Luton - Away
Season 10 (A) 16/2/09 JPT SAF 2nd leg - 1-1 ~ Forster
Brighton lose 4-3 on penalties.
See home tie notes for 1st leg info at W'dean. Both sides were deep in trouble in their respective divisions and over 8000 watched this southern trophy battle up the M1. The away end had 1500+ Brighton fans cheering for a chance to go to Wembley. Albion were 90 minutes from pay-day and Micky Adams was praying for a result. He was under pressure after a string of dodgy losses, so got new men in the transfer window. Unfortunately he couldn't play 'em here due to rules & regs. Sullivan, Hinshelwood and McLeod didn't appear for the 2nd leg but Kuipers did. Robinson had gone to Aldershot and Loft to Dag&Reg. Mayo was injured so Livermore was left back.
On two minutes, Kuipers and Virgo got in a right muddle and the ball broke for Luton to tap in. After this set-back, Albion got into the tie and equalised on 20 min. Birchall picked up a wayward ball and sent on thru, a pass for Forster to get his 200th goal. There was plenty of cut and thrust action to fill the first 45 min, where each outfit had chances. Just before h-t Livermore took a straight red for high sticks. The second half seemed very lethargic in comparison, with 10 man Albion defending as expected. Kuipers made a match saver at the death, before it went to penalties. We then unfortunately lost it 4-3 for k-o and no day-out under the arch.
Kuipers, Whing, Virgo, El-Abd, Livermore, Birchall, Fraser, Jarrett, Cox (Elphick), Forster, Andrew (Cook).

Season 9 (A) 12/4/08 - 2-1 ~ Westlake, Murray
BHA had hit the skids just before this division finally sorted itself out. Two defeats in a week earlier condemned us to trail behind p-o challengers, some points adrift of target. Lack of wins generally and inconsistency specifically over a busy season had taken a toll on results. All the time Wilkins was endeavouring to turn out his best eleven but transfers and key injuries hadn't helped exactly either. Mr Knight wanted a top-ten finish, flashed the cash when Albion struggled in mid-season and might have to again for '08/9. Over 1100 visiting fans attended on a spring-like afternoon in Bedfordshire.
The first half was pedestrian and not too much to send text, phone home or write about. We'd hit woodwork from Westlake twice and probably should've been ahead. It came as something of a shock when Town went in front (49 min) from a mistake at the back. We dillied, we dallied, we er, went one behind. Almost on the re-start Albion attacked towards travelling support. Cox crossed and Westlake, again on the post got in there with his nut this time (51 min). Eight minutes later Cox crossed again and Murray headed home (59 min). It was enough to win it and send Brighton faithful home happy. Town went down to League2 as a consequence. All we had to do was work out Player of the Year, whilst wondering what might have been with a few more wins on the road.
Kuipers, Whing, Elphick, Butters, Mayo, Cox (Martot), Thomson, Racon, Westlake, Dixon (Loft), Murray.
League1 P 43 . W 17 D 12 L 14 . F 54 A 48 . Pt 63 Po 8

Season 7 (A) 28/12/05 - 0-3
One of those questionable night games ensued, that they always manage to squeeze in between Christmas and New Year. The pitch had been covered from effects of frost and snow and it was very cold, in what is a pretty bleak place off the M1 anyway. Over 1300 travelling support assembled in old time Kenilworth Road and swapped insults with intoxicated locals. It was hardly a night to remember and one to quickly forget.
McGhee selected an unusual line-up, especially up front where obvious suspects were confined to the bench. Kuipers had a nightmare in only his second match back from long-term injury. After 15 min or so Luton gratefully accepted a tap-in following a cross, that appeared to come from over the by line behind a pile of ice. Just before hot soup or Bovril they went two ahead. The ball did an impression of pinball wizardry in our area before coming to rest in Seagulls net. After an hour FDM was lobbed for Town's third. Turienzo limped out of the contest before half time, having made his one start and also goodbye as a first team selection. Frutos stayed on his feet to a goalies block in their penalty box, when going over was sure to pay dividends. McGhee said concerning a potential new striker, 'ideally we are looking for someone who can hold the ball up, bring other people into play, be a target in the air, stretch the game the other way and be a goal threat.' It all sounded a bit like cold Luton curry pie in the starless sky.
Kuipers, El-Abd, McShane, Butters, Mayo (Knight), Hart, Carpenter, Hammond, Carole, McCammon (Frutos), Turienzo (Kazim-Richards).
Champ's P 26 . W 4 D 13 L 9 . F 25 A 39 . Pt 25 Po 21

