Luton Town v York City

[Barry the bird boggler]

From the BBC site

A strike from Chris Carruthers sealed York's place in the play-off final, and condemned Luton to another season in Blue Square Premier.

Carruthers's moment came when he poked in a rebound after Luton keeper Mark Tyler could only parry Michael Rankine's sweetly-struck free kick.

Liam Hatch and Tom Craddock had chances for Luton but it was a lost cause after Adam Newton was red carded late on.

York meet Oxford in the final, who beat Rushden and Diamonds 3-1 on aggregate.

The Hatters started the game nervously, still smarting from Richard Brodie's last-minute winner in the first leg.

The York striker looked to inflict more misery on his Bedfordshire counterparts with a vivacious display up front, while Rankine was a nuisance, using his big frame to flick the ball forward at every opportunity.

Kevin Gallen almost struck a precious aggregate equaliser for the home side, but keeper Michael Ingham produced a fantastic save to deny the former QPR man.

It was the lively Claude Gnakpa who looked like Luton's most likely source of a goal in the first half, but his threat was nullified firstly by an offside flag, and then by a Luke Graham block on a goalbound shot.

York kept their nerve, however, and confirmed their place in the play-off final when Rankine struck a ferocious free kick that Tyler could only deflect into the path of Carruthers who followed up to send the visiting fans into raptures.

The Minstermen reverted to a backs-to-the-wall display to deal with the Luton siege that came courtesy of a header and a shot from Hatch, and also the dangerous Craddock who was denied by David McGurk's beautifully-timed challenge.

Defender Newton was then sent off for verbally venting his frustrations, allowing York to see out the closing stages in comfort, with a return to the Football League for the first time since 2004 now just a single match away.

Only downside is that I can't see York being good enough to beat *xf*rd, mind you a day out at Wembley supporting York might be good.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Then, afterwards the digusting so called fans amongst the Luton faithful got upset....

So pleased that York did Luton and after the scenes described below even more happy this bunch of nasties are out and their crappy little ground will not be back in the league for at least another season. Here's hoping they never come back.

York City's Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final win at Luton Town was marred by on-pitch violence at the final whistle.

The game condemned Luton to another season of non-league football and a section of home fans appeared to throw missiles at the York players.

Striker Richard Brodie was apparently struck with a coin and the squad had to escape through the back of a stand.

Bedfordshire police were unavailable for comment.

"It is devastating to see what happened on the pitch," Luton chairman Nick Owen told Sky Sports News.

"The fans streamed to the York end where the York players were celebrating with their fans and it led to some bitter verbal confrontations.

The way that the Luton supporters went after our players was quite animalistic

"There will be an investigation by us and the authorities but it does not look good for Luton Town at the moment. It is a very sad day."

BBC Radio York understands that the Football Association will review video evidence on Tuesday before commenting on the scenes. No further comment will be made by the Football Conference until they receive a report of the investigation findings from the FA.

"It's a game of football. It's not life or death," said striker Brodie.

"It was very frightening at times. You get coins, bottles, anything possible thrown at you. There were 20 pences, 50 pences. One has hit me on the side of the head and one hit Chris Carruthers too."

York City chairman Jason McGill added: "I hope our players are OK and the supporters get home safely because it is a very intimidating atmosphere here.

"We need to see what the police report is and the referee's report is but I don't think I've experienced anything like it in my time at York City and I don't think since watching football.

"The way that the Luton supporters went after our players was quite animalistic and I think it was very, very dangerous."

Carruthers' strike had earlier sealed York a 2-0 aggregate win to send them to the final where they will face Oxford on 16 May for a place in the Football League.

While York boss Martin Foyle was naturally delighted at his side's victory, he reserved praise for the way in which the post-match incident was handled.

"I was worried about my players' safety but fair play to the stewards who did a job and got them out through the police room," he said.

"It was quite scary. I haven't seen that for a long time in football."

[Big Foot]

Brilliant scenes

[Silver Fox]

Stay classy Luton

[voyager1]

I was at the match myself (Luton is my local team) and, yes, there were some "fans" who spoilt it for the genuine fans.

A lot of people went onto the pitch but not all went on to cause trouble - some went on there to take photos and I even saw a family posing for pitch photos!!

Yes, there was a large congregation of people at the away end but how many people threw objects - I don't know. I was standing too far away and never entered the field of play myself. I feel sorry for the genuine fans, who will no doubt have a stigma attached when they tell anyone who they support - not to mention any sanctions applied by the FA.

I grew up in the area and remember being taken to Luton Town matches when they had the member card system, away fans ban and the plastic pitch. The technology in place, whilst something out of the stone age when compared with the Madejski Stadium card system, was cutting edge at the time.

[Wax Jacket]

Nick Owen fronted up very well on SSN I thought

[Royal With Cheese]

Nick Owen fronted up very well on SSN I thought

Did he cartwheel anyone?

[Silver Fox]

He was spotted with keys and an ashtray, good lad

[6ft Kerplunk]

A big lolz at northern BBC getting all worked up about this having glossed over the Sheff Wed fans doing exactly the same the day before.

[Messiah]

Lolz at the York players hiding their heads in their shirts as they tried to exit the away stand. Conference defending.

[Mr Optimist]

MIGS = men in gimp suits

[Dirk Gently]

Nick Owen fronted up very well on SSN I thought

Sadly his quote of "we threw everything at them" proved to be accurate.

[Jerry St Clair]

From the first leg - fair play to York fans. There's not enough bog roll thrown at football games these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlinbLEy ... re=related

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

They do put on a good show up in York.

Fair play for trying to do something.

[FiNeRaIn]

From the first leg - fair play to York fans. There's not enough bog roll thrown at football games these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlinbLEy ... re=related

Proper noise when they score, miss those old grounds.

[AthleticoSpizz]

From the first leg - fair play to York fans. There's not enough bog roll thrown at football games these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlinbLEy ... re=related

Proper noise when they score, miss those old grounds.

behold!!

Fratton next season

[handbags_harris]

From the first leg - fair play to York fans. There's not enough bog roll thrown at football games these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlinbLEy ... re=related

Proper noise when they score, miss those old grounds.

You say that, but the noise when Shane Long scores his 2nd against Villa is something I've not heard from a Reading crowd for a very long time.

http://soccerlens.com/reading-2-4-aston ... 010/41630/

I could listen to that all day long. The pandemonium in Y25 in the closeup shot of Long is just

[PieEater]

Lolz at the York players hiding their heads in their shirts as they tried to exit the away stand. Conference defending.

And hiding at the back of the away stand.

[Jerry St Clair]

You say that, but the noise when Shane Long scores his 2nd against Villa is something I've not heard from a Reading crowd for a very long time.

http://soccerlens.com/reading-2-4-aston ... 010/41630/

I could listen to that all day long. The pandemonium in Y25 in the closeup shot of Long is just

The shot of the crowd at 24 seconds is like the audience at an accountancy convention showing their appreciation of a very good powerpoint presentation.

[Skyline]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/8661623.stm

Man charged over disorder at Luton Town game

A 37-year-old man has been charged over an incident in which fans invaded the pitch after Luton Town's defeat to York City.

Anders Johansen, of Drobak in Norway, has been charged with violent disorder.

Police said the trouble appeared to begin when Luton fans went on to the pitch at Kenilworth Road on Monday.

York's win means Luton will play another season of non-league football. Mr Johansen is due before Luton Magistrates' Court later.

Six other people arrested in connection with the incident have been bailed pending further inquiries.