Luton make it three in a row

A solid performance from the Hatters saw them achieve their third league win in a row for the fourth time this season, although as yet they have never managed to follow it up with a fourth.

Tom Craddock continued to be the man of the moment having scored the winner in each of those three victories.

Although both Stevenage and Oxford have a game each in hand over the Hatters, they move to within 5 points of the top of the table; still a big ask with only ten matches to go but who knows what a little pressure on those two might do if Luton can maintain this run?

Luton dominated the first half on Kenilworth beach, although it is still a little worrying that we are still struggling to put teams away in these purple patches, while Stevenage and Rushden are scoring 6s and 8s!

Keith Keane might have given the Hatters the perfect start in the 5th minute with a crisp shot but Russell in the Dragons' goal was equal to it.<

Luton continued to push forward and while Wrexham seemed to have little nous in attack themselves, Luton failed to cause him much further concern until the 36th minute when

Craddock took possession in the Wrexham half then taunted man mountain Assoumani turning him left and right before striking a sweet left foot drive which saw Russell make a desperate dive and get a hand to the ball as it was about to fly into the top corner. It was a game effort by the keeper but the sheer power of the shot saw the keeper merely divert it into the net off the woodwork.

Good defending down the Town left eventually saw the ball moved forward into the path of Craddock.

The addition of Simon Heslop had certainly seen the midfield buzzing more than we have seen all season and the goal spurred the Hatters on and and good work from Keane and Heslop sent Howells away and his cross found Gnakpa whose header would have doubled the lead if it had been a yard either side of the keeper but went straight at him.

The Town's failure to capitalise on their superiority allowed Wrexham to finally settle down in the last few minutes before half time and they, at last, asked a few defensive questions of the Hatters.

The famous punter Andy Mangan, who has a good scoring record in this league, had the ideal opportunity to mug Luton of their lead with arguably Wrexham's first attack of any note. Holden's free kick fell to Mangan but big Janos Kovacs managed to block the shot.

A 1-0 lead was scant reward for the Town's first half performance but they came out looking to improve things and Howells hit a screamer just over the bar.

Again despite having all the pressure the single goal lead meant that the Dragons were always in a game that by now should have been well beyond them. I can still remember the nightmare under Ricky Hill,s short managerial career when a 3-0 lead over Wrexham ended as a 3-4 defeat, and I'm very superstitious!

After the hour Wrexham started to put some better moves together and there was a very uncomfortable period ahead for the Hatters.

Once the visitors got their first corner of the match they got three in quick succession and Luton were less than confident in dealing with them, leading to two or three real chances for Wrexham, the most notable of which was a drive by Fleming who was allowed the freedom of Kenilworth Road to set himself and strike the ball sweetly towards the roof of the net. The ball crashed against the crossbar and I couldn't tell if Tyler got the slightest of touches on the ball or not; if he did it was a cracking save!

The visitors continued to press but their final ball was sadly lacking most of the time and shooting, the Fleming effort excepted, bordered on the woeful.

Luton visibly wobbled in the dying moments as Wrexham resorted to hoofing the ball into the Luton box fairly aimlessly but hung on for another valuable win.

The three points were vital with Rushden smacking 8 past Gateshead and Oxford dropping a point at home to Kettering.

They really need to make it four in a row for the first time this season when they entertain Kidderminster on Tuesday, before the tricky trip to Ebbsfleet on Saturday where they must surely want to exact some revenge for the mugging at Kenilworth Road a few weeks ago!

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