Luton Town 1 Exeter City 2. 

League 2 

Saturday 7 March 2009.

On the Road

If Exeter are to sustain thir promotion push these are exactly the type of performances they'll need. The Grecians were stylish in the first half and resolute in the second against a tough Luton Town team looking for a warm-up victory ahead of their Wembley performance.
City, giving a start to Liam Sercombe at right wing-back, got off to the best possible start after just three minutes. Good Exeter possession released the youngster on the right and his inch-perfect cross found Adam Stansfield unmarked leaving the striker with a simple header to put the Grecians one up. Luton looked to reply almost immediately and a fizzing shot from Chris Martin clipped the crossbarThat was as good as the Hatters got for the next half an hour as City firmly took control of the midfield with Matt Gill and Marcus Stewart excelling Continued pressure and successive comers eventually told as Exeter went two nil up on 29 minutes. City won the ball back after Luton had cleared the comer and worked the ball out to Alex Russell on the right. His teasing cross evaded Steve Basham and Stansfield but found Sercombe unmarked at the far post and he lashed home. At this stage it looked like City would make it to half time with a comfortable lead but Luton had other ideas. Some neat passing moves down the left cut City's defence open and Tom Craddock neatly slotted home to deflate the atmosphere among the travelling support Basham then spumed a gonious chance to restore Exeter's two goal lead almost immediately afterwards when he beat the offside trap but his tame shot was easily saved by Dean Brill The second half ended much as the first began, with Luton applying the pressure and Exeter soaking it up. Time after time Luton pushed forward but there was always a body in the way, most often Stewart or Man Taylor, who both excelled in repelling the attacks. But despite their pressure, the Hatters only managed one proper effort on goal for much of the second half as City kept their discipline and shape. With Bertie Cozic on for Basham to provide steel in the Exeter midfield, Luton found it harder to fashion an opening and the Grecians had two chances. The first saw Craig McAllister, on for the hard-working Stansfield, hauled back as he was about to break free while another McAllister shot when straight at the keeper. As the final few minutes ticked downLuton laid siege to the Exeter goal but despite a couple of wide shots, the City backline held firm for a much-needed and hard-fought victory against a team who will continue to cause problems for everybody in League Two this season.

BBC Match Summary and Information 

Goals from Adam Stansfield and Liam Sercombe extended promotion-chasing Exeter's League Two unbeaten run to eight games at the expense of Luton.With their first attack the Grecians went ahead when Sercombe crossed for Stansfield to head home from six yards. The visitors made it two when Dean Brill could only push an Alex Russell shot to Sercombe who fired in. Luton pulled one back when Tom Craddock slotted home an Ian Henderson cross and Town's Sam Parkin hit the bar late on.

Luton:

Subs Not Used: Button, Gnakpa.

Booked: Bower.

Goals: Craddock 39.

Exeter: Jones, Taylor, Edwards, Archibald-Henville, Gill, Stewart, Moxey, Sercombe (Saunders 60), Russell, Stansfield (McAllister 82), Basham (Cozic 74).
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Seaborne.

Booked: Archibald-Henville.

Goals: Stansfield 4, Sercombe 29.

Attendance 6460 with 748 City fans

Referee Carl Boyeson (E Yorkshire).