Luton boss Rob Edwards beamed that there’s “no better feeling” that a last-gasp winner as Cauley Woodrow popped up with a broken hand to fire Luton past Everton into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The substitute striker pounced on disarray in the Toffees penalty area from a Luke Berry corner to blast in from point blank range in the 96th minute to complete a league and cup Goodison Park double of the Merseysiders this season.
Both games finished 2-1 but on this occasion it was a far more dramatic affair. It probably shouldn’t have been, after Vitaliy Mykolenko own goal, also from a corner, gave the Hatters the lead in a first half where they were dominant.
But an error from keeper Tim Krul saw Jack Harrison’s shot squirm underneath his body for an equaliser.
And it looked like a replay would be required after home stopper Joao Virginia kept Elijah Adebayo out, while the hero at this ground in September, Carlton Morris, saw his shot cleared off the line.
But Luton had notched 14 occasions in 28 goals after the 75th minute and their never-say-die abilities came to the fore once again.
“I’ll take that, the 95th minute or whatever it was. I’m really pleased. Cup football is about winning, isn’t it? Delighted to win, delighted to do it in the way we did,” said manager Edwards
“There’s no better feeling that a last-minute winner, there really isn’t. We’ve got to enjoy these moments. The supporters did.”
He added: “Full credit to the lads for finding a way. One last attack, half a chance with the corner and we know we’re a threat from set pieces, so I’m really, really pleased.”
It was two substitutes that combined for the winner, with Woodrow’s hand heavily bandaged after James Tarkowski fell on him.
Luton boss Edwards told the BBC: “I’m really pleased for Cauley, he hasn’t been able to get too much game time and get a rhythm. He is a real gem of a lad and he will be a happy man tonight – although he will be in a bit of pain.”
It puts Town in the hat for the fifth round with the draw to be made tomorrow before the Liverpool v Norwich cup clash.
Edwards said: “Momentum is so important at the moment. I know I mentioned that at the back end of last season and we want to keep that, keep the performances at a good level and we want to keep finding positive results. We’ve been doing that for a fair while so we want to keep that going.”
