Luton Town 2 - Dunstable Town 3 (aet)
1-1 after 90 minutes
A stunning second half of extra time saw Dunstable Town snatch victory from Luton and the Premier Cup from the jaws of defeat.
Luton looked to have spared their blushes as a late late show took the tie into extra time, before the League One side took the lead. But in the last seven minutes goals from Chris Marsh and Mark Burfoot turned the match around for Dunstable and made sure the cup was going home to Creasy Park for the first time since 1990/91.
In its 35th year the Premier Cup is an invitational pitting Luton against the Bedfordshire County Senior Cup winners. And despite Luton fielding a side of reserves and youth players - with the exception of goalkeeper Marlon Beresford - they were favourites to keep their grip on a trophy that they've held since 2002.
Clearly no one told Dunstable who blasted out of the blocks and three minutes in Chris Marsh capitalised on a poor pass by Luton's central defender Ben Strang who was to have a torrid time at the back. Marsh skipped past Strang's defensive partner Harry Hogarth only for veteran keeper Beresford to rescue his team by saving well at Marsh's feet.
Luton had their first and only real chance of the half in the 13th minute Jake Howells deft flick left keeper Paul Taylor stranded but just looped over the bar.
The Southern League team retaliated instantly with Marsh trying his luck from 20-yards but only managing to shoot straight down Beresford's throat.
On the quarter hour mark Douglas' pace and strength saw him out muscle Strang and slide a square ball across the edge of the penalty box to the onrushing Marsh. He struck first time but though his shot had Beresford beaten all ends up it struck the post and rebounded to safety.
By now the tide was flowing Dunstable's way with Douglas and Marsh taking it in turns at goal. Beresford was proving that there's life in the old dog yet by being the sole resistance to a deserved Dunstable lead.
Douglas had Beresford scrambling across his line ten minutes from time with a low 20-yard shot that fizzed just wide.
To compound Luton's awful half Howells got a knee injury and had to be substituted for Mark Farthing as the interval loomed.
Still sensing that their professional neighbours were there for the taking the Blues nearly found a way through on the stroke of half time as further indecision from Hogarth allowed Daniel Picknell to barge his way on goal only to be denied by Beresford's dive at his feet.
Perhaps the young Hatter side were given a bit of the hair dryer treatment at half time because they showed more verve after the break. Two minutes in captain Calvin Andrews showed how little he'd seen of the ball when he delayed on a ten yard shot for too long.
Equally the result of Jamie McGuiness' shot from 25-yard out didn't match the ambition and sailed high over the bar.
Dunstable were unshaken and Marsh came close again after beating Hogarth for pace and unleashing a dipping effort that troubled Beresford enough to dive nervously to his right and usher the ball inches wide of the upright.
On 71 minutes Dunstable established the lead that the first 45 minutes had promised. The lively Douglas turned quickly, striking a sweet 30-yard left foot volley into the only corner or Beresford's goal that the keeper didn't seem to cover with his dive.
But three minutes later the goalscorer, who had been Dunstable's biggest threat, was inexplicably replaced for Mark Burfoot and it seemed to extinguish the Blues attacking threat altogether.
It seemed to matter little as when, ten minutes from time, Luton's Farthing tried his luck from 30 yards to see his strike bobble harmlessly wide it rather reflected his side's overall performance. So it came as a surprise with two minutes remaining that Ricketts rose from nowhere to head a cross home with interest.
Luton even had a chance to snatch the win but Andrew conspired to strike straight at Taylor from 15 yards out and the match moved into extra time.
The Blues players looked drained going into extra time and it appeared superior fitness would decide the game with a number of Dunstable men pulling up with cramp.
Twelve minutes in and with the only promising bit of surging forward play from the Hatters all game McGuiness set off on a run, beating three men for pace before trying to slice open the Dunstable defence with a killer pass. Jack Nelly cut the ball out but ricocheted into the path of Ryan Charles in the box to stroke home.
Keeper Taylor kept Dunstable in with a sniff of the cup with a save from point blank range from Andrew. Then with seven minutes to go and his team mates dead on their feet Marsh picked up the ball on the half way line and drove down the left. He cut inside and from 25-yards unleashed a dipping, curling shot that found the net despite Beresford getting his fingertips to the ball.
The game looked set to go to penalties but two minutes from time Marsh sent a high looping header goalwards. Again Beresford got fingertips to the ball but pushed it onto the bar and right into the path of Burfoot to stroke home the winner and let the celebrations begin.
TEAMS
LUTON TOWN: Marlon Beresford, Joseph Selby, George Bevan, Rob Sinclair, Harry Hogarth, Ben Strang, Jamie McGuiness, Calvin Andrew (captain), Elliot Osbourne-Ricketts, Ryan Charles, Jake Howells.
SUBS: Matthew Maitland, Mark Farthing (Howells, 43), Ashley Harrison-Barker, Dean Hamilton, Ross Faulds.
DUNSTABLE:
Paul Taylor, Nick Nolan, Lee Burgoyne, Stuart Deaton, Jack Nelly Steven Pratt (captain), Jonathon Barnett, Daniel Picknell, Daniel Douglas, Chris Marsh, Aaron Flood.
SUBS: Mark Burfoot (Douglas, 75), Daniel Boyle (Nolan 65), Ryan Quinn, Dean Levy.
REFEREE: Tim Donnellan
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