A stunning six-minute salvo after half-time gave Luton Town what could prove to be a vital 4-1 win over a shellshocked Exeter City side on Tuesday evening.
After an even first half that the Grecians seemed to have edged, the visitors came out in unstoppable fashion to overrun City and score three goals in six minutes to leapfrog City and move into first place in the League Two table.
Ultimately, the big difference between the two sides was chance conversion, with City hitting the post and clearing one of their own shots off the line in the first half before Luton made every chance count in the opening period of the second half.
The Grecians made one change for the game, with Hiram Boateng missing out due to the injury sustained in the first half of their draw with Wycombe Wanderers and being replaced by Lee Holmes, whilst long-term absentee Ryan Harley was fit enough for the bench.
Luton had a familiar face for City fans in the line-up with former loanee Jack Stacey starting at right-back.
The Grecians almost made a flying start to the contest, with Reuben Reid knocking down a long ball to Jayden Stockley after just 15 seconds, with the City record signing rattling the bar and Reid heading the ball into the hands of Marek Stech.
City made the better start to the game, pinning Luton back into their own half as Jordan Tillson and Jake Taylor going close from the edge of the box.
Yet Luton, who won 7-1 at the weekend and were clearly confident going forward, went ahead against the run of play in the eighth minute when Craig Woodman’s attempt to head a long ball clear was blocked by Harry Cornick – to shouts of handball from the Big Bank – and the Luton player got to byline before pulling it back for James Collins to slide home from close range.
City responded well to going behind, whipping a number of balls into the penalty area that threatened to cause trouble for the visiting defence.
Dean Moxey had a golden chance to put City level after 13 minutes when he met Lloyd James’ near-post corner with a free header but put it wide of goal.
James then sent a high ball into the box that was flicked on to Stockley, with Stech claiming the ball then spilling it at the feet of the City striker, but the Luton keeper did well to smother it as Stockley shaped to shoot.
Holmes then volleyed over as the Grecians looked to get back into the contest.
Yet the visitors still looked dangerous going forward on the counter, with Danny Hylton getting the ball on the corner of the area and curling a low shot at a possibly unsighted Christy Pym, who did well to parry before Troy Brown cleared the rebound.
The Grecians equalised on 21 minutes in fine style as Stockley flicked James’ lofted pass on to Taylor, who was afforded a lot of space by Luton, and he brought the ball down, broke into the area and then paused before lashing an unstoppable shot across goal and into the top corner.
City should have been ahead five minutes later when a James free-kick found Troy Brown at the back post and he headed across goal to Reid but, with the goal gaping, the City striker could not make a true connection with the ball – his effort still appeared to be going over the line, however, before Tillson accidentally blocked it on the line.
Taylor and Hylton then went close with long-range efforts at either end before Stockley headed wide of goal after brilliant work by Holmes to bring down a long ball and beat his man.
At the other end, Olly Lee unleashed a 30-yeard volley that Pym did well to get down low to and turn behind.
City almost went ahead on the strong of half-time when James whipped in a free-kick that was flicked on by Reid to Pierce Sweeney but his half-volley flew just wide of goal.
In a sign of things to come, the visitors took the lead in the second minute of the second half when Pym punched a corner clear and it was headed back into the box, where Dan Potts lashed home from 10 yards.
It was 3-1 six minutes later when Cornick got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Hylton, who beat two players far too easily before curling the ball into the top corner.
Luton were overrunning City at this point and made it 4-1 in the 56 minute when Collins found space on the wing and curled in a ball to Cornick, who headed home from close range.
The visitors then won a succession of corners as City struggled to keep possession, and Paul Tisdale made a double change on the hour mark to try and get back into the game, switching things to a 3-5-2.
Whilst the switch weathered the storm a little, City still struggled to create things going forward and Luton continued to look dangerous on the break, with Berry and Hylton both seeing shots saved by Pym.
Luton withdrew as the half wore on, frustrating City, and it took until the 85th minute for the Grecians to register their first shot in target in the second 45 minutes, with Stockley heading at Stech.
Substitute Liam McAlinden then backheeled sub Kyle Edwards' cross at goal but Stech saved comfortably before McAlinden then volleyed just wide of goal.
That proved to be that for City, who now need to brush themselves down in quick fashion as they host Port Vale on Saturday.
Exeter City: Pym; Sweeney, Brown, Moxey, Woodman (Jay, 60); Taylor, James, Tillson, Holmes (Edwards, 69); Reid (McAlinden, 60), Stockley. Subs (not used): Hamon, Archibald-Henville, Harley, Wilson.
Luton Town: Stech, Potts, Cuthbert, Stacey, Olly Lee, Hylton, Cornick (Justin, 82), Rea, Berry (Ruddock-Mpanzu, 90), Collins (Elliott Lee, 88), Sheehan. Subs (not used): Shea, Mullins, Cook, Gambin.
Attendance: 4,209 (353 away)
