Everton 1Harrison 55
Town 2Burke 39, Woodrow 90+6
Set-plays and goals in the final ten minutes have been a wonderful source of happiness for the Hatters this season – and it so proved once again deep, deep into added time at Goodison Park.
As time ticked into sixth minute of added time, the Town had one last trick up their sleeve in a second half that had seen them go agonisingly close to a deserved lead. This time, the right boot of Luke Berry caused the chaos, the ball bobbling frantically inside the six yard box before Cauley Woodrow, playing the final minutes with a broken hand, delivered the final clinical, glorious, killer blow.
The Town like it here. Four months ago a historic first-ever Premier League win was earned from two goals from set-pieces and history would repeat itself as two goals from corners earned a memorable 2-1 win and a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for only the fifth time in 36 years.
And just like the league clash here the Hatters frustrated their hosts, with Teden Mengi magnificent at the back. Since the September game the Town have added Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend to their ranks. The two ex-Toffees endured mixed reactions from the home faithful, but since that afternoon here earlier in the campaign, the Hatters have grown in stature.
Tim Krul, resuming in goal in this competition, was rarely troubled in a first half the Town dominated and led at the end of thanks to Reece Burke’s first goal of the season. Alfie Doughty – whose two assists did the damage back in late September – swung in a typically devilish corner from the right flank and Burke got the better of Vitaliy Mykolenko to nod past goalkeeper Joao Virginia.
Ahead at the break the Town were almost two in front six minutes after the restart when another corner from Doughty was met by Carlton Morris but his powerful goal-bound header was tipped away by the fingers of Virginia.
It would prove to be a key moment as four minutes later the hosts were level and the noise level returned to Goodison when Krul couldn’t hold Jack Harrison’s effort from the edge of the box and the ball squirmed over the line.
The Town’s response to that setback was terrific. Four minutes later Elijah Adebayo couldn’t have done any more with a fine effort after racing into the box – only for Virigina to produce a wonderful save to turn the ball around the post.
Shortly after the hour it really should have been 2-1 to the Town when captain Morris, fed by Townsend, saw his low shot from six yards hacked off the line by Nathan Patterson with Virigina beaten.
After that chance it was Everton’s time to push the Hatters back. However, Mengi, marshalling the backline superbly, and the Town defence poured cold water on every Toffees attack.
With five minutes added by the officials, it seemed all the world we’d all be heading back to Kenilworth Road for a night under the lights for a replay.
Then it happened. The one last chance to win came and it was left to Woodrow, nursing a broken hand following an earlier incident, to crash home from close range after the Toffees twice failed to clear to send the 1,700 travelling Hatters a moment to savour.
Two 2-1 victories at this famous old ground and a place in Sunday’s draw.
Home to Brighton on Tuesday in a big game under the lights at the Kenny in the Premier League.
It’s a good time to be a Town fan right now, so come bring the noise.
Come on Luton.
Town: Krul; Burke, Mengi, Bell, Doughty (sub Johnson 76), Obgene; Lokonga (sub Mpanzu), Barkley (sub Berry 76); Townsend (sub Chong 65), Morris, Adebayo (sub Woodrow 65).
Subs not used: Shea, Kaminski, Potts, Berry, Woodrow, Chong, Mpanzu, Johnson, Nelson.
Attendance: 37,713, including 1,699 shouting for the Town.
