A long range second half strike from Liam Walsh saw Luton overcome Northampton Town in the Vertu Trophy semi-final at Kenilworth Road to secure a trip to Wembley

In a game played by two very different footballing sides, Town dominated possession for large spells in both halves, but quality chances came somewhat at a premium as both sides struggled to create any meaningful clear-cut chances.

The Hatters first sight of goal came early in the first half when winger Emilio Lawrence lifted a good cross towards the back post, with Gideon Kodua rising above his man to get his head to the ball, though the effort was easy enough for Ross Fitzsimons in the Northampton net.

Unfortunately, it would be Northampton who took the lead in the first half with their only real clear chance, a deep free kick lofted to the back post which found Kyle McAdam whose header back across found the net.

Jake Richards had a low drive saved and laid on a pass for Hakeem Odoffin, though his effort dipped just over the bar from the edge of the area.

It took Town just under ten minutes into the second half to find their leveller, Walsh picked the ball up and laid on a beautiful pass for Jordan Clark to latch onto, with the midfielder's low cross across the box met by Nahki Wells who finished emphatically.

Town continued to work hard in an effort to find the winner but the defensive shape of the visitors proved difficult to break down, Clark carried the ball a long way down the left hand side before cutting in to fire a shot towards goal, though his drive failed to test the Northampton stopper.

As the minutes raced away and the threat of penalties loomed over Kenilworth Road, a low taken corner from skipper Kal Naismith found Walsh on the outskirts of the penalty box before curling a lovely effort into the net, with the help of a slight deflection off a Northampton defender.

TOWN: Shea, Odoffin (sub Lonwijk 86) Andersen, Naismith, van den Berg (sub Morris 55), Walsh, Clark, Richards (sub Palmer 55), Kodua (sub Cole 81), Lawrence, Wells

Subs not used: Saville, Keeley, Johnson.

Attendance: 10,280, including 1,311 from Northampton

Match report: Liam Wilmot