Luton: Improvement and another 3 points

New arrival Janos Kovacs scored the opener and helped set up a well earned victory at Histon.

Great news for the Hatters was the return to the squad of Liam Hatch whose introduction seemed to give the side the impetus needed to go on and take the spoils.

Luton have missed Hatch badly during his enforced 4 month absence and his physical presence made a world of difference after his introduction at half time, and it felt like having a new signing after such a long lay off.

Giant Hungarian defender Kovacs came in for the injured Blackett and looked as solid as a rock against anything aerial, but turns like the Titanic. Nicholls and Gallen returned to the starting line up and the abundance of riches in the squad as they all regain fitness has allowed Richard Money to think about squad rotation and a 'horses for courses'approach which should stand the Hatters in good stead as they embark on a mission to make up games lost to the recent bad weather.

Yet again Luton began lethargically and again might have gone a goal down in the first minute when Knight-Percival crossed and the ball fell to Hudson-Odoi, who blasted it against the crossbar. Luton's recent fortune continued and it remained 0-0.

The Hatters eased their way into the game and on 8 minutes Newton crossed for Gallen to set up a shot for Craddock but it was never going to trouble anyone on the field of play least of all the Histon keeper!

It feels totally wrong for Luton Town to find themselves under the cosh to the likes of Gateshead and Histon but as on Saturday their hosts did just that, but luckily their shooting was as wayward as Luton's.

A good cross from Gwillim was just too far ahead of the onrushing Wright or Pilkington might have been in trouble between the Town sticks, but Luton gradually began to show their quality and got hold of the game, and from there onwards Histon rarely threatened.

Gallen struck a sweet shot after good work from Keane but a deflection took it just wide spinning viciously, before another good move set up by Nicholls saw Tann just deny Gallen with a desperate block.

For all their superiority, they had nothing to show for it as half chances and even good chances were wasted.

Gnakpa was replaced as early as the 28th minute by Barnes-Homer and Luton looked a class better for it.

A lovely Gallen pass sent in Newton who dribbled past a defender and the keeper but went just too wide to slip it into an empty net, but he crossed the ball back and Barnes-Homer's shot was blocked and Newton crossed again for Gallen to shoot agonisingly wide.

Histon rallied towards the break and a shot hit George Pilkington and deflected for a corner and Wright for once got the better of the Town central densive pair only to lift a shot harmlessly over the bar.

As the final minutes of the first half counted down Luton were looking very dangerous and several opportunities were created but none taken.

Liam Hatch came on at half time for Kevin Gallen and Luton kicked into gear and began to control proceedings. Hatch's presence in the box earned a corner which Nicholls cliped to the near post and Kovacs dived low to head home for a dream start to his Hatters career, after 52 minutes.

Just after vthe hour another Nicholls corner delivered into the six yard box was headed home by the bustling Hatch only for an over fussy referee to give a free kick for an alleged foul on the keeper who to tell the truth was never getting anywhere near it. You wouldn't see a free kick for that in the Football League.

On 78 minutes Nicholls was replaced by Jake Howells and his body language looked a lot better than recently and he clapped the Town fans before leaving.

With the goal lead Luton had relaxed and played some neat attacking football, and Craddock and Barnes-Homer played a 1-2 and set up Newton who tried to pass the ball into the net and beat the keeper but also the post by a whisker.

Hall was getting forward in support and was rewarded when a cushioned pass from B-H's chest gave him a golden opportunity and he took it beautifully slotting it into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Luton remained in total charge to the end of the match for a well earned victory, their third in a row.

Luton Town: Kevin Pilkington, Keith Keane, George Pilkington, Jonas Kovacs, Freddie Murray, Adam Newton, Kevin Nicholls (Jake Howells 78), Asa Hall, Claude Gnakpa (Matthew Barnes-Homer 28), Kevin Gallen (Liam Hatch 46), Tom Craddock.

Substitutes not used: Shane Gore, Ed Asafu-Adjaye.

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