In a re-run of last years Premier Cup final Arlesey were looking to extract a degree of revenge on Luton who won last years game. Luton fielded a team with 7 having 1st team experience with this being the last game for both teams before the start of the new season.
Luton started strongly putting early pressure on the Arlesey goal; Richard Hayward made a very good punch under pressure from an early corner. Arlesey responded with a free kick in by Lee Allinson and Skipper Jim Gray heading just wide but winning a corner. From this new signing Liam McGovern hit a shot in the centre that was cleared off the line. Arlesey pushed their way forward putting together some good moves and after just 7 minutes Chris Marsh cut in from the right and fired in a sublime shot from 20 yards that sailed over the leaping keeper who was a couple of yards off his line and into the top corner of the net to give the home side an early lead.
From a cross in from the right Danny Crow tried to repeat his opposite numbers feat but the ball sailed over the bar this time, and as Luton tried to push forward a cross in from Jerome Jibodd was headed goal ward by Nathan Elder but Hayward was alert and took the ball easily.
With Marsh looking dangerous every time he got the ball he was fouled on the edge of the Luton area and Allinson’s free kick cannoned off the wall before being cleared.
This was developing into a good end to end game of football, Elan Phillip Yam Yam cut in from the right and fired in a hard low shot that brought a good save from Hayward
A long ball forward found Marsh who attacked into the box and passed to Chris Dillon but the strikers shot went straight to keeper Lewis Kidd Marsh took a knock as he pushed forward soon after and with the League season starting on Saturday he was substituted by Joel Mason.
Mason was soon into the action as Arlesey playing good football progressed down the right, he beat his man and fed in Dave Deeney who min turn fed in Allinson and only last ditch defending cleared the ball. Dillon also had a good chance when he headed across the goal but the ball went just wide.
As Luton countered with the lively looking J.J. O’Donnell a good cross from the right by Tavenier was met by Elder, he headed on and a crowd of players attacked the ball as Hayward and the defenders closed in and Danny Crow just managed to get a touch that pushed the ball under Hayward and into the net for a scrambled equaliser.
Luton now pushed on and Elder had a couple of good chances with his head that were taken by Hayward and wide of the mark. Arlesey had to reorganise as Ryan Frater went off with an injury and he was replaced by Jason Blackett who went up front. Almost immediately Liam McGovern broke into Luton’s box and was brought down from behind and the Ref pointed straight to the spot. Lee Allinson stepped up and coolly drove the ball passed the diving keeper to restore Arlesey’s lead.
With Arlesey’s confidence restored a great move by Mason and Dillon and back to Mason led to Mason driving a great angled shot that went just over the bar.
Another good move involving Mason and Dave Deeney let Deeney in but his shot from the edge of the area skimmed just over the bar. This left Arlesey with the vital half time lead.
The second half started badly for Arlesey as skipper Jim Gray went down injured and was replaced by another new signing Jordan Browne which led to another reorganisation.
The game although slightly now on a balance in Luton’s favour was still showing Arlesey attacking and a good cross in found Dillon whose shot was deflected off a defender bringing a good save out of Kidd.
A good cross at the other end found Elders head again but again he headed wide.
Luton tried to change things with Jibodd being replaced by Dan Walker and Danny Crow being replaced by Brian De Silva in a double substitution. From a ball over the top Jason Blackett controlled the ball but fired the ball onto the side netting, and after McGovern won a corner, Dillon headed wide.
Luton countered with the ball being met by Brett Longden but his shot went high over the bar. With this they made their last sub as Longden being replaced by Paul Carden.
Luton were trying to pile on the pressure with another good header from Elder being taken by Hayward, but as last year Arlesey were showing they were well organised and they were displaying a good shape as they defended in depth with everybody supporting each other.
As the game progressed Arlesey pushed out, a long shot from Allinson was well taken by Kidd and a cross/shot was again well dealt with by the keeper.
In injury time as Arlesey closed the game out Blackett turned his defender in the box and the ball seemed to bounce up and hit an orange clad arm, with a shout going up Blackett played on controlling the ball and firing a shot past Kidd that looked goal bound but it came back off the post and right across the face of the goal to narrowly miss the other post.
With this Arlesey held the ball to claim a very good victory and another cup for the growing collection to complete a great treble for the year.
Another great display from Arlesey that bodes very well for the new season but there must be some concern for the growing injury list, but they again showed that team spirit that carried all before them last season.