Popular Clark thrilled to be a two-time Wembley winner with Luton Town

Hatters midfielder Jordan Clark was elated to be a two-time Wembley winner after lifting the Vertu Trophy following a 3-1 victory over Stockport County on Sunday.

The 32-year-old had been in action at the home of English football some three years earlier, scoring for Luton in their 1-1 Championship play-off final draw with Coventry City, and then on target in the ensuing penalty shootout that Town won 6-5 to reach the Premier League. Although the stakes weren’t quite as high on this occasion, there were still over 30,000 Hatters fans in attendance, hoping for another celebration in the capital, but it was the far fewer number of opposition supporters who were cheering first when Adama Sidibeh went through to beat James Shea and open the scoring on 11 minutes.

Luton never once let it break their stride though, Emilio Lawrence quickly drawing Town level from Clark’s incisive pass and Nahki Wells putting his side ahead before the interval. Stockport then had a spell of pressure in the second period, Shea making a superb save from Josh Stokes’ close range header, as Wells’ second of the game in the first minute of stoppage time sealed the win, and ensured the celebrations could begin.

Speaking afterwards, Clark said: “I’m very lucky, two games, two wins. I said on the pitch it’s not a place for losers and luckily I’m two in two now, so happy days, as I’m just buzzing for the club and the fans. We knew we could take the ball and pen them in and it was just find the right pass or that bit of quality in the final third. They got the first goal which was very disappointing, but maybe a bit of a kick up the backside that we needed and it was just a good reaction from everyone, two goals and to be leading at half time was massive.

"Second half was a bit of a stand-off, we knew they’d have a bit more possession and would chase the game a bit more, and have a few chances. Sheasy made a world class save, I’m buzzing for him and then to get the third goal just to calm everyone’s nerves and take the game away from them was really nice.”

On his part in Lawrence's equaliser, Clark picking the ball up after a County move broke down, sending the Scotland U21 international away to slam through the legs of imposing keeper Corey Addai to make it 1-1, continued: “It was a turnover in midfield and I just saw him in space, rolled it to him and he did the rest.

"He’s in good form at the minute, he’s taking his chances and he’s impacting games a lot now with goals and assists, which is why they fetched him here. To do it on this stage for him is going to give him even more confidence and hopefully he can keep going until the end of the season as it will only benefit us.”

Meanwhile, on forward Wells, who had been a serious doubt for the contest with a groin strain picked up at AFC Wimbledon on Monday, Clark said: “I’m buzzing for Nahki as well, for an individual to score two goals and two great goals as well, is massive. We got into their half a little bit after the break, but just never found that final pass or the shot was off target, so just to take the game away from them and do it in front of our own fans was magic and unbelievable again.”

When Town last won at Wembley it led to a huge period of partying for the Hatters and their supporters, as they toasted reaching the top flight, but on this occasion, with a home game coming up against Northampton Town tomorrow evening, then Clark admitted the players couldn’t indulge too much after the final whistle, saying: “It’s a couple of beers now and not go silly as in three days time we’re playing again.

“It was nice on the pitch and to go up to the top bit where we lift the trophy, which is iconic here now, to do the celebration with the fans was amazing. It does have that feeling where you can’t over celebrate, you can’t go out and get absolutely bladdered and go silly as we’ll be in training tomorrow and Tuesday, as full focus is now to recover to go again on Wednesday.”

While the Hatters’ victory was an excellent achievement, Clark hopes that the season is far from finished, as Luton go into the last five matches, sitting six points behind Stevenage in sixth. Despite a place in the play-offs looking unlikely, the midfielder is desperate to be back at the stadium and celebrating once more next month, adding: “We’ve got five more cup finals now, we’ve had a little taste today and we want to be back here come May.

"We’re chasing, we’ve given ourselves a bit more of a mountain to climb which is our own fault, but this is going to do us the world of good and just take it into the last five games now. We just need to keep the momentum going, we know how important it is in football and winning a cup final here is going to give us even more confidence for the last five games. I’m looking forward to them now, you get a little taste for it and you see the fans, you want more, so it’s down to us to finish strong and try to get the last play-off place.

“We’re in a position now where we’re relying on other teams now which isn’t ideal, but just the way it is. We’ve only got ourselves to blame, but just keep the momentum going, keep the good feeling and the form going into the next game which is the most important one. We don’t look too far ahead, just look to Northampton on Wednesday, three points, that’s all we can do, then go on to the next one.”