Pilgrims see their Wembley dreams dashed

LUTON MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR SECOND CHANCE IN THE TROPHY

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Plymouth Argyle go in search of a goal in their Vertu Trophy quarter-final defeat at Luton Town

(PICTURES: ALAN STOAFORD/PPAUK)

PLYMOUTH Argyle’s hopes of a trip to Wembley in the Vertu Trophy this season were dashed as they lost 2-1 to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road after conceding a goal from an 89th minute penalty.

The quarterfinal at Kenilworth Road had seemed set for a penalty shootout until Luton striker Nahki Wells was brought down by Argyle’s Mathias Ross and Jordan Clark slotted home the spot kick.

That proved to be the difference between the sides, with the Pilgrims producing a largely flat performance after their superb display in beating League One leaders Cardiff City at Home Park on Saturday.

Luton went ahead in the 16th minute with a close range finish from Isaiah Jones and it looked like that one goal would be enough to send the Hatters into the last four of the competition.

However, a defensive blunder from Luton led to Argyle’s 17-year-old substitute Tegan Finn being able to place the ball into an empty net from around 30 yards out in the 77th minute to make it 1-1.

That was how it stayed until Ross fouled Wells as he bore down on goal and Clark kept his cool to blast the penalty past ‘keeper Conor Hazard.

Argyle top scorer Lorent Tolaj was not in the matchday squad for the Vertu Trophy tie after scoring two of the goals in the terrific victory over Cardiff at the weekend.

Tolaj had a slight overnight reaction to his recent leg injury after training on Monday and it was decided not to take any risks with him.