A late winner from substitute Adam Watkins secured Luton an FA Cup upset over League Two side Northampton.

The Hatters' George Pilkington headed wide from six yards before Northampton striker Adebayo Akinfenwa had a header brilliantly saved by Kevin Pilkington.

Watkins put the Blue Square Bet Premier side ahead when he reacted first to a loose ball and powerfully fired home.

Michael Jacobs and Akinfenwa missed late opportunities to force a replay as Luton held on for the shock victory.

Defender Jason Crowe made his first start for the Cobblers after rejoining on a free transfer this weekend.

The 33-year-old, who has signed a contract that lasts until January 2012, made 193 appearances in his first spell at Northampton before joining Leeds on a free transfer.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Luton manager Gary Brabin told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It was important that we put in a good performance and got the right result. I am delighted that we have won but it is important that we now get consistency and do that week-in, week-out.

"We do play football the right way and it was refreshing to see. Gary Johnson hasn't become a bad manager overnight and you can see the way his team sets out that they try and play football the right way.

"I am sure when the draw is made I will start getting a warmth for it, but at this moment in time I am just focused on training for next week's big game."

Northampton Town manager Gary Johnson tells BBC Radio Northampton:

"They're not just any non-league team, they're doing well, but both teams felt they could get at the other, and it made for a very open game.

"We had several opportunities but we didn't have the bit of quality to stick the ball in the net. Their goalkeeper didn't need to make as many saves as he could've done.

"We felt we had a very good chance here and that's why we didn't sit back. We're (either) very unlucky at the moment or haven't quite got the technique."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Luton Town

  • 30 Pilkington
  • 06 Pilkington
  • 15 Howells
  • 18 Osano
  • 27 Hand Booked
  • 34 Kovacs
  • 04 Keane (Willmott - 43' )
  • 07 Lawless
  • 20 Kissock (Watkins - 75' )
  • 08 Morgan-Smith (Crow - 43' )
  • 14 O'Connor

Substitutes

  • 01 Tyler
  • 02 Gleeson
  • 05 Beckwith
  • 12 Blackett
  • 11 Willmott
  • 28 Watkins
  • 10 Crow

Northampton Town

  • 01 Walker
  • 04 Crowe
  • 05 Tozer
  • 14 Johnson Booked (Holt - 83' )
  • 25 Westwood
  • 28 Langmead
  • 17 Jacobs
  • 29 Arthur (Turnbull - 46' )
  • 02 Young (Davies - 32' )
  • 09 Berahino
  • 10 Akinfenwa

Substitutes

  • 26 Hall
  • 03 Corker
  • 07 Davies
  • 11 Holt
  • 15 Turnbull
  • 22 McKoy
  • 27 Savage
Ref: D'Urso
Att: 4,799

Match Stats

Shots

11 15

On target

6 4

Corners

5 7

Fouls

6 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:15 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +2:04

Foul by Ashley Westwood on Danny Crow, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie Hand.

90:00 +1:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Lawless on Jason Crowe. Direct free kick taken by Sam Walker. Saido Berahino takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

90:00 +0:13

A cross is delivered by Paul Turnbull, Adebayo Akinfenwa produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

86:58

Shot from just outside the area by Michael Jacobs goes over the bar.

86:06

Danny Crow delivers the ball.

84:15

Michael Jacobs has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

82:41

Sam Walker takes the free kick.

82:41 Substitution

Substitution Andy Holt is brought on as a substitute for John Johnson.

82:41

Robbie Willmott is flagged offside by the assistant referee.

81:28

Jake Howells produces a cross, John Johnson gets a block in.

79:44

Jake Howells provided the assist for the goal.

79:44 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Watkins - Luton 1 - 0 Northamp'n Adam Watkins gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Luton 1-0 Northampton.

79:34

The ball is crossed by Jake Howells,

76:48

Robbie Willmott takes a shot. Save by Sam Walker.

76:19

Corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott, clearance made by Jason Crowe.

75:17

The ball is delivered by Ben Tozer.

74:11 Substitution

Substitution John Kissock goes off and Adam Watkins comes on.

73:56

Effort from just outside the area by Robbie Willmott goes over the bar.

73:27

A cross is delivered by Aaron O'Connor.

70:38

Centre by Arron Davies, Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save made by Kevin Pilkington.

68:53

The ball is crossed by Michael Jacobs, Close range header by John Johnson goes over the crossbar.

68:37

Short corner worked by Arron Davies.

67:26

The official flags Robbie Willmott offside. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

66:40

Arron Davies takes a shot. Save made by Kevin Pilkington.

