Exeter City exited the Vertu Trophy at the Round of 32 stage for the second year in a row, after a 4-0 defeat to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
The damage was done in the first half as a double from Lasse Nordås and a Shayden Morris strike gave the Hatters a 3-0 lead. Zack Nelson scored a fourth in the second half to see the Hatters comfortably through to the last 16.
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell named six changes from Saturday’s narrow league defeat at Bradford City as Jack Bycroft, Tom Dean, Johnly Yfeko, Luca Woodhouse, Ed Francis and Josh Magennis returned to the side.
First Half
City forged the best opening of the first five minutes, as Liam Oakes and Ilmari Niskanen combined to set the latter free. The Finnish international headed for the touchline before squaring for Jack Aitchison on the edge of the box. Jack wriggled away from his marker and shot low, but his effort was blocked.
This opening sprung the game into life and Luton looked like they had broken free on goal, but a great recovery tackle from Johnly Yfeko thwarted the Hatters.
Luton took the lead in the thirteenth minute. Former Grecian Millenic Alli made a surging run down City’s right and clipped a ball to the back post where Lasse Nordås had the easy task of nodding home from close range.
The hosts had a chance to double their lead after 25 minutes as Nordås was played through on goal, he twisted before shooting at an angle and fingertips from Bycroft in the City goal pushed the ball onto the bar and away to safety. A let off for City.
Luton doubled their lead in the 33rd minute as a mistake at the back after pressure from Ali allowed Nordås to pick up the ball. The striker passed to Morris who fired home a low shot from just inside the area.
Luton made their dominance pay just five minutes later as Nordås grabbed his second of the game. Johnson clipped in a free-kick from the left and as the ball dropped inside the box, Nordås was quickest to react to fire home leaving City with a mountain to climb at half time.
City returned to the field unchanged for the second half as they looked to start positively. It took until the 52nd minute for City to take an effort at the Hatters goal. Jack Aitchison gathering the ball just outside the Luton area before shooting just wide of goal.
Minutes later the dangerous Alli let fly from 25-yards with a curling effort, but it was an easy take for Bycroft.
All the Hatters most dangerous play was coming through Alli, again he danced clear into the box before firing a low shot that Bycroft kept out and City cleared the danger.
Gary Caldwell made a pair trio of changes as we closed in on an hour. Jack McMillan, Sil Swinkels and Akeel Higgins came on for Jack Fitzwater, Johnly Yfeko and Jack Aitchison as City changed shape.
City looked to have played themselves into danger again as Woodhouse was robbed of the ball by Nordas, but as he headed towards goal Sil Swinkels was able to get back and time his slide to perfection to divert the ball away from goal.
Luton did get their fourth in the 66th minute. Bycroft’s ball out from the back was loose and Nelson gathered possession before firing a smart low shot into the bottom corner.
The Grecians were unable to muster a response and Luton were the deserved winners on the night.
Up Next:
City are in Emirates FA Cup action this Saturday, taking on Wycombe Wanderers at SJP in a 3pm kick-off for a place in the third round. Tickets can be purchased here.
Match Details:
Luton Town XI: Shea (GK) (C), Walters, Joannides, 70), Makosso, Andersen, Johnson (Fox 70’), Alli, Nakamba, Nelson, Morris (Gbode 58’), Kodua (Lorentzen-Jones 79’), Nordas.
Subs not used: Booth (GK), Paternoster, Evans.
Yellow Cards:
Goals: Nordas 13’, Morris 33’ Nordas 39’ Nelson 66’
Exeter City XI: Bycroft (GK), Dean, Turns (McDonald 78), Fitzwater (McMillan 59’) Yfeko (Swinkels 59’), Woodhouse, Francis, Oakes, Aitchison (Higgins 59’), Niskanen (Wareham 79’), Magennis (C)
Subs not used: Whitworth (GK).
Yellow Cards: Fitzwater 39’, Dean 51’, Niskanen 70’, Francis 71’, Wareham 83'.
Attendance: TBC