Hatters shock Scunny as Tranny snatch back seventh

Scunthorpe had quickly gained the upper hand on the day and almost took the lead on five minutes when Matthew Sparrow drew an excellent save from Luton keeper Dean Brill with a sharp shot from the edge of the area.

But despite The Iron's early dominance Luton had a good chance to break the deadlock five minutes later. Scunthorpe failed to clear a corner from the right and Chris Martin came close to forcing the ball home from the ensuing goal-mouth scramble.

It was a lucky escape for Scunthorpe, who quickly made their opponents pay when Hooper put them ahead with an excellent finish. The striker latched on to a flick-on from strike-partner Paul Hayes, before firing a stinging shot into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

And Nigel Adkins' side almost doubled the lead soon after when a vicious half-volley from Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury was headed off the line.

But the advantage was short-lived as Luton struck back on the half hour when Chris Martin latched onto to a neat pass from Tom Craddock before sidefooting past keeper Joe Murphy.

It was a close-fought second half, but former Middlesbrough striker Tom Craddock scored with a chest trap and volley from the edge of the area in the 70th minute to give Luton a 2-1 lead.

Lansbury came very close to finding an 80th-minute equaliser when he met a cross from close range, but his effort cannoned back of the crossbar and Scunthorpe were unable to direct the ball back into the goal.

However, with just two minutes to play, Grant McCann levelled things up with a stunning curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the area, taking the game into extra time.

Hooper came close to his second of the game just three minutes into extra time, but he lost balance at the vital moment and was unable to get any power behind his shot.

Yet Luton were back ahead shortly afterwards when Hatters sub Claude Gnakpa and Iron defender Marcus Williams both stretched to reach a throughball and it was lofted over Joe Murphy for 3-2.

Scunthorpe went on the attack and, in the second half of extra time, Lansbury curled the ball right across the face of the goal and wide.

However, Luton managed to dominate the final moments as they held on for an impressive cup win.

League One

Tranmere Rovers 2 Bristol Rovers 0

The battle of the Rovers was won by the Birkenhead based side who swapped places with Southend who remain three points behind Scunthorpe while Tranmere are only one. The Iron have two matches in hand over the Blues and the Mersysiders.

Tranmere did not make life easy for them at Prenton Park but in the end they fully deserved the three points.

Tranmere made most of the first-half running. Gareth Edds, Aaron Cresswell, Charlie Barnett and Bas Savage all got in good efforts before they grabbed the first goal in the 37th minute.

Steve Elliott conceded a free-kick on the corner of the box and the strike by Cresswell appeared to take a deflection past goalkeeper Steve Phillips.

Bristol rallied well but a David Pipe shot was deflected over before Daryl Duffy headed wide from the subsequent corner.

Tranmere doubled their lead on 64 minutes with Ian Moore producing a deft finish past Phillips after a great run by Cresswell.

Ed Sonko went close to a third moments later with his shot shaving the bar.

Coca-Cola Football League One