Luton lifted the Vertu Trophy on Sunday when beating Stockport County 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.
The Hatters had trailed early on to Adama Sidibeh’s strike, before Emilio Lawrence levelled the scores, Nahki Wells then putting Town in front before half time. During stoppage time, Wells was on target again to seal victory and to find out how the Luton players rated at the home of English football, see below.
1. James Shea: 8.5
Deservedly got his chance to play at Wembley as the long-serving stopper showed it wasn’t a decision made on sentiment by his manager, playing a huge role in the victory. Good early claim from a cross settled any nerves, although couldn’t do much to prevent Sidibeh from opening the scoring when he raced away from Andersen. Fortunate offside flag saved him when cleaning out Sidibeh, while after the break, he punched a corner away well, with Stokes flashing inches wide. Had his moment when Stokes thumped a header goalwards, making a quite brilliant save that he has declared as the ‘best of his career’. Also intelligently bowled the ball out for Clark in the build-up for Luton's clinching third. Photo: David Horn
2. Hakeem Odoffin: 8.5
Defender was quite magnificent once more on the day as early on, he covered an incisive counter-attack and made a fine block from Sidibeh's low drive. After Town conceded from a similar break, they were able to solidify things and prevent Stockport from getting forward in a similar manner from then on. Excellent dinked pass for Wells to almost get away, a foul ending the move, while he nearly made it 2-1 when his header bounced agonisingly wide. In the second period, he ate up the ground in front of him to get into a shooting position only to shank well over the bar, but crucially reacted superbly at the other end once Shea had made his save, getting the ball clear to deny County an equaliser. Photo: David Horn
3. Mads Andersen: 8.5
Beaten early on by the pace of Sidibeh, who got away from the centre half and bounced his shot beyond Shea to give Stockport the lead. Once Wilshere adjusted things defensively, he was far more comfortable, stopping the forward when he burst into the area again. With Town then dominating, he was able to get the ball and move things forward, barely misplacing a pass. After the break, could play his game, as County began to have the better of things, getting his head on to almost everything that was sent upfield and clearing away, as he topped the defensive contributions, making a superb 16 clearances. Also won the most duels as well, with an impressive 13 of them. Photo: David Horn
4. Kal Naismith: 8.5
Starting to look like the Naismith of old again as he sent in a brilliant cross that was headed against his own post by Stockport centre half Pye. With Town then level, the defender couldn’t quite stretch to reach Odoffin’s header, colliding with the woodwork, but thankfully was able to run that off. With another County move breaking down, he nipped in to win the ball back and set off, arching his pass away from a covering defender for Wells to show a sublime first touch and do the rest in style. When County had their best passages of play in the second period, adopted a no-nonsense approach that meant he was able to live out the moment had visualised by lifting the trophy Photo: David Horn