65:29

Danny Crow takes a shot. Jason Crowe gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott played to the near post, Aaron O'Connor has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

65:14

Robbie Willmott delivers the ball.

64:52

The ball is sent over by Saido Berahino, save by Kevin Pilkington.

64:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Turnbull on John Kissock. Curtis Osano takes the direct free kick.

63:25

Corner taken right-footed by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line, clearance made by Janos Kovacs.

63:06

Centre by Saido Berahino, save by Kevin Pilkington.

61:30

Robbie Willmott produces a cross, clearance made by Kelvin Langmead.

60:15

John Johnson challenges Alex Lawless unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kevin Pilkington restarts play with the free kick.

59:39

Michael Jacobs takes the inswinging corner, save by Kevin Pilkington.

59:20

Arron Davies produces a cross, save made by Kevin Pilkington.

58:28

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Michael Jacobs.

57:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ben Tozer on Alex Lawless. Free kick taken by Jamie Hand.

55:53

Shot from outside the penalty box by John Kissock goes wide right of the goal.

55:01

Robbie Willmott produces a cross, save made by Sam Walker.

54:19

Jamie Hand restarts play with the free kick.

54:19 Booking

Booking John Johnson is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

54:13

Foul by John Johnson on Robbie Willmott, free kick awarded.

52:44

Foul by Curtis Osano on Michael Jacobs, free kick awarded. Shot comes in from Michael Jacobs from the free kick.

50:07

Arron Davies produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

48:03

Ben Tozer has a shot and missed to the right of the target.

47:48

Michael Jacobs takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Aaron O'Connor makes a clearance.

45:59

The ball is crossed by Arron Davies, save by Kevin Pilkington.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Chris Arthur goes off and Paul Turnbull comes on.

45:00 +3:16 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +1:33

The ball is swung over by Aaron O'Connor.

45:00 +0:08

Jason Crowe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Kissock. The ball is sent over by Jamie Hand, Headed effort from deep inside the area by George Pilkington misses to the left of the goal.

42:59 Substitution

Substitution Amari Morgan-Smith leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Crow.

42:24 Substitution

Substitution Keith Keane goes off and Robbie Willmott comes on.

42:00

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Blocked by Kelvin Langmead.

40:18

Ben Tozer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron O'Connor. Jamie Hand takes the direct free kick.

38:42

Long distance shot from Arron Davies misses to the left of the target.

38:13

Amari Morgan-Smith is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Sam Walker restarts play with the free kick.

36:14

Unfair challenge on Ben Tozer by Keith Keane results in a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Michael Jacobs.

33:37

Aaron O'Connor is caught offside. Sam Walker restarts play with the free kick.

33:02

Michael Jacobs concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Hand. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Hand.

32:42

Centre by Arron Davies.

31:05 Substitution

Substitution (Northampton) makes a substitution, with Arron Davies coming on for Lewis Young.

29:26

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

28:55

Unfair challenge on Chris Arthur by Keith Keane results in a free kick. Michael Jacobs takes the free kick.

27:05

Ashley Westwood challenges Amari Morgan-Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Hand.

24:54

Corner taken by John Kissock from the right by-line played to the near post, Keith Keane produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

22:36

The free kick is delivered right-footed by Michael Jacobs from left channel.

22:36 Booking

Booking Jamie Hand is booked.

22:24

Jamie Hand challenges Ben Tozer unfairly and gives away a free kick.

21:35

The ball is sent over by Michael Jacobs, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Adebayo Akinfenwa misses to the left of the goal.

20:52

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Michael Jacobs, clearance by George Pilkington.

19:44

A cross is delivered by Jason Crowe, save by Kevin Pilkington.

17:40

The ball is sent over by Jamie Hand.

17:14

Corner taken by John Kissock from the left by-line, Kelvin Langmead makes a clearance.

16:34

Curtis Osano crosses the ball.

15:21

Long distance shot from Lewis Young misses to the left of the net.

14:24

Adebayo Akinfenwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Hand. Free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

12:45

Janos Kovacs fouled by Saido Berahino, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

11:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Saido Berahino on Janos Kovacs. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

11:27

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Walker.

11:06

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Kelvin Langmead gets a block in.

10:15

Corner taken short by Michael Jacobs.

9:17

Janos Kovacs gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Saido Berahino. Michael Jacobs sends in a cross, Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save by Kevin Pilkington.

8:33

Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on George Pilkington, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by George Pilkington.

6:29

Foul by Michael Jacobs on Aaron O'Connor, free kick awarded. Amari Morgan-Smith has an effort direct from the free kick.

5:52

Chris Arthur sends in a cross.

2:21

Outswinging corner taken by Michael Jacobs, Janos Kovacs makes a clearance.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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