Ryan Donaldson is Cambridge's main man against Luton

Cambridge United's Ryan Donaldson downed Luton Town with a 66th-minute cracker in a frenetic FA Cup Third Round tie which finished 2-1 to the hosts.

The former Newcastle midfielder, man of the match in Cambridge’s FA Trophy Final win last season, had his say again with a brilliant surging run and angled drive from the edge of the box to seal his side’s place in the Fourth Round.

But Richard Money’s men had their backs to the wall for the rest of the match. For Donaldson’s goal, which doubled the lead following Robbie Simpson’s first-half opener, kick-started Luton into wave after wave of attack.

The Hatters pulled one back through Michael Harriman’s far post header from Andy Drury’s cross and threatened to at least pull themselves level in a gung-ho finish.

Harriman’s first goal in his loan spell from QPR was well deserved. But how Luton subs Ross Lafayette and Charlie Walker missed out on Fraser Frank’s late cross with the goal at their mercy remains a mystery.

Simpson’s 27th-minute goal for Cambridge came via a penalty conceded rather recklessly by Luton keeper Mark Tyler.

He dived at the feet of the on-rushing Donaldson when staying on his feet looked the better bet as the Cambridge man nudged the ball away from goal in running onto a Simpson through ball.

Tyler was booked for his troubled and then managed to touch Simpson’s spot-kick onto his right-hand post. However, the ball careered back across goal and Simpson was able to side-foot home.

For the neutral this tie had almost everything; blood and guts, breathtaking goalmouth action, and a host of close calls.

Luton struggled to understand how Ricky Miller messed up at the far post four minutes after the break when he looked favourite to slot in a Kaje Howells’ centre. But somehow he poked the gilt-edged opportunity high and wide.

Cambridge were the aggressors in the opening 45 minutes, with Tyler making decent saves from the impressive Tom Elliott and Donaldson.

Tom Champion’s 22nd-minute drive was on target before it was half-blocked on the line and furiously cleared, and five minutes later Donaldson was testing Tyler again.

For Luton Jonathan Smith hit the post with a vicious early drive, while Harriman saw Chris Dunn parry another far post header to safety.

Cambridge United (4-4-2): Chris Dunn; Richard Tait, Michael Nelson, Josh Coulson, Greg Taylor; Luke Chadwick, Tom Champion, Liam Hughes, Ryan Donaldson;Tom Elliott, Robbie Simpson.

Subs: Harrison Dunk for Donaldson 79; Ryan Bird for Elliott 84; Sullay Kaikai for Chadwick 88.

Subs not used: Will Norris, Ian Miller, Wesley Atkinson, Liam Hurst.

Goals: Simpson, 27; Donaldson, 66.

Luton Town (4-4-2): Mark Tyler; Michael Harriman, Fraser Franks, Luke Wilkinson, Jake Howells; Paul Connolly, Jonathan Smith, Jim Stevenson, Mark Cullen; Ricky Miller, Andy Drury.

Subs: Pelly Rudock for Connolly 60; Lafayette for Cullen 60; Charlie Walker for Miller 66.

Subs not used: Elliott Justham, Alex Lacey, Luke Rooney, Matthew Robinson.

Goal: Michel Harriman

Referee: Tony Harrington

Attendance: 7,063