Luton Town 3 Stockport County 1 ( EFL Trophy Final ) Sunday 12 April 2026

There was no silverware for County to take back to Cheshire today, as they were well beaten by Luton Town in the Final of the EFL Trophy at Wembley.

For 20 minutes County supporters allowed themselves to think all was well with their team, who had cruised into an early lead via another daring strike by Adama Sidibeh.

But, games are contested over 90 plus minutes, and in the minutes that followed the first 20 , County were found out big time by a Luton side much too savvy to allow a run of loose passes and nervous defending go unpunished – Emilio Lawrence and Nahki Wells pouncing on 2 calamitous defensive errors to give Town a 2-1 half time lead which they never really looked like losing- Wells adding his second and his sides third as the game went into 10 minutes added time.

It was a poor showing by the blues and an expensive one in terms of injuries, as Joseph Olowu had to go off just beyond the hour mark.

This pointed a finger at the parlous state of County`s available defenders- there wasn`t a central defender to call on, on the bench so DC improvised-switching Kyle Wootton to the roll and he was outstanding- my M.O.M by a distance!

Witnessing the above and listening to the pre-match teeth gnashing about us having no right back to play ,I was left wondering just what Jid Okeke`s thoughts were on the subject , wherever he is just now?!

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The game opened in blazing sunshine with County attacking- Stokes header from Osborn`s cross going close.

We then saw a recurring feature of the game make its first appearance, as Isiah Jones surged into the box before hurling himself onto the ground in the box. Jones was disappointed this time but, irritatingly, subsequent repeats served to rack up free kicks galore for Luton.

Palmer was just one in Luton colours who clearly could operate to good effect at a higher level- there were others, but his work 7 minutes in won his side a corner that his colleagues could not capitalise on.

County were defending well up to expectations at this point- and Palmer was seen switching flanks to seek greener footballing pastures for Luton.

County waited their moment and broke via Sidibeh when Palmer`s wick started to flicker. This looked very promising, but County`s number 29 delayed his shot just long enough for Shea and his fellow defenders to cut the route to goal off- chance gone!

That was disappointing, but the feeling did not last, as County hit their opponents again where it hurt- Pye sending Sidibeh heading for goal again- drawing the keeper before firing the blues into the lead with a top-class finish.

If County continued to do the majority of the attacking, Luton gradually started to work their way back into the reckoning – Walsh not testing Addai with an underpowered finish (15 minutes)….Wells coming as close as anyone in Luton Orange had, striking the post 2 minutes later.

Luton were beginning to stir – Clark causing alarm amongst County defenders. But Luton did not, or could not, apply a finish and it looked as if they would be punished as the blues worked the ball forward only for Stokes to lose possession- the prelude to Lawrence slamming the ball home for his side`s equaliser.

There was a hint of offside about the move, but the officials were adamant- it was 1-1.

Sidibeh found his route to goal cut off next by canny defending by Luton, but it was impressive defensive work by Olowu that caught the eye most at this juncture as, following the Sidibeh break Luton replied as a tasty through ball from Clark sent Wells surging into the box.

This was a real chance for Luton but not for long as Olowu`s timely intervention sorted matters for County.

And Luton continued to up their game, Pye booked for pulling Wells back as he threatened at speed. The free kick was in a good scoring position, but Walsh lifted the ball across the box rather than shoot, and Palmer`s header flew wide.

The sense of relief from this lasted barely 60 seconds before we were wading in the brown stuff as an error by Edun set Wells up to give his side the lead with a top-notch finish.

In what remained of the half, we thought we might see a County penalty ,or an early bath for Luton keeper James Shea who took Sidibeh out in the box. It was a clear foul, but the liner had flagged for offside moments earlier so that decision trumped the obvious foul!

An odd mix of the good and the not so good featured in County`s play in the remainder of the half- Osborn losing the ball to Jones after much County pressure. It looked a disaster about to unfold before our eyes, but we had forgotten about Osborn and he had followed Jones deep into blue territory before making a terrific tackle to save County`s bacon – it stayed 2-1.

Olowu followed suit to break up a late Luton raid deep in added time.

Being 2-1 down was not great, but the situation was by no means irretrievable- we would see in the second half!

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The second half saw Luton, with Palmer and Lawrence in the van of their moves ,up the revs on the blues – as County struggled to clear their lines – fortunate to not concede again as the pressure increased, and a shot by Clark fizzed inches wide.

It was increasingly frustrating to watch- Olowu doing well to snuff out a Luton raid after Sidibeh had spilled possession, only for another slack pass a short while later to put the pressure back on again.

Olowu then took a heavy knock whilst up trying to attack a County corner – it looked ominous, he was down for some time, and after eventually coming back on , was then substituted along with Sidibeh- Mothersille and Olaofe coming on in their place.

Again, we would not see Tanto and Adama play together- a move that would have made even more sense when I noted that Wootton was moved back into a defensive roll- DC`s improvisation seeing us with a back 3 of Wootton, Pye and Edun!

County did try to get back into it- Bailey, Mothersille and Diamond having efforts of varying quality dealt with by Shea twixt the sticks for Luton and Wootton was a real inspiration at the back constantly provoking cheers from the County supporters for his work.

It went on- Stokes going close from a Mothersille pass, but the ref came to Town`s aid with a free kick when County`s pressure looked at its maximum.

Tanto had been relatively quiet since coming on, but a hefty tug of his shirt by Jones put the pressure notionally back on County`s opponents via Norwood`s free kick but County`s captain lifted the ball across the box where Stokes met it -the ball twanging the bar and staying out.

We then saw a familiar and slightly annoying rash of late subbings – Barry and Bate coming on for Bailey and Stokes for County.

I was buoyed as we headed for added time, to see Pye stop Palmer`s latest run with a splendid bit of top-quality defending- that was excellent, but what followed wasn`t…

Ten minutes added time had just been announced, when County allowed Lawrence too much room in which to operate down our left flank – room that he used expertly to beat Addai with a fine finish- County were 3-1 down!

That more or less finished County-even a Norwood free kick failing to lift spirits as he lifted the ball into the crowd to the delight of the Luton fans present.

Add a couple of lively runs by late substitute Gideon Kodija and that was pretty much all the remaining action to report.

Soon enough the game was over, and we could head home with thoughts of County`s visit to AFC Wimbledon to occupy our thoughts tomorrow as we seek to keep our promotion push on track!

Luton Town line up:-

Shea, Naismith, Andersen, Walsh, Odoffin, Clark, Jones ( Morris 87), Richards ( Lonwijk 87), Lawrence ( Kodua 77), Palmer ( Saville 90+7), Wells ( Cole 90+&)

Unused Subs : Al-Hamadi, Keeley

Stockport County line up:-

Addai; Edun, Olowu (Mothersille, 65), Pye, Osborn; Norwood ,Diamond, Bailey (Barry, 85); Stokes (Bate, 85); Wootton, Sidibeh (Olaofe, 65).

Unused Subs: Hinchliffe, Dodgson, C. Gardner.

Attendance: 49,517

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