Wilshere’s side have seen their push for the League One promotion places falter lately, with a run of four games without a victory putting them six points behind sixth-placed Wycombe Wanderers.
However, the former Arsenal man, appointed in October, has taken them to Wembley for the first time since the Hatters won the Championship play-offs there three years ago.
The fact that Wilshere still sees promotion as the priority was reflected in his five changes from the side which drew at Port Vale on Saturday, but the Cobblers’ relegation troubles meant that their boss Kevin Nolan made nine changes.
Luton were dominant from the start, but the first time the ball entered their penalty area, in the 17th minute, it ended in the net. Charlton Athletic loanee Terry Taylor curved an excellent free-kick into the box, and when it reached McAdam at the far post, he headed firmly past James Shea.
Nolan had spoken of the Luton set-up as being of “Premier League standard” before the game, and while there was no sign of that, in Walsh they had a player who showed poise and quality throughout and eventually won them the game.
Jordan Clark sliced a big chance wide, Hakeem Odoffin ballooned another opportunity over the bar, and Manchester City loanee Emilio Lawrence sent a powerful volley narrowly past the post as the home side chased an equaliser.
It came eight minutes after the break, as Walsh played a sharp reverse pass to Clark, whose cross picked out Wells at the far post for a simple tap-in, his seventh goal of the season.
Northampton’s Conor McCarthy was lucky to escape a loud penalty appeal as the ball struck his hand and arm as he competed for a header, and the visitors were clinging on until Walsh again took charge.
Kai Naismith rolled a corner kick to him on the edge of the area, and Walsh, who has been a Luton regular since joining them in 2024, saw his sweetly struck shot cannon off the head of Dean Campbell and flash past goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.
