Luton savoured a moment of joy in their season of misery by beating 10-man Brighton on penalties to book a trip to Wembley where they will face Scunthorpe in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The Hatters, marooned at the bottom of the Football League after being docked 30 points, won their third shoot-out of the campaign 4-3 after the game had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
On-loan Derby goalkeeper Lewis Price was the hero as he saved two spot-kicks to spark a mass pitch invasion.
The hosts had gone ahead just 60 seconds into the game after an unbelievable mix-up in the Brighton defence.
Tom Craddock gave chase to his own flick on after Ed Asafu-Adjaye's long ball before goalkeeper Michel Kuipers and centre-half Adam Virgo collided, leaving the former Middlesbrough man to stroke into the empty net from the corner of the penalty area.
Nicky Forster levelled when he drilled low into the far corner, right-footed from 20 yards for his 13th of the season.
On the stroke of half-time the momentum swung back into the Hatters' favour as Dave Livermore was sent off for the Seagulls following his crunching challenge on Michael Spillane. But they were unable to force the win inside 90 minutes and it was left to Price to grab the headlines.
In the other semi-final a late goal from Gary Hooper secured Scunthorpe's ticket Wembley as they beat Rotherham 1-0 on the night, 3-0 on aggregate.
The Iron's leading scorer swooped 17 minutes from time to secure victory in the Northern area final second leg at the expense of the battling Millers at Don Valley Stadium.
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