York City 1 Luton Town 0: Brodie leaves it late to give York advantage

It was a pulsating game with little to choose between the teams but Luton may count themselves unlucky after hitting the woodwork before the interval.

York manager Martin Foyle made three changes compared with the side which lost unluckily at champions Stevenage on Saturday.

Michael Ingham was recalled in goal in place of Josh Mimms and leading scorer Richard Brodie came back up front alongside Michael Rankine.

Alex Lawless switched from a striking role to his best position in midfield in place of Paul Harsley.

The kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic congestion.

Heavy rain greeted the teams who came out to a tremendous reception. York fans' group Jorvik Reds had planned a spectacular pre-match display which lifted the crowd.

Luton, who finished the season with an unbeaten run of 14 games, 10 of which they won, immediately attacked but when Simon Heslop, on loan from Barnsley, fouled Levi Mackin he was quickly shown the yellow card.

A fine pass by Rankine to Ben Purkiss ended with York forcing a corner and after the ball was half-cleared Mackin shot wide.

Play swung rapidly from end to end in a real cup tie atmosphere and Kevin Gallen just failed to get his foot to a right-wing cross.

Then Mackin was well wide with a first-time shot.

Claude Gnakpa got wide on the edge of the penalty area when Luton hit back and then Keith Keane had a shot tipped over the crossbar by Ingham.

Tom Craddock saw his shot deflected for a corner but Keane's flag kick was well held by Ingham under pressure.

York had a 23rd-minute chance but Brodie saw his shot well blocked by Shane Blackett.

Then Lawless also had his close-range effort blocked at the other end by Adam Newton.

York might have fallen behind on 35 minutes when Gallen got in a shot in a crowded goalmouth, but Ingham was rather fortunate to save.

Luton got on top in the closing minutes of the first half with Gallen heading over the crossbar and Gnakpa hitting the post with Ingham well beaten.

Luton resumed strongly and Gallen had a header saved and the visitors were looking the better side as York found it diffiicult to create chances although Brodie had a header saved from Purkiss's centre.

Gnakpa missed a great chance to put Luton ahead when he shot wide from a good position.

The best chance of the game so far for York fell to Carruthers who shot over the bar on 77 minutes from a Purkiss centre.

York at last broke the deadlock with two minutes of normal time remaining when Rankine headed on a pass through the middle and Brodie ran clear before beating Mark Tyler.

York City: Ingham; Purkiss, McGurk, Graham, Meredith; Lawless, Barrett (Smith 78), Mackin, Carruthers; Rankine (Gash 87), Brodie. Unused Substitutes: Parslow, Pacquette, Mimms.

Luton Town: Tyler; Newton, Pilkington, Blackett, Murray; Gnakpa (Barnes-Homer 75), Keane, Heslop, Howells; Craddock, Gallen. Unused Substitutes: Kovacs, Hatch, Gore, Hall.

Referee: P Malone (Salisbury).