Golden Graham pops up with a late winner on a wretched night

Luton Town 1 (0) Gloucester City 0 (0)

A WINDSWEPT and muddy Kenilworth Road made for a dire night of football as Town scraped past Blue Square Bet North strugglers Gloucester City, writes Mark Wood.

Despite naming an extremely strong side the Hatters struggled throughout to create chances with the Tigers giving as good as they got.

Town were indebted to keeper Kevin Pilkington for making several fine saves and Luton claimed victory with six minutes to go when new signing Luke Graham scored the decisive goal to leave the Hatters just three games from Wembley.

The Hatters made seven changes from the team that eased to a 4-0 win against Darlington on Saturday, but still fielded an immensely strong side.

In came Pilkington after his loan spell at Mansfield, Graham made his first start in a Hatters shirt and there were starts for Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Danny Crow, Jason Walker, Godfrey Poku and JJ O’Donnell.

The visitors enjoyed a couple of early corners with Matt Coupe firing over from the edge of the box on five minutes.

It took until the 17th minute for Town to muster their first real effort. O’Donnell’s throw drew a cushioned header from Walker but Crow could only drag his shot wide.

And moments later Luton should have been ahead. Gloucester’s defence went to sleep as Jake Howells raked in a cross from the right and Jason Walker ghosted in at the far post and drew a fine instinctive save from Kevin Sawyer.

The game burst into life on 22 minutes with both sides coming close to breaking the deadlock. A poor back header from Tom Hamblin let in Amari Morgan-Smith but Sawyer spread himself well.

At the other end Adam Mann drifted in a dangerous cross from the left and the ball sailed over Pilkington’s head, cracked the inside of a post, and thankfully bounced away.

Tom Parrinello sent a well-placed free-kick well over on 26 minutes, while Poku received a harsh booking for a 34th-minute foul on Mann.

The Hatters were struggling to break the Tigers down on the divoted Kenilworth Road pitch although a combination of Jason Walker and Morgan-Smith almost bulldozed their way through on 37 minutes, but the former’s shot was blocked.

Fleet-footed O’Donnell enlivened the game five minutes before the break as he burst through the middle from the halfway line, but he could only drive over with options to either side.

Asafu-Adjaye’s ball then released Jason Walker on the right and his centre was fluffed by Gnakpa, before Jason Walker drove wildly wide soon after.

Asafu-Adjaye was booked for a clumsy challenge just before the break as the two sides ended a dull first half goalless.

Town continued to struggle after the interval and former Luton youth teamer Tom Webb had a great chance to give the Blue Square Bet North side the lead five minutes in.

A great through ball released the Gloucester captain, and record appearance holder, through the centre and he held off the attentions of Asafu-Adjaye but could only drill straight at Pilkington.

And Pilkington had to come to Luton’s rescue five minute laters. Darren Edwards’ shot fell nicely for Darren Mullings and the Luton stopper pulled off a brilliant point-blank save to deny the Gloucester midfielder.

The start of the second half was all Gloucester and they went close again on 59 minutes when

Parrinello’s dangerous free-kick was cleared into the ground and over the bar by Zdenek Kroca with Coupe lurking.

Half-time substitute Adam Watkins dragged an effort wide as Town continued to struggle offensively and Mike Symons’ cross picked out substitute Mike Tambling at the front post with 20 minutes to go but it was an easy save for Pilkington.

And with time running out the Hatters grabbed the lead out of nowhere with six minutes left. Sixteen-year-old substitute Cauley Woodrow won a free-kick within seconds of coming on and as Gloucester’s defenders rushed out for Howells’ free-kick shouting for offside and Graham was left unmarked at the far post where he calmly controlled with his chest before side-footing past the exposed Sawyer.

Gloucester gamely searched for an equaliser while Woodrow got into the thick of it at the other end with a promising cameo.

The Tigers laid siege to Luton’s goal at the death with Callum Preece having a shot deflected wide by a posse of defenders and keeper Sawyer joining the attack for the subsequent corners, but Luton hung on to earn a quarter-final place.

Hatters (4-4-2): Kevin Pilkington (C), Luke Graham, Amari Morgan-Smith, Zdenek Kroca, Jake Howells, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Claude Gnakpa, Danny Crow (Dan Walker 65), Jason Walker (Cauley Woodrow 83), Godfrey Poku (Adam Watkins 46), JJ O’Donnell. Substitutes not used: Mark Tyler, George Pilkington.

Tigers (4-4-2): Kevin Sawyer, Michael Green, Tom Parrinello, Matt Coupe, Tom Hamblin, Adam Mann (Mike Tambling 68), Darren Mullings, Tom Webb (C, Callum Preece 90+1), Darren Edwards, Mike Symons, Will Morford (James Fawke 90). Substitutes not used: Neil Mustoe, Matt Rose.

Bookings: Poku 34; Asafu-Adjaye 45.

Referee: M Bull.

Assistant referees: A Barney and E Smart.

Fourth official: S Brown.

Attendance: 2,212 (152 Gloucester).

Star Hatter: Kevin Pilkington. A couple of important stops from the keeper helped the Hatters to keep a clean sheet.