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Luton Town beat Stockport County to win EFL Trophy Sidibeh had bundled Stockport into early lead Lawrence slotted in Luton equaliser Wells put Luton in front before break and added third in 91st minute Second time Luton have won the competition Stockport have lost three finals in 1992, 1993 & 2026 Alex Hoad FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport These two teams known as The Hatters have endured more ups and downs than most in the past couple of decades, but today they came together to put on a show for us all, and highlight the fact they are both very much on the way back up. Luton held their nerve to come from behind, and then withstood a late storm before securing their second EFL Trophy win, inflicting a third defeat in the final on Stockport. It's fair to say these two teams began the season, and retain loftier ambitions this season, and who knows, we could well see these two sides back here in the League One Play-off final on 23 May. Thanks for your company today, and for all your messages, we'll be back on Tuesday for some huge Championship games. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Leon Barnett Former Luton defender on BBC Three Counties Radio There might be a little celebration, I don't know many teams that win a trophy and don't celebrate a bit. This should create a lot more confidence for these Luton players to take into the League One season. It's not over yet but it's an opportunity to take this confidence into the next game. It's important that they savour this moment but they'll knuckle down after today and crack on with the final seven winnable games. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Steve Marshall BBC Sport England at Wembley As the Luton players entered the Royal Box to collect their trophy and medals, there was a huge hug for match winner Nahki Wells from Hatters legend Mick Harford. This win for the Hatters will have meant as much to Harford as anyone. And as the team walked back down the steps to the pitch there was another hug for late substitute Devante Cole from his dad - former Manchester United and England striker Andrew Cole. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Luton were deserved winners. County looked good in parts but we are just not consistent Roger - Worcestershire FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Caught your breath yet? Not surprised. You can read the match report from our man at Wembley Ben Ashton here or by refreshing and clicking the report tab at the top of the page. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Luton Town Luton keeper James Shea, making his first Wembley appearance at 35-years-old was asked about his cruclal late save from Josh Stokes with the game at 2-1 by Sky Sports: "I was more worried about Norwood shooting, to be honest, he's done me before from there. (The save is) my job, thankfully I was there to make the save. "I hope I have repaid (the manager, who kept faith with his cup keeper over league No1 Josh Keeley). I have played every round, I love playing for this club, thankfully the gaffer stuck with me and we got the win. "It feels like the perfect story, we pride ourselves on our

resilience. We went behind, came back quickly and managed to kill the game off at the end. " Shea also said he hoped it would be 'a massive catalyst for us' as Luton try to get back here in the League One play-off final next month. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Gold and silver tickertape in the air as Town skipper Kal Naismith lifts the EFL Trophy to spark the celebrations in the Luton squad in the Royal Box. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Luton Town Luton midfielder Jordan Clark told Sky Sports: "More special memories here. It's not a place for losing. Hats of to Stockport but I am buzzing for these fans. "The last 10-15 mins we said before the game they were going to get us under pressure but the fans got us through. "This is right up there in my career. I am so lucky to be here twice with this special club (also winning the 2023 Championship play-off final). " On rookie boss Jack WIlshere: "The gaffer has been so good, he's tactically so good at his age. He's brought the whole place together. "I can't speak highly enough of him, he's going to be a top, top manager. " FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Well done Luton, well deserved.

I’m hoping Stockport have one more visit to Wembley with a better result next time Terry - Stockport Stockport are fifth in League One and have an excellent chance of making the play-offs. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Liam Hogan Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester You build it up and get that great start and think everything will go perfectly. If you've been here before then you know that's not the case. This doesn't take away from what's happening in the league, they'll be disappointed of course and they'll have wanted the silverware. Stockport fell short in the key moments whereas Luton thrived in that to take the plaudits and the trophy. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport As good old Eric Morecambe would have said - "Luton for the Cup! " Jim - Kenilworth FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Jack WIlshere is holding court in the middle of a Luton huddle as their fans celebrate. