Match report

Luton Defeats Forest Green 4-3 in Thrilling FA Cup Clash

Luton
Luton
4–3
FT
Forest Green
Forest Green
Oct 31, 2025

Luton held off a late comeback to defeat Forest Green 4-3 in an intense FA Cup match. Nahki Wells starred for Luton, scoring twice and setting up another goal before being substituted. Despite Forest Green's three goals from Tom Knowles, Kieran McAllister, and Alex Dausch, the Hatters secured their place in the next round with a late strike by George Kodua.

Key Facts

  • • Luton: 4 Goals (Nahki Wells - 2, L. Fanne, G. Kodua)
  • • Forest Green: 3 Goals (Tom Knowles, Kieran McAllister, Alex Dausch)
  • • Substitutions: Luton made several substitutions including I. Jones and L. Walsh; Forest Green replaced N. Kengni, S. Etaluku, A. Kanu
  • • Yellow Cards: L. Fanne (Luton), K. Naismith (Luton), T. Knowles (Forest Green)

Lineups

Luton

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 24 J. Keeley (G)
  • 17 N. Lonwijk (D)
  • 15 T. Mengi (D)
  • 3 K. Naismith (D)
  • 33 C. Bramall (D)
  • 8 L. Walsh (M)
  • 23 G. Saville (M)
  • 27 J. Richards (M)
  • 22 L. Fanne (M)
  • 25 I. Jones (M)
  • 21 N. Wells (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 J. Shea
  • 5 M. Andersen
  • 7 M. Alli
  • 9 J. Yates
  • 12 A. Al Hamadi
  • 16 H. Odoffin
  • 28 C. Makosso
  • 30 G. Kodua
  • 37 Z. Nelson

Forest Green

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 12 F. Pagel (G)
  • 21 T. Pemberton (D)
  • 32 A. Kanu (D)
  • 6 L. Mendy (D)
  • 3 N. Kengni (D)
  • 16 H. Bunker (M)
  • 18 I. Moore (M)
  • 28 S. Etaluku (M)
  • 25 H. Whitwell (M)
  • 24 J. Buyabu (M)
  • 27 T. Babalola (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 L. McNicholas
  • 5 R. Inniss
  • 15 J. Moore-Taylor
  • 26 J. Balagizi
  • 14 J. Clarke
  • 8 N. Haughton
  • 7 K. McAllister
  • 17 A. Dausch
  • 11 T. Knowles

Timeline

  1. Luton
    23' Luton Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Fanne · Assist: Nahki Wells
  2. Luton
    30' Luton Goal · Normal Goal
    Nahki Wells
  3. Forest Green
    46' Forest Green subst · Substitution 1
    Off: N. Kengni · On: K. McAllister
  4. Forest Green
    46' Forest Green subst · Substitution 2
    Off: S. Etaluku · On: T. Knowles
  5. Luton
    53' Luton Goal · Normal Goal
    Nahki Wells · Assist: L. Fanne
  6. Forest Green
    59' Forest Green subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Kanu · On: R. Inniss
  7. Forest Green
    59' Forest Green subst · Substitution 4
    Off: T. Babalola · On: A. Dausch
  8. Forest Green
    61' Forest Green Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Knowles · Assist: J. Buyabu
  9. Luton
    62' Luton subst · Substitution 1
    Off: I. Jones · On: A. Al Hamadi
  10. Luton
    62' Luton subst · Substitution 2
    Off: L. Walsh · On: Z. Nelson
  11. Luton
    65' Luton Card · Yellow Card
    L. Fanne

    Time wasting

  12. Forest Green
    68' Forest Green Goal · Normal Goal
    K. McAllister · Assist: K. McAllister
  13. Luton
    71' Luton subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Nahki Wells · On: J. Yates
  14. Luton
    71' Luton subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. Richards · On: G. Kodua
  15. Forest Green
    73' Forest Green subst · Substitution 5
    Off: I. Moore · On: J. Balagizi
  16. Forest Green
    79' Forest Green Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Dausch
  17. Luton
    84' Luton Card · Yellow Card
    K. Naismith

    Argument

  18. Forest Green
    89' Forest Green Card · Yellow Card
    T. Knowles

    Foul

  19. Luton
    90'+5 Luton subst · Substitution 5
    Off: L. Fanne · On: H. Odoffin
  20. Luton
    90' Luton Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Kodua · Assist: J. Yates

Match Stats

Stat Luton Forest Green
Fouls 7 10
Pass Accuracy 72% 66%
Offsides 3 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 9 16
Corners 2 6
Total Passes 383 325
Yellow Cards 2 1
Blocked Shots 0 4
Shots on Target 5 5
xG — —
Shots off Target 4 7
Possession 53% 47%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 275 213
Shots Inside Box 7 14
Saves 1 1
Shots Outside Box 2 2

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Nahki Wells' early brace for Luton set the tone, giving them a 2-0 lead by the half-hour mark.
  • ▸ Luton's third goal from Nahki Wells in the 53rd minute seemed to seal their victory until Forest Green rallied with three consecutive goals.
  • ▸ George Kodua’s late equalizer in injury time secured Luton’s win, despite Forest Green's strong comeback.