One step away from Wembley
Date:
19 Dec 2008
Struggling Luton put their troubled season to one side to beat Colchester in their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Southern section semi-final and move within one step of a Wembley final.
The Hatters, who currently prop up League Two on minus six points after starting the season on minus 30, got the better of their League One opponents to claim a 1-0 victory at Kenilworth Road.
Claude Gnakpa managed to deflect Wayne Andrews` 29th-minute strike to see off the Us, who hit the woodwork three times.
A delighted Luton boss Mick Harford said: “The determination was there for all to see. It was another clean sheet and the second-half performance defensively was magnificent.”
Luton will meet League One outfit Brighton in the two-legged southern section final after they got the better of Shrewsbury 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes.
Shrews striker Grant Holt saw his decisive penalty saved by Seagulls stand-in goalkeeper John Sullivan.
Brighton manager Micky Adams said: “I'm pleased for everyone at the club. We're not at Wembley yet and there is a tough double-header to come, but they are games I think we can win - Luton are probably saying the same.”
Rotherham continued their stunning march by beating Darlington 4-2 on penalties to reach the northern section final.
The Millers, who have already knocked Leeds and Leicester out of the competition, had rookie goalkeeper Steven Cann to thank as he saved two penalties after the scores ended 1-1 in normal time.
Boss Mark Robins said: “He was excellent. He made a couple of really good stops and he made his luck for the penalty shoot-out.”
Rotherham will now come up against League One high-flyers Scunthorpe in the northern section final after they claimed a 2-1 semi-final win thanks to Tranmere full-back John Johnson’s 93rd-minute own goal.
Ben May’s header opened the scoring for the Iron before Rovers equalised in the 54th minute thanks to a terrific finish from Ian Moore.
But Johnson’s last-gasp own goal won it for the home side, and boss Nigel Adkins declared: “We said at the start of the season that this was a competition we wanted to win. We want to go to Wembley.”