Fans/atmosphere

Great start to a hopefully great season! I think that's the gist of what most Hatters fan will have gone away from Selhurt Park this evening thinking. A few boozed up awayday Hatters made it quite difficult to get out of the ground's surroundings on the steps, however, we were in no real hurry to get out after the fantastic performance from the lads today.

Walking down past blocks Z and Y underneath the away section to a rendition of the "Tony Thorpe's Mother" song brought last season all back to me. I hope for more of the same in Staffordshire in two weeks time lads!!!

Before the match, there was a real football atmosphere at the wetherspoon's opposite Thorton Heath station. A great buzzing feeling before the season started, everyone anticipating a really good match, and the team didn't fail to deliver either. A fairly large police presence on the streets of South London yes, but fear of any trouble breaking out, no - it was a competitive but still a friendly atmosphere even after the match, with fans merging together on the trains back into East Croydon; one Eagles fan admitted to us we had deserved the points and wished us luck for the reat of the season, so all in all a good day was had without any crowd trouble to mare it.

Day's ratings

Stadium - 7/10 Selhurst Park
Home fans - 8/10 A good bunch from London
Away fans - 9/10 We just wouldn't shut up all day
Journey - 7/10 Not bad but a little confusion was had at East Crodyon station
Programme - 8/10 Tad more expensive than we're used to but a very good read
Match itself - 10/10 Incredible way to start the season with a game like today
Performance - 9/10 Can't fault anyone, but there is room for improvement (actually, I'm not sure there is!)
Hatters' star Man - Kevin Nicholls (9/10) the club captain who despite missing a penalty early on, had a fantastic match making so many great challenges. I also have to mention debutant Dean Morgan (8/10) for his fine showing this afternoon too

Crystal Palace 1-2 Luton Town

Match Report

A bright, sunny day welcomed the new football league season, as it seems so often is the case. A start not many had expected if truth be told, and Luton had the upper hand in the opening ten or so minutes, without causing Palace too many problems, just the need to defend a few early corners. However, as the half grew on, it seemed more likely that the visitors were going to get the breakthrough rather than the hosts. When Borrowdale fouled Robinson and Nicholls' tame penalty landed at the body of Kiraly, Luton fans may have been forgiven for thinking it wasn't to be their day. Indeed, when a goal mouth scramble got cleared at the other end, many in the ground were probably beginning to think that it was heading for a 0-0 draw. Then up popped Steve Howard on the end of an Ahmet Brkovic right wing cross and the away section went wild, this with just a minute to go to half-time
*GOAL 44 minutes Eagles 0-1 HATTERS
Another chance was had by the visitors before the referee put whistle to mouth to end the first half of the 2005-06 season.
*Half-time Crystal Palace 0-1 Luton Town

The second half began with an early Andrew Johnson goal, a corner which wasn't dealt with by The Hatters and the English international headed in. It was a big shame for young 'keeper Dean Brill who had denied Johnson just a minute early from a rocket of a free-kick.

*GOAL 58 minutes EAGLES 1-1 Hatters
Luton's spirit and determination shone through though, and they played their part in an even half an hour or so of open, often frantic football. It looked as if a third goal was going to prove elusive, but then a free kick which wasn't cleared properly by The Eagles saw substitute Peter Holmes calmy play the ball into the sixth yeard box and then, a moment later the net was bulging. Ahmet Brkovic had suddenly sent more than 2,500 Hatters fans wild!
*GOAL 78 minutes Eagles 1-2 HATTERS
The last ten or so minutes caused a lot of sweat and lost finger nails in the Luton end, although Warren Feeney had his third fantastic chance of the match to score, but instead of blatantly missing the goal, he instead tried to run down the clock by playing a neat ball to Underwood, who's passing with Holmes somewhat seemed to take the mickey out their ex-premier league hosts. After five (and I believe it turned out to be six) long, very long, stoppage time minutes, Phil Dowd finally (and this word can't be stressed enough) decided to call time and a victory was complete.

Steve Bostock©