Luton gave Everton a real fright on Halloween night, but despite a valiant effort from the Hatters it was the Premiership side who booked their place in the Quarter-Finals of the Carling Cup.

After a goalless 90 minutes, in which both teams had a number of great chances, it was Tim Cahill who grabbed the only goal of the game in the first half of extra time.

Luton weren't helped when Paul Furlong had to be substituted early in the first half, but despite that setback, Everton were fully tested under the lights at Kenilworth Road.

But Cahill's winner was enough to settle the tie as he popped up at the back post to steer home a Thomas Gravesen corner.

Hatters boss Kevin Blackwell went into the game keeping faith with the same team that edged past Nottingham Forest at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

That meant Furlong was once again employed as the lone striker, with Dave Edwards continuing his role as the supporting player.

Everton, who comfortably beat Derby 2-0 at the weekend, made six changes to their side, with James McFadden, Alan Stubbs, Phil Neville, Nuno Valente, Victor Anichebe and goalkeeper Stefan Wessels all coming to the fold.

Luton almost made the perfect start when David Bell riffled a low free-kick from 30-yards that deflected inches wide of the Everton goal.

But it was the encouraging opening from the home side that got a near capacity crowd in full voice, and when Matthew Spring volleyed over the crossbar from the edge of the area, it was the Everton fans who were being kept quiet.

Everton's first opening of the game arrived on nine minutes when some neat, patient build up play saw the ball arrive at the feet of Leon Osman, but his shot from the edge of the area flew straight into the hands of Luton goalkeeper Dean Brill.

Luton were dealt a huge blow when Furlong was forced to go off, being replaced by Calvin Andrew, although there seemed no signs that the former Chelsea man had picked up a knock.

The game somewhat died after the substitution as half chances from Darren Currie and Dave Edwards failed to trouble the Everton goal.

Osman continued to be a menace for the visitors and it was the midfielder's half volley on 29 minutes that flashed inches wide of Brill's right post.

However it was the home side who continued to see more of the ball and when Currie robbed Stubbs of possession on 36 minutes, his low cross need the faintest of touches, but the Everton area was bare of Luton bodies.

The first half fizzled out with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock until, in stoppage time, Everton got behind the Luton defence for the first time in the game.

Phil Jagielka slipped through a ball down the line and after Anichebe caught Fojut flat-footed, the Nigerian powered his way to the by-line, but his cross to McFadden was cut out by Chris Perry's timely tackle.

AT HALF TIME: LUTON 0 V 0 EVERTON

Luton continued to push for the opener after the re-start as Bell swerved a right-footed shot inches wide of the Everton goal on 49 minutes.

Moments later, and after Fojut was booked for a foul on Steven Pienaar, Everton almost took the lead when a quick free-kick released Osman, but his long range effort was always rising over the crossbar.

On 57 minutes, Edwards almost found space through the Everton defence, when a long ball up field, which was intended for Andrew, found it's way to the former Shrewsbury man, but the midfielder man couldn't keep his balance.

A minute later and Everton fans thought they were in front when Stubbs' sweetly driven low free-kick flashed through a crowded penalty area, missing the target by inches.

But that chance spurred on Everton and their fans as the Premiership side became the more likely team to open the scoring.

Firstly, Neville blasted a low shot from an acute angle that got the slightest deflection and was kept out by the trailing feet of Brill.

Then England defender Joleon Lescott was able to waltz past Perry with ease on 61 minutes, but after looking destined to score, he dragged his side wide of Brill's far post.

Luton were then given an almighty scare when Spring came to the rescue on 64 minutes as the midfielder hooked away a Jagielka header off the line that managed to find its way through a crowded penalty area and through the legs of Brill.

The Hatters had their best chance of the half on 75 minutes when Currie's corner into the heart of the Everton area saw Andrew go close with a header from six yards, but the striker failed to get the finishing touch.

Everton themselves should have been in front three minutes later when Jagielka's cross found the head of former Luton target James Vaughan, but the substitute couldn't get the direction nor the power.

With extra time looming, Everton pushed bodies forward and Osman came close on 84 minutes when his low shot was kept out by Brill.

Luton had chances to nick a winner when Chris Coyne came up for a corner and sent a header back across the goal that Andrew nearly turned home from inside the six-yard area.

But neither side could force a winner as the game went into extra time.

AT FULL TIME: LUTON 0 V 0 EVERTON

After an electric atmosphere inside Kenilworth Road during the second half, both sets of supporters seemed quiet as the first half of extra time showed little in the way of chances.

The best opening came when a back pass to Wessels put the Everton goalkeeper in all kinds of trouble on 97 minutes, but despite slipping, Edwards was unable to capitalise as the shot-stopper recovered.

But Everton soon broke Luton hearts when Cahill put the visitors into the lead on 101 minutes. Gravesen's corner from the right eluded everyone until it reached the Australia who squeezed the ball home from an acute angle.

The Hatters threw caution to the wind as Dean Morgan and Paul McVeigh were introduced to the action.

Coyne came close on the stroke of half time in extra time when he was given the freedom to move forward the back, but the defender narrowly missed the target from 20-yards.

AFTER 105 MINS: LUTON 0 V 1 EVERTON

As expected, Luton threw bodies forward as the Everton defence came under a bombardment of pressure as Paul McVeigh struck a first time volley over the crossbar on 107 minutes.

Luton then came desperately unlucky to an equaliser when with seven minutes remaining he fired in a shot goal wards, but Lescott stuck out a leg to clear off the line.

Then, as Luton continued to push forward, Andrew should have stuck the ball into the net when a terrific cross from Morgan warranted a goal, but that Hatters were left with the head in their hands.

AFTER 120 MINS: LUTON 0 V 1 EVERTON

Luton: Brill, Goodall, Perry, Coyne, Bell, Currie (Morgan 104), Robinson, Edwards (McVeigh 104), Spring, Furlong (Andrew 20), Fojut

Subs not used: Hutchison, Jackson

Bookings: Fojut (51), Perry (108)

Everton, Wessels, Lescott, McFadden (Vaughan 71), Stubbs, Jagielka, Neville, Valente, Pienaar (Gravesen 95), Osman, Carsley, Anichebe (Cahill 78)

Subs not used: Yakubu, Howard

Bookings: Cahill (117)

Referee: Mr S J Tanner

Attendance: 8,944 (1,777 from Everton)