Southend United 3 Luton Town 0

Caretaker boss Tilson made just one enforced change from that FA Cup win over The Imps with leading goalscorer Leon Constantine replacing Jim Corbett - who is likely to be out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury - on the front line.

That change certainly didn't hinder United as Constantine, obviously with a few points to prove having warmed the bench in recent weeks, only took 84 seconds to smash the Shrimpers into the lead and it really was a goal out of nothing. There seemed to be little option when the tall striker picked the ball up 35 yards from goal but he somehow found some space before crashing a low left footed shot past Hatters goalkeeper Marlon Beresford and into the bottom left hand corner of the North Bank net.

The kick-off had been delayed by fifteen minutes due to traffic congestion in the Rayleigh area, but it only seemed to do United good as supposed to harm and the lead could easily have been doubled within the first ten minutes. A Mark Gower free kick saw Beresford make a fantastic reflex save to push Tesfaye Bramble's fierce volley over the bar before the resulting Gower corner saw Lewis Hunt volley over the top. Seconds later Bramble's neat twist and shot roilled into the arms of Beresford having had the sting taken out of the ball by the shin of ex-Shrimpers Chris Coyne.

As the visitors began to create chances of their own the leg of Leon Cort deflected a Dean Crowe shot, following a Steven Howard centre, over Darryl Flahavan's crossbar.

However with the home side continuing to press forward a low cross by Che Wilson found Bramble who side-stepped Ian Hillier before firing inches over the crossbar from 20 yards. The lead was then doubled on 27 minutes, Town defender David Deeney badly slipped and Michael Kightly picked the ball up and embarked on a speedy run towards goal, the talented 17-year took the ball round Beresford and then cut back to avoid the challenge of Hillier before placing the ball into the unguarded net.

Still Southend flowed forward and the Shrimpers could easily have gone in at the break further ahead. A right wing Bramble cross was flicked down by the head of Kightly for Constantine who drilled a shot just off target.

It was the visitors from Bedfordshire however who enjoyed their best spell of the match in the ten minute period before and after the interval. Firstly, minutes before half time Howard slid a poor shot straight into the hands of Flahavan despite having been played through on goal and then Crowe headed a Lee Mansell centre over the top.

The early minutes immediately after the break saw a low Matthew Spring shot bring a fine stop out of Flahavan before Crowe stabbed an effort over the bar following fine work by Peter Holmes and Steve Robinson.

After that bright spell however Luton never really threatened the United defence again and Southend once again began to dominate proceddings and the only disappointment, if indeed there were any, is that Southend could and perhaps should have won the match by a greater margin.

A fine run into the box and cut back by Jay Smith resulted in a neat curling shot at Beresford before Bramble really should have hit the target when he noddede a superb Kightly cross inches over the top.

Substitute Drewe Broughton, without a goal since August of course, made an impact having replaced Bramble with little over fifteen minutes left and the big frontman was given a fantastic opportunity having been played one-on-one with Beresford but he could only hit his shot right at the former Middlesbrough shot-stopper. The same man scuffed another effort wide of the post whilst Smith brought a fine diving stop out of the visiting custodian.

Hatters midfielder Robinson was required to hack a Leon Cort header, from a Kevin Maher corner, off the goalline before an excellent Broughton cross saw Cort send another header at Beresford. Then, with six minutes remaining on the clock Broughton finally grabbed his long awaited goal much to his own and the supporters delight. Steven Clark, who had replaced Gower at the interval, brilliantly sprinted down the left before sending over a precise low cross which the ex-Kidderminster Harriers man dived low to head past Beresford from close range.

Seemingly bouyed by his goal Broughton then brought a fine stop out of Beresford with a volley from 20 yards following a long Flahavan free kick before the final action of the match saw Michael Husbands, another substitute - this time for Kightly - fire just off target after another Clark centre.

This impressive victory puts United into the Area Semi-Finals where Tilson's men will face either Queens Park Rangers, Northampton Town or Colchester United. The draw takes place on Saturday morning, live , as ever, on Sky Sports 'Soccer AM'.

SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2, with ratings out of ten):- Darryl Flahavan 8; David McSweeney 7, Che Wilson 7, Leon Cort 7, Lewis Hunt 7; Kevin Maher 8, Jay Smith 7, Michael Kightly 9 (Michael Husbands 83), Mark Gower 8 (Steven Clark 46, 7); Leon Constantine 8, Tesfaye Bramble 7 (Drewe Broughton 73, 7). Unused subs - Mark Warren, Carl Emberson.

LUTON TOWN (4-4-2):- Marlon Beresford; David Deeney (Michael Leary 89), Sol Davis, Ian Hillier, Chris Coyne; Matthew Spring, Peter Holmes, Lee Mansell (Adrian Forbes 62), Steve Robinson; Dean Crowe (Enoch Showunmi 62), Steven Howard. Unused subs - Steven O'Leary, Dean Brill.

TLG MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Kightly.
Yet another super performance from United very own rising star and of course 17-year old Kightly capped off his third full appearance with his first professional goal. At one moment it looked as if the lively youngster had lost the chance but he redeemed himself well to eventually finish off his opportunity well.

Attendance: 2,027 (approx 150 away fans).

Referee: David Crick (Worcester Park) 5 out of 10 - I think any Hornchurch supporter will tell you all about Mr Crick following their FA Cup tie on Saturday and to be honest we saw the same man this evening. Crick gave some very dubious decisions and seemed to miss a series of handball decision, to his credit however he never felt the need to reach for his book.

Programme Cover: United celebrate Saturday's FA Cup victory over Lincoln City.