey was sent-off when Dan Whishart ducked into his clearing boot.

Beset with a raft of injuries and suspensions, boss Cooper named a baby-faced midfield with an average age of just 19, including full league debuts for teenagers Jordan Stevens and Jordan Simpson.

Rovers’ fledglings started brightly. Christian Doidge was unmarked when millenial Stevens got in behind the Luton defence, but the teenager opted to drill a shot into the feet of Marek Stech from a Charlie Cooper long ball.

Twenty-three places separated the two teams, but Rovers continued to pull the strings. However, Doidge missed an opportunity to give Rovers the lead when he brought his header down on the volley to fizz into Stech.

Off-colour Luton  picked up two bookings in as many minutes. Dan Potts saw 20th-minute yellow for a crude block  on Keanu Marsh-Brown, who had been set free by the busy Cooper. Johnny Mullins soon followed for grappling Doidge to the ground.

Rovers were baying for a red card when Potts appeared to take a dive when weaving into the Forest Green box.

Luton, who have plundered more goals than any other Football League side, were starting to find their range – Hylton demanding a strong glove from Bradley Collins with five minutes of a cagey first-half to go.

Rovers were undone in stoppage-time. A short corner routine saw Hylton come short and his neat back-heel allowed Sheehan to drill a shot across the box and in off the post.

Rovers were left wondering how Stech kept out Doidge’s flying 55th-minute header from a drilled Wishart cross, the big Yeovil keeper showing razor-like reflexes as the net bulged in anticipation.

With Drissa Traore ready to enter the action, Reece Brown hobbled off with 32 minutes to go.

Luton were down to ten on the hour. Wishart ducked into a high boot from Stacey.

Rovers pressed the self-destruct button on 68 minutes. Goalkeeper Bradley Collins’ air kick allowed Hylton an early Christmas gift, rolling in his 13th goal of the season.

The stuffing was out of Rovers, but a late flurry saw sub Luke James forced Stech into a scrambling save with six minutes to go.

The card count saw Scott Laird and Doidge go into the book for Rovers.

Luton almost made it three, but Simpson stuck out a leg to deny Harry Cornick.

Eight added minutes failed to offer Rovers any chance of a late comeback.

Forest Green: (3-5-1-1) B Collins; Fitzwater, L Collins, Laird; Cooper, Stevens (Gomes 70), Simpson, Brown (Traore 58) , Marsh-Brown (James 83); Doidge

Subs not used: Pickering, Bugiel, Roberts.

Luton Town: (4-4-2) Stech; Stacey, Sheehan, Mullins, Potts, Berry, Shimie (Collins 84), Rea, O Lee (Cornick 62), E Lee (Justin 63), Hylton

Subs not used: Shea, Gambin, Ruddock-Mpanzu, D’Ath.

Star Man: Charlie Cooper. Worked his socks off in midfield

Attendance: 2,546.

Away: 841.

Next up: FGR V Carlisle, Saturday, December 23, 3pm.