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Steve Marshall BBC Sport England at Wembley The television cameras rush straight to Luton boss Jack Wilshere at the final whistle as he walks across to shake the hand of Stockport counterpart Dave Challinor. That is followed by a double fist pump, a big bear hug with assistant Chris Powell and then a point towards the Wembley directors’ box in celebration. The former England and Arsenal midfielder has his first trophy under his belt as a coach. FT: Luton 3-1 Stockport Leon Barnett Former Luton defender on BBC Three Counties Radio Days like this don't come round often but when they do you have to make the most of them and enjoy them. Fantastic moment for the Luton fans as well as the players and staff. Over the 100 minutes I thought Luton Town were the better side. Luton 3-1 Stockport Luton Town have won the EFL Trophy for the first time since 2009. Wembley is a happy hunting ground for these particular Hatters once again. .. Nahki Wells will steal with the headlines with a clinical double, but how key was the instinctive save from 35-year-old James Shea, on his Wembley debut, moments before the crucial third goal, with County piling on the pressure. County went ahead on 11 minutes when Adama Sidibeh raced away to bounce a shot past Shea but Emilio Lawrence slotted a cool equaliser and Wells turned the final on its head with a sublime touch and finish before the break. Stockport threw the kitchen sink at Luton in the latter stages but Shea denied Josh Stokes, who also fizzed a shot narrowly wide before Wells sealed the glory with a cool angled finish in the opening seconds of added-time. One of the more watchable finals in this grand old stadium's history. Jack Wilshere has his first trophy as a coach, and he saw this one through perfectly, in truth. Luton 3-1 Stockport Liam Hogan Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester Luton had moments of really good play and finished their chances. When called upon their goalkeeper and defenders have done their jobs diligently and thwarted any chances that Stockport have had. The Stokes chance is the one, That would've been a massive moment in the game to get it back to 2-2 Luton 3-1 Stockport Luton on the front-foot as the seconds tick away. .. Luton 3-1 Stockport No Wembley hat-trick in the all-Hatters final. Nahki Wells is withdrawn along with Kasey Palmer for the final knockings with George Saville and Devante Cole coming on for Town. Luton 3-1 Stockport Luton might not be done yet, you know. Gideo Kodua blazes away down the left and cuts inside before curling towards the far corner from the edge of the box, where Corey Addai makes a flying save to tip it around the post. Luton 3-1 Stockport Steve Marshall BBC Sport England at Wembley Luton have been a bogey team for Stockport over the past six decades - they’re unbeaten in the past 13 meetings going back to 29 November 1968. Nahki Wells’ second of the game looks like it’s going to extend that run. Jack Wilshere has won a trophy in just his 39th game as a manager Nahki Wells scored twice as Luton Town came from behind against Stockport County at Wembley to win the Vertu Trophy and secure Jack Wilshere's first silverware as a manager. Stockport struck first, with a devastating counter-attack, when Adama Sidibeh ran 40 yards before bobbling a finish over keeper James Shea. Luton drew level through Emilio Lawrence's composed low drive, before Wells put them in front with an exquisite touch and slotted finish six minutes before half-time. County were well on top for much of the second period, and Josh Stokes twice went close to equalising, but Luton held on - and hit their opponents with a sucker-punch to seal the victory in stoppage time when Wells rolled in from close range. Luton won the tournament having lost to Swindon in the last 16 before being reinstated because the Robins fielded two ineligible players. In just his 39th match as a manager, Wilshere might have feared his far more experienced opposite number Dave Challinor was going to come out on top when Sidibeh raced through and beat defender Mads Andersen to the ball for the Stockport opener. But his Luton team responded well to going behind and made their pressure count when Jordan Clark slipped Lawrence into the left channel to drill through the legs of goalkeeper Corey Addai. Town continued to up the ante after the equaliser, penning Stockport back into their own half, and almost went ahead when Hakeem Odoffin rose highest at the back post to meet a free-kick but headed narrowly wide. Their reward came moments later, though, when Wells took a wonderful touch from a Kal Naismith pass to spin on the edge of the box and slot into the corner from 15 yards out. Luton could have scored again on the stroke of half-time when Isaiah Jones pick-pocketed Ben Osborn on halfway and was bearing down clean through on goal, but Osborn raced back in to make an excellent sliding challenge. Nahki Wells, 35, joined Luton from Bristol City in the summer Clark curled wide for Luton shortly after the restart, but from that moment on, it was all Stockport as they went in search of parity. They went agonisingly close to a leveller when the ball dropped for Josh Stokes just inside the area, but his first-time effort went a matter of millimetres past the far post. Stokes again nearly equalised, with a header at the near post from Ollie Norwood's swinging free-kick - this time he was denied by an excellent reaction save by Shea. With 10 minutes of stoppages added on, Stockport tried to force extra time, but Luton had other ideas. Wells got across his marker from Shayden Morris' ball into the box and it fell perfectly at his feet for him to provide a tidy finish to put the game beyond doubt. Addai prevented Luton adding gloss to the scoreline, producing a wonderful save at full stretch to his left to stop Gideon Kodua's goal-bound curling effort, but the damage had very much already been done. Victory for Luton means they won the EFL Trophy for the second time, following on from success in 2009, while Stockport have now lost in the final of this competition three times. Attention will soon turn to challenging for promotion from League One for both these sides. But for now, after the highs of the Premier League, followed by a challenging two years with back-to-back relegations, it is Luton who can celebrate. 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