Brabin dejected as Hatters miss out on trip to Wembley

HATTERS boss Gary Brabin was left bitterly disappointed after his side missed out on the chance to play at Wembley in the FA Trophy final by conceding a last-minute equaliser to York City this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

Extra time looked on the cards after Robbie Willmott’s first half goal, but the Minstermen, who had won the first leg 1-0, snatched a dramatic leveller when Matty Blair headed home.

Brabin said: “When you’re so close to Wembley, you want to reach out and touch it almost.

“I thought after a really positive first half performance. It was 1-0 on the day and 1-1 on aggregate, a good atmosphere, good tempo, then I thought we could go on from strength to strength from that.

“Second half, apart from a 15 minute period where we didn’t seem to be able to get out of our half, we got back on our game, got on top and we’ve had enough chances to further the lead.

“It wasn’t to be and to concede the goal we did, in the last minute where the lad has just got wrong side of Greg (Taylor) to equalise, is really hard to take and my job at the moment is to lift all the players for the Tuesday game.”

City boss Gary Mills was naturally delighted with his side for reaching the home of football as he added: “To get to Wembley, there’s no feeling like it.

“A lot of players never get there, players who’ve played at the top level have never played there.

“I’ve asked the lads to put up their hands to see who hasn’t played there and they nearly all went up, so it means everything to them and it means everything to me.

“I’m pleased for the whole club. It’s been fantastic. It was always going to be a tough semi-final for us, but over the two legs I think we deserved it.

“Though we were second best for the first half (at Luton), we were more like ourselves second half, on the front foot, hurting sides, getting in behind them.

“I thought the cross from Jamal (Fyfield) was one of the best you’ll ever see. Blairy is in there, he’ll keep running and running and got himself another goal.”

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