FA Cup second round

Southend United 3 (1) Luton Town 1 (0)

Some bizarre decisions from linesman Marvin Thompson saw this FA Cup tie swing back and forth before hosts Southend finally made their higher division status pay.

A virtuoso performance from on-loan West Ham winger Junior Stanislas inspired the Shrimpers to victory, but in truth, it was an FA Cup tie filled with incident.

Linesman Thompson had a hand in both Stanislas' first goal and Michael Spillane's equaliser, but United upped a couple of gears to ease home as the Hatters missed out on a potentially money-spinning third round tie.

The Hatters made two changes from the team that lost 1-0 at home to Brentford on Tuesday night. Captain Kevin Watson came in for the suspended Keith Keane in a five-man midfield, while Rossi Jarvis replaced cup tied Kevin Gallen.

Southend got off to a lively start and almost took the lead after just two minutes. Alex Revell found space in the box and his streaking drive across the face of the goal was just turned round the post by Conrad Logan.

The hosts went close again on 12 minutes following a foul from Ian Roper. Junior Stanislas stepped up to take the free-kick and his curling effort rustled the side netting with Conrad Logan beaten.

Town were happy enough soaking up the pressure and looking to hit their hosts on the break. Loan striker Chris Martin warmed Steve Mildenhall's gloves with a low drive on 20 minutes, while a minute late Paul McVeigh's 35-yard effort was easily saved after Ian Roper's header had sent the Irishman into space.

United though, boasting plenty of pace in their lien-up, always looked dangerous and, on 28 minutes, they went close again. Kevin Betsy's through ball set Revell clear again, but the striker's effort from a narrow angle was beaten away by Logan.

Seconds later Spillane saved the Hatters' bacon. Simon Francis led the United break and the ball eventually fell to Francis Laurent, but the Frenchman's effort was excellently blocked by the Luton centre-half.

And the hosts took the lead with a hugely contentious refereeing decision on 34 minutes. Kevin Betsy raced clear and tangled with Spillane and Roper, causing the linesman to raise his flag.

Roper was then penalised and booked for a foul in the ensuing action – only for linesman Thompson to continue flagging before ceasing his signals before speaking to referee Penn and, from the resulting free-kick, Stanislas curled home an excellent 25-yard effort home into the bottom right-hand corner.

With seven minutes of the half left both sides went close. Ravell could only poke Betsy' pull-back wide of the mark, while Jake Howells slashed an effort well wide when well-place on the edge of the area.

In the closing stages of the half, Jean-Francois Christophe flashed an effort just over, while Southend went close again seconds later when Francis streaked down the right.

His cross completely dissected Luton's defence but Laurent and Revell were just unable to get on the end of it.

Southend started to go for Luton's jugular at the second half as the visitors were forced to weather wave after wave of attack.

George Pilkington finally made his return as a 51st-minute replacement for George Pilkington as he made his first appearance for the Hatters since damaging a metatarsal against Aldershot on September 13.

Good work by Claude Gnakpa enabled Asa Hall to fire an effort wide of the target on 58 minutes, but in truth Town were struggling to any clear-cut chances.

Johnny Herd should then have doubled the Shrimpers advantage on 63 minutes. Some fine footwork carried the left-back into the Luton box and his firm low effort forced a good one-handed stop out of Logan.

The impressive Stanislas sent a sizzling effort well over with 16 minutes left, while Revell fired an effort well wide moments later.

Late substitute saw an effort deflected well over with 11 minutes left and, from the resulting more controversy ensured as Thompson flagged for Luton's equalising goal. McVeigh whipped a corner into the box and after Gnakpa just missed his header in the box Spillane turned it goalwards.

Laurent appeared to hack it off the line but Thompson seemed to possess X-ray vision as he peered through the crowd to spot that the ball had crossed the line and raised his flag to atone for his earlier mistake.

However, Hatters delight was short-lived as the Shrimpers re-took the lead five minutes later. Laurent roasted Howells down the right before delivering a pin-point cross for Stanislas to plant a simple header past the helpless Logan.

And substitute James Walker made sure of victory for the hosts in the very last minute. Former Hatter Anthony Grant squared the ball into the box at the death and, although Walker's first touch let him down, he kept his composure to retain control before firing home to send Southend into the third round of the cup.

Shrimpers: Steve Mildenhall, Simon Francis, Peter Clarke, Adam Barrett (C), Alan McCormack, Alex Revell (James Walker 77), Johnny Herd, Jean-Francois Christophe (Anthony Grant 65), Kevin Betsy, Francis Laurent, Junior Stanislas (Femi Orenuja 90). Substitutes not used: Osei Sankofa, Ian Joyce, Stuart O'Keefe, Justin Hazell.

Hatters: Conrad Logan, Claude Gnakpa, Sol Davis (Lewis Emanuel 71), Ian Roper (George Pilkington 51), Michael Spillane, Paul McVeigh, Kevin Watson (C), Asa Hall, Rossi Jarvis (Wayne Andrews 71), Chris Martin, Jake Howells. Substitutes not used: Dean Brill, Scott Sinclair, Garreth O'Connor, George Beavan.

Referee: Andy Penn (West Midlands).

Assistant referee: W Atkin and M Thompson.

Fourth official: G Jerden.

Bookings: Ian Roper 34, Wayne Andrews 76.

Attendance: 4,111 (Luton 502).

Star Hatter: Conrad Logan. Didn't do much wrong and made a couple of fine saves kept Luton in it till the death.