Wembley double for Wells as Luton beat Stockport to win the Vertu Trophy

Nahki Wells’ excellent brace saw Luton Town lift the Vertu Trophy for the second time in their history as they deservedly defeated League One rivals Stockport County 3-1 at Wembley Stadium this afternoon.

The 35-year-old had been a real doubt for selection ahead of the contest after going off early on against AFC Wimbledon with a groin issue on Easter Monday, but thankfully for the Hatters he was able to take his place in the starting line-up, going on to produce a clinical and match-winning display as boss Jack Wilshere won the first piece of silverware of his brief managerial career.

With Wells leading the line, the only change that Wilshere had made for the final was giving James Shea his first ever taste of playing at Wembley, the popular servant on the bench twice before in Luton and AFC Wimbledon colours, getting the nod over Josh Keeley between the posts. Easily outnumbering their opponents in the stands, Town made a bright start on the pitch, with huge appeals for a penalty turned down after just three minutes, Liam Walsh played the most delicious raking pass through the County defence for Izzy Jones who went down under a challenge by Josh Stokes, referee Martin Coy choosing to wave the appeals away.

County then got going too, as Walsh had his pocket picked in midfield which led to a break, Adama Sidibeh’s shot excellently blocked by the recovering Hakeem Odoffin. However, Luton didn’t learn the lesson as the forward did find the net on 11 minutes with Stockport's next attack, a long ball seeing the Gambian attacker have far too much pace for Mads Andersen and with Shea coming out to meet him, beat the stopper to break the deadlock.

Walsh had Town’s first attempt on target, his low effort deflecting tamely into the gloves of Corey Addai, although the giant County keeper then looked like he was beaten on 19 minutes when Naismith’s cross flicked off defender Ethan Pye’s head with Wells lurking, but cannoned against the post and away. Luton then really started to purr, with some lovely passing football on either flank, as they had their opponents well and truly on the back foot, Lawrence, who was being afforded close attention after his goal against Stockport a few weeks ago, having one attempt blocked.

The Hatters did unlock the door on 22 minutes when a misplaced pass was picked up by Jordan Clark, the midfielder, who scored here on Town’s last visit, looking immediately to his left where Lawrence had motored clear, the Manchester City loanee taking a touch and slamming through the legs of Addai. County tried to take the sting out of Town’s attack as the game quietened down for a spell, Andersen doing well to block Sidibeh’s run in the area and Kasey Palmer not quite getting his through ball right with both Richards and Wells in good positions.

The latter was then picked out by Naismith on 39 minutes after another Stockport move broke down, the skipper sending a terrific ball into the forward, whose first touch was exquisite, putting him clean through on goal, fooling Addai to fire down the middle and make it 2-1. Extremely good value for their lead, the Hatters looked to go into the break with even more of an advantage, as they might have done when Andersen headed a corner away and Jones got in front of his man to appear clean through from half-way.

Despite his speed, Ben Osborn did superbly to not just keep up with him, but then slide in to knock the ball away before he could get his shot off. Still Luton pressed, Richards’ low effort simple for Addai, Town flooding men forward once more in the closing stages, Palmer’s shot looping up into the hands of Addai. There was work for Shea late on, as Oliver Norwood, who had been kept on the periphery of the contest by an eager Town press, fired straight at him from 25 yards.

After the break, Jack Diamond put a header over from Osborn’s cross, but Luton were soon back in the ascendancy, working an opening for Jones on the right whose drive was charged down and away. Clark then had an even better opportunity on 50 minutes when the defence simply evaporated in front of him, seeing his curler slip wide of the far post, as Odoffin opted for power over accuracy from range.

A break in play with a head injury to Stockport defender Joseph Olowu seemed to lift County’s tails as after a lengthy stoppage, they started to find a head of steam, Shea fingertipping a cross away, while Odoffin blocked Norwood’s shot behind, Shea also doing well to punch the corner clear. It looked like he was going to be picking the ball out of his net on 71 minutes after a ricochet fell to an unmarked Stokes in the box but thankfully he flashed inches past the post.

A free kick gave Norwood a chance to try and replicate his goal at Kenilworth Road recently, although this time he got it wrong as it sailed into the stands. His next effort led to a quite brilliant and match-defining stop from Shea with eight minutes remaining, Stokes’ powerful header destined to make it 2-2, only for the keeper to superbly deflect it on the bar, Tanto Olaofe fortunately miskicking the rebound and Luton’s defence hacking away.

With 10 minutes of injury time added, you got the feeling it would be a nervy period for the Hatters, who had been hemmed back by Stockport for much of the second half, but those fears were all but extinguished in the opening 60 seconds. Shea was the architect, bowling the ball out to Clark, with Shayden Morris, on for Richards, escaping on the right. His cross saw Wells’ first attempt catch a defender, but there was no stopping his second, shooting low into the net as he gave his side some real breathing space.

Another replacement, Gideon Kodua almost added even more of a gloss to the scoreline, Wells doing brilliantly to win the ball and send him away on the left, his swerving shot drawing a fine save from Addai, as the stopper also parried another attempt late on. George Saville and Devante Cole came on late on to help see the match out, which they did, as the 33,000-plus supporters in the Town were able to celebrate at the home of English football once more.

Hatters: James Shea, Hakeem Odoffin, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith (C), Izzy Jones (Shayden Morris 87), Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark, Kasey Palmer (George Saville 90), Emilio Lawrence (Gideon Kodua 77), Jake Richards (Nigel Lonwijk 87), Nahki Wells (Devante Cole 90). Subs not used: Josh Keeley, Ali Al-Hamadi.

County: Correy Addai, Joseph Olowu (Malik Mothersille 65), Jack Diamond (Owen Dodgson 90), Tayo Edun, Ethan Pye, Kyle Wootton, Ben Osborn, Oliver Norwood ©, Odin Bailey (Louie Barry 85), Josh Stokes (Lewis Bate 85), Adama Sidibeh (Tanto Olaofe 65). Subs not used: Ben Hinchliffe, Che Gardner. Booked: Pye 36, Richards 76, Jones 78, Wells 90. Referee: Martin Coy. Attendance: 49,517.