Town youngster scores winner as Notts County earn play-off advantage

Luton midfielder Jayden Luker isn’t taking anything for granted despite scoring the winner in Notts County’s League Two play-off semi-final first leg 1-0 victory at Chesterfield on Sunday.

The visitors almost got off to the worst possible start when they conceded a fifth minute penalty, only to see Lee Bonis put his effort against the post. Luker, 21, who was making his fifth start of an injury-hit season, scored his fourth goal for the Magpies on 28 minutes, firing home at the back post from Tom Iorpenda's cross.

Chesterfield had more possession in the second period, but County were able to hold on and will now look to finish the job when they host the second leg at Meadow Lane on Friday evening. Speaking to the club’s official website, Luker, who has made 15 appearances this term, said of the contest: “It was tough (conceding an early penalty), you think it's not going to go our way, but they didn't score and we took our chance.

"We won the game, but we can’t take anything for granted. There’s a lot of moments in the game, we could have had a few to be fair, but it didn't happen and we’ve just got to go again now. I think the structure we had, it set us up really well to do what we can do, but we just have to thank the staff for that. They believe in us and we executed it.”

Asked about the manner of his goal, Luker admitted he hadn’t initially thought he had actually scored, as he continued: “I didn't really see it, I just saw the net bulge and I was just delighted, I’ve just got to get more now. I thought the keeper saved it, but I saw everyone running over so I just started running myself. It's important, but just another goal, another game. We’ve just got to go again, keep pushing, get over the line, get to Wembley and hopefully get over the line there as well.”

With the Magpies back at home on Friday, then asked whether he can begin to dream of a first Wembley final in his fledgling career, Luker added: “Every game is going to be tough, they’re a good side, we're a good side, we both play good football, but we’ve just got to show our quality when we can show it and today we got the job done but it’s not finished, so we’ve got to go again.

"Its my first one, so I’m learning as well, but I’m happy to be a part of it. You can’t take anything for granted, we’ve just got to get it over the line at Meadow Lane now. The last game of the season was really loud, but I bet Friday will be even louder, so I can’t wait. You can dream (of Wembley), but you've just got to take each game as it goes. We’ve won, so halfway done. We’ve just got to go back to Meadow Lane and hopefully get the win there.”