Season 5 (A) 10/2/04 - 0-2
It was a cold dark winters night at Kennilworth Road. The atmosphere was chill and home fans hostile and full of homophobic chanting. Their main stand is close to the Oak Road away end and a bit 'in yer face' from above the corner. Stewards and the like were also winding punters up, some of who got slightly too involved. Late in the game we heard, 'you might as well go home.' Brighton fans replied, 'we haven't got a home.' Town's ground is a bit of a dump anyway and we never seem to do well there. They want a new stadium like us but no go so far either - what's new?
You might say we had bad luck in opening exchanges when losing Watson and upsetting the Ref. Two clear penalty appeals turned down support a dodgy Ref theory, as solid as any homey conspiracy. Knight was booked for diving and Virgo was also flattened in the area. Brighton fans were not happy to say the least. Town went up the other end and scored. We were still in it for 75 minutes but not exactly as an attacking threat. Knight got sent off into the last half hour and so this result looked as black and white as Luton's strip. Ref later gave them a penalty in similar circumstances to denying us earlier. Stand-in keeper Jones went the right way in front of howling Albion supporters but we went two behind all the same. Knight's card appeared marked and if only he tried to stand up and ride challenges, we mighta got help instead of hindrance. He gets a right kicking and not for the first or last time. How he kept injury free was quite amazing to bucket and sponge experts.
Losses on the road were mounting up and the play-off push was fast running out of steam. Over 1100 visitors had ended up in Bedfordshire for what originally had been a 'local' New Year fixture that was rearranged... whatever. These winter matches seemed like a real struggle, compared to those bright halcyon days of a long summer of contentment - before things changed.
Jones, Virgo, Cullip, Butters, Mayo, Hart (Robinson), Oatway, Carpenter, Watson (Jones/McPhee), Knight, Benjamin.
Div 2 (League 1) P 30 . W 13 D 7 L 10 . F 42 A 33 . Pt 46 Po 6

Luton - Home
Season 10 (H) 19/1/09 JPT SAF 1st leg - 0-0
Wembley was a couple of games away but we had to be ahead on goals over two legs to get there. The first thing was to notch up a win at Withdean and keep Town at bay when going to their place. Luton were demoted to League2 for '08/9 and still bottom due to a 30 point penalty. It meant everything to 'em to make the north-south final because the Blue Square Prem beckoned. Brighton were having a desperate season in League1 under Micky Adams second coming and short on numbers to boot. The January transfer window was open and as far as fans were concerned, we had to spend big time. There were gaps in our squad you could drive a Luton through, so we needed to buckle-up rather than down for a kick-off.
It ended goal-less and you have to give credit to Town for keeping a clean sheet. Mind you, stats said only 1 shot on target and 3 off for bleak B'ton. Not exactly giving 'em a right hammering one would think. The first half was dire, followed by a fairly inept Albion performance for the second period. Our defence was coping with a lone striker and generally competent. The rest of our outfit was, well what do you think? Adams put on subs and switched Virgo to targetman with route one employed. A winning goal never materialised either.
Sullivan, Virgo, Elphick, Hinshelwood, Whing, Cox (Loft), Fraser, El-Abd, McLeod (Livermore), Robinson (Mayo), Forster.

