Welling United 1-2 Luton Town - I'm proud of the boys, says Wings boss Jamie Day

With a home Second Round tie against Zameretto League Division One Central side Uxbridge awaiting the winner, the Kent side played a more attacking game than on Sunday, when they rode their luck during the goal-less draw at Kenilworth Road in front of 1,639 fans, and some of their passing tonight was slick, while their back-four were solid for 80 minutes.

It was Welling that grabbed the lead in first half stoppage time, courtesy of a blunder from Luton Town goalkeeper Mark Tyler, which Luis Cumbers accepted to score his eighth goal of the season from close range.

But full-time Luton’s superior fitness - and two excellent finishes from outside of the penalty box - won them the game as Jason Walker levelled with eight minutes left before an Alex Lawless screamer in the third minute of stoppage time sent Welling United out and Luton in the last 32 of a competition that it would appear is not high on their agenda.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” Day told www.kentishfootball.co.uk in the boardroom afterwards.

“I thought for eighty minutes you couldn’t really tell the difference between the two sides.  I think fatigue has played a part in it, obviously the added quality that they’ve got just towards the end has made the difference.

“I think full-time, it does make a difference, it’s their job, they’re day in day out, some of my lads have been to work today.  

“Their players have dealt with two games in two days a lot better than we have but again I’m proud of the boys - for eighty minutes there wasn’t a difference.”

Despite averaging over 6,000 in the Blue Square Bet Premier at Kenilworth Road, The Hatters brought only 76 fans to Park View Road tonight and the overall crowd of 404 was disappointing.  

Day agreed, saying: “I’m not going to knock the supporters because they’ve been first class in raising the money and we wouldn’t be here now, but we’ve got Luton and whilst it’s not their strongest side I felt it would probably be 600-700 at least.  It’s just disappointing that we didn’t get that many.”

Luton boss Richard Money kept faith with all but one of the players that started the game at Kenilworth Road on Sunday afternoon, as JJ O’Donnell came in for Jake Howells.

Welling were able to recall midfielders Day and Joe Healy following their one-match suspensions, but Andy Sambrook (heal), Andy Pugh (dead calf) and Osa Obamwonyi (illness) were ruled-out.

On a bitterly cold night, the Kent side created the game’s first half chance when Gareth Stewarts’ kick up field was flicked on by Cumbers and Loick Pires and Loui Fazakerley combined to set up Day but his left-footed drive from distance was off target.

Luton’s first chance arrived in the 12th minute when Jason Walker turned and drove his shot past the post and eight minutes later he met Lawless’s cross from the right with a downward header which bounced wide.

Welling keeper Stewart - who made two world-class saves on Sunday to earn tonight’s replay - made a routine save to deny O’Donnell, who tired his luck from distance.

Jason Walker then leapt to meet Dan Walker’s cross into the Welling keeper’s arms, before Welling striker Pires brought the ball under control with his chest, cut in from the right and drilled a low left-footed drive wide from 25-yards.

But Welling United grabbed the lead - 66 seconds inside injury time.

Left-back Jack Obersteller raced towards the by-line and looped a cross towards the near post, which should have been collected comfortably by Tyler, but the former Peterborough United keeper dropped the ball as Cumbers challenged him and the striker tapped the ball over the line from a couple of yards out.

Day added: “It was a bit like Chelmsford!  I didn’t think it was a foul.  I think they both jumped for the ball, he’s dropped it and he’s tapped it in, so we were obviously pleased to go one-nil up.  It’s just a shame we couldn’t hold out.

“I thought we done well for the first half, there was obviously room for improvement, but we was pleased and for 25 minutes in the second half we done well again.  

“It’s just we let the lead slip and to let a goal in right at the end is obviously disappointing.”

Luton created the first chance of the second half when Lawless’s free-kick was headed back across goal by Alex Lacey for Dan Walker to nod wide.

But Welling should have doubled their lead when Day squared the ball to Healy and he slid the ball through Lawless’s legs to release Cumbers through on goal down the left channel but his attempted right-footed flick over Tyler was read by the keeper, who blocked.

Another chance came Welling’s way when Healy’s left-wing cross found Cumbers with his back to goal but his cut-back was smashed wide by Pires.

Time seemed to be ticking extremely slowly as Welling kept Luton quiet - that was until the 82nd minute - as The Hatters scored a goal out of nowhere.

Jason Walker held off his marker and unleashed a low right-footed drive from 25-yards, which bent across Stewart, who swiftly dived to his right and despite getting a hand to the low shot the ball agonisingly crept over the line via the foot of the far post.

It was tough on Welling, who, like Sunday, defended resiliently.

Luton, with many teenagers now on the pitch, pressed for the winner and Taiwo Atieno - who squandered a hat-full of chances in the first game - saw a couple of shots deflect wide, before Luton Town scored the winner with 47:35 on the clock - just 62 seconds before the final whistle.

A right-wing corner from substitute Newman Carney was played out to Lawless, who cracked a stunning right-footed screamer from 25-yards, which flew over Stewarts head and into the roof of the net, leaving the former Bournemouth keeper on his knees in despair.

“That’s the quality you’re going to have when you’re full-time and when you train everyday,” said former Arsenal and Bournemouth midfielder Day.

“They just need half a chance and they put it away.  Look at tonight, they only had two or three shots on target and scored two of them so that’s what we have to be if we want to try and play in the Conference next season.”

Although disappointed with the result, let’s put it in context.  Luton Town are in third place in the Blue Square Bet Premier and if it wasn’t for Welling’s excellent fans then the club would have been wound-up at The High Court tomorrow.

Day added: “Like I said if it wasn’t for the supporters we wouldn’t be here so they’ve raised a lot of money in a short period of time, which the players and myself are grateful for.”

Reflecting on Luton’s team selection, Day added, “They’ve got some good young players, like their manager said, these are the competitions he needs to see how good they are and see if they can step up to the plate for the first team.

“Perhaps they’re lucky enough that they can have two sides, we can just about get one!”

Welling United: Gareth Stewart, Jamie Coyle, Jack Obersteller, Jamie Day, Graeme Andrews, Jack Parkinson, Loui Fazakerley, Lee Clarke, Luis Cumbers, Loick Pires, Joe Healy.

Subs: Jordan Johnson, Leon Farrell, Ryan Wall, Anthony Achempong.

Goal: Luis Cumbers 45

Booked: Loick Pires 72

Luton Town:  Mark Tyler, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Alex Lawless, Godfrey Poku, Craig Hinton, Alex Lacy, JJ O’Donnell (Cauley Woodrow 68), Pavel Besta (Newman Carney 56), Jason Walker, Taiwo Atieno, Dan Walker (Jordan Patrick 76).

Subs: Lewis Kidd, Christian Tavernier

Goals: Jason Walker 82, Alex Lawless 90

Attendance: 404 (76 Luton supporters)

Referee: Mr Rob Whitton (Essex)

Assistants: Mr John Taafe (Godalming, Surrey) & Mr David Spain (Westfield, East Sussex)

Fourth Official: Mr Michael Webb (Woking, Surrey)