Awford felt Benson winner was a legitimate goal

The veteran striker looked to have bundled both the ball and home keeper Bobby Olejnik over the line after Jack Marriott’s cross was deflected goalwards in the final second of stoppage time.

However, on watching the television replay back, the forward appears to have clearly won the ball fairly, which was what Awford had felt on first reflection afterwards.

He said: “I think it’s a goal, I’ve just had a look on the video. Paul wasn’t sure whether the goalie had two hands on it or not and I think it’s one of them, sometimes you get, sometimes you don’t.

“We’ve had a quick look at it and I think it’s a legitimate goal. We’ve had enough hard luck stories this season, so we’ll take anything that comes our way.”

Grecians boss Paul Tisdale admitted he hadn’t seen the incident properly that led to his side suffering only a second home defeat in the league this term.

He said: “I had no view of the goal, the ball was in the back of the net whichever way you spin it and I’m more concerned to look at the 30 seconds that lead up to that point, the process towards that goal.

“That’s the only thing I can look back on; what the referee decides goes in I honestly don’t know. I couldn’t see from where I was, but at the end of the day, the ball was in the back of the net and it’s their winner.”

It was the same for Hatters skipper Scott Cuthbert too, who said: “To be honest, I was just praying it was going to go over the line as I didn’t have a good view at the halfway line.

“I just saw Benno running off and I was absolutely delighted, so I wasn’t even looking at the ref, just concentrating on that and was absolutely delighted we scored.”

Meanwhile, the returning Jake Howells, who had been substituted before the winner, felt Luton deserved a bit of luck this term after conceding so many late goals themselves.

He added: “For me, I had a few people standing in the way on the bench and to be honest, I couldn’t move my legs as I was cramping up.

“I saw everyone celebrating and I was so happy just to get three points, it’s along way, it’s a tough game and they’re a good side.

“It was about time though, and was nice to get a bit of luck on our side. I’ve been watching games most of the season and we haven’t been so lucky, conceding last minute or little things like that, but it was our turn today and I’m over the moon.”