Season 9 (H) 3/11/07 - 3-1 ~ Savage, Forster 2
First of all it didn't rain, in fact it was blooming lovely again and we'd not had a real soaking at Tongdean Lane since last season. Second of all Albion were all but on a roll and Wilkins would have won Manager of the Month but for a fluke win at Withdean by Leeds in October. Nevermind, he sent out a team achieving results and the only disappointing thing was a low crowd of only 5200. The pitch had dried out a bit and got watered at half time to try and get more tempo into our game. A first 45 minutes were a tad pedestrian and B'ton should have stamped their authority but buggered about trying to create chances. Finally Savage headed us infront with five minutes to tea-break and a telling off from frustrated coaches.
In the second period Forster got two after coming on as sub on the hour and going up front. Almost straight away Savage dobbed a ball thru that he chased down and slotted home. Then O'Callaghan crossed deep from the right flank and Fozzie rose highest to nut a second and our third - 5 min from time. In between Luton grabbed one back from a giveaway in defence but had a bloke sent off for two yellows. At least all this activity got the crowd going and blue & white went home happy, having witnessed three bloody good goals. And don't tell anyone but both strikers notched for once - it was progress of sorts.
Kuipers, Whing, Elphick, El-Abd, Richards, Martot, Fraser (O'Callaghan), Hammond, Cox (Forster), Robinson, Savage.
League 1 P 14 . W 7 D 2 L 5 . F 18 A 13 . Pt 23 Po 7

Season 7 (H) 25/3/06 - 1-1 ~ Noel-Williams
McGhee said, 'we have to give blood if necessary in order to try and avoid the drop - we can still do it. Let us know if you do not see that type of commitment.' Season ticket sales must have been better than expected as Gifton Noel-Williams was brought in for a supposed near six figure sum on transfer deadline. He went straight into an otherwise regular line-up and headed the opener on 18 minutes. Rain fell before, during and after play and the pitch became a bog. A dry autumn and winter had given over to a chilly wet spring and Withdean grass had turned brown by halftime. Water remained on the surface during a futile forking exercise at the liquid break. Suddenly our midfield was getting stuck in with ten yard sliding challenges, like old days before professional turf management.
Luton equalised in typical B'ton sham style defending. On the hour Hammond's shot was saved. Town counter attacked down the right flank and centred. Hendo got down to it as often before and since but it bounced back to opposition and we'd conceded, as often before and since. Harty hit a post late on and no way could Albion net a winner or kill the game off. With only a month to prevent nerves fraying completely, B'ton were just about hanging on to a Championship place.
Henderson, Hinshelwood, McShane, Butters, Lynch, Hart (Carole), Hammond, Carpenter, Frutos (El-Abd), Noel-Williams, Kazim-Richards (Gatting).
Champ's P 40 . W 5 D 17 L 18 . F 34 A 60 . Pt 32 Po 23

Season 5 (H) 25/8/03 - 2-0 ~ og, Oatway
Leon Knight said, 'I want to get my career back on track, I want to get Brighton back into the first division. I need to be in a team that's got a good team spirit and heading places.' Coppell said, 'he's made a massive impact in the first three games and I am really pleased he's signed permanently. He gives us something that not many other second division teams have.'
Brighton fans didn't need hats on a calm, dry and warm Bank Holiday afternoon, apart from some north standers with headgear keeping sun out of their eyes. Unfortunately magic was misfiring and tricks were tortuous, before a less than spellbound 6600 paying punters. The amazing thing was how the show kept us on edges of seats until the final act. Coppell had been forced to make changes due to injuries. Butters came into central defence and seized his chance, having done a long stint in reserves. Pethick also got a game and new boys Roberts and Henderson made up a team of familiar faces. Build-up was not as fluid as with the old side but crosses were getting over. A shot from Henderson went in off a Town bloke with a quarter of an hour gone. Everybody sat back expecting on-targets to roll in regularly but we seemed to make hard work of nicking a second killer goal. Whatever was said in coaches' pep talk didn't sort it second period. Henderson battled, while Knight went close with a diving header but was usually decked for all his skill.
Luton lost a man for berating lino and their manager was sent to the stands for tripping our sub. Their ten men then threatened an equaliser as away fans woke up. On 85 min Oatway had a dig. As if by illusion it deceived their keeper, whose sleight of hand did not fool us in those circus seats. Hats in the air, he shot he scored and pulled off fancy trickery to boot.
Roberts, Hinshelwood, Pethick, Butters, Mayo, Hart, Oatway, Carpenter, Jones, Knight (Piercy), Henderson (McPhee).
Div 2 (League 1) P 4 . W 3 D 0 L 1 . F 7 A 3 . Pt 9 Po 3