The Hatters are one win from Wembley as a late penalty from Jordan Clark earned victory over Plymouth in the quarter-final of the Vertu Trophy.
The midfielder stepped up in the 89th minute after Nahki Wells was fouled in the box to set-up a semi-final meeting with Northampton at Kenilworth Road next Wednesday.
Earlier the Town had led thanks to a first-half goal from Izzy Jones but a goal 13 minutes from time from Argyle substitute Tegan Finn looked to have sent the tie to penalties until Clark struck from 12 yards.
It was no more than the Hatters deserved on a night which started with Jack Wilshere making four changes to the side that drew with Burton at the weekend.
James Shea returned in goal in this competition he has played every match in while Davy van den Berg made his first start in Town colours. Teden Mengi and Jake Richards also returned to the starting XI.
In-form Argyle arrived having won seven of their last 10 games and the visitors almost took the lead inside four minutes when Xavier Amaechi’s shot was deflected behind by Shea.
However, after that early scare the Town began to find their rhythm and on 16 minutes they were ahead. The impressive Richards sent in a low cross from the left towards the back post and Jones was on hand to smuggle a shot home.
With the Hatters now full of confidence the shots began to rain in on the visitors’ goal with Gideon Kodua and Wells both going close.
Having kept in-form former Town man Bim Pepple quiet, Mengi pulled up on 34 minutes and was replaced by Nigel Lonwijk and moments later the Hatters came close to second goal when Mads Andersen nodded wide at George Saville corner at the back-post.
Ahead at the break the Hatters began the second half with two new faces with Joe Johnson and Shayden Morris introduced, and four minutes after the restart, Kal Naismith whipped a free-kick from 25 yards narrowly over the crossbar.
Clark tested Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard with a shot from another free-kick routine moments later and Saville tested the stopper again with a low shot on 54 minutes.
The chances continued to come with Morris’ pace troubling the Pilgrims’ backline. The winger’s cross from the right was skied by Jones rushing in at the back-post before Clark’s well-hit drive from the edge of the box was held by Hazard.
But with the Town keeping the Argyle attack at bay disaster struck on 77 minutes when out of nothing the visitors levelled. Shea tried to clear a loose pass away on the edge his own box and the ball fell to Finn. The Pilgrims’ substitute showed great composure to guide a low effort into an empty net from 30 yards to make it 1-1.
Undeterred, back came the Hatters and three minutes later Jones spurned another great effort in a carbon copy of the earlier move following another low cross across goal from Morris.
The equaliser had given the visitors confidence, however, and as time ticked down, Argyle drove forward in search of a winner.
But the Town had other ideas. Saville’s brilliant tackle got Wells through on goal but the striker’s progress was ended by a late challenge by Mathias Ross and the referee pointed to the spot. Clark rifled the resultant penalty down the middle – the ninth from 12 successful kicks from 12 yards this season – to restore the lead.
Back in front the Hatters had to hold on during six additional minutes as Argyle looked to force the tie to penalties. Julio Pleguezuelo thumped a header wide in the 91st minute and it was all hands on the deck as the clock ticked past 96.
Plymouth forced one last corner which Hazard joined the attack for, but the Town held out and could celebrate victory.
The Town now face Northampton next week for a place in their second EFL Trophy final – but first it’s off to Port Vale on Saturday.
We’ll see you then.
Up the Town.
Town: Shea, Naismith, Andersen (sub Johnson 46), Mengi (sub Lonwijk 34), Jones, Saville, van den Berg (sub Palmer 65), Clark, Richards (sub Lawrence 90+5), Kodua (sub Morris 46), Wells.
Subs not used: Keeley, Fox.
Attendance: 4,203, including 785 shouting for Plymouth.
