Blue Square Premier

Barrow AFC 0 (0) Luton Town 1 (0)

A retracted substitution by the Hatters led to resurgent striker Liam Hatch scoring a late winner at Holker Street this afternoon.

With 12 minutes to go Hatch was set to be withdrawn from the action in place of Craig Nelthorpe, but an injury to Claude Gnakpa caused manager Richard Money to change his mind.

And that slice of fortune paid huge dividends as Hatch's diving header five minutes later proved to be decisive as Town closed out the Bluebirds to keep their sixth consecutive clean sheet away from home in the league.

The victory also means that the Hatters have not been beaten away in the league since losing 3-0 at Wrexham on September 22 and have now won three in a row on the road.

Money was forced to make two changes to the side that disappointingly lost 3-2 at home to lowly Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

Keeper Kevin Pilkington was ruled out with a thigh injury so in came Mark Tyler, fit again after a back problem.

Illness ruled out striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, so in came Gnakpa on the wing, with Tom Craddock partnering Hatch in attack.

Both sides made a lively opening to proceedings but it was a Barrow error that almost let Luton in on three minutes.

Simon Spender's backpass sold keeper Tim Deasy short, but the Barrow stopper was just able to clear under pressure from Adam Newton.

The ball, though, went straight to Craddock who cut inside his man, but his low effort was straight at Deasy.

And Town went close again moments later when Kevin Nicholls' free-kick picked out the unmarked George Pilkington in the box, but he could only head straight at Deasy.

The Hatters were playing some good stuff on the fine Holker Street surface and only some last-ditch interventions denied the visitors a clear sight of goal on several occasions.

With Luton having created all the chances the Bluebirds almost caught Town with a sucker blow on 18 minutes. A direct ball forward was beautifully flicked on by Jason Walker but a stretching Nick Chadwick could only flash his effort over the bar.

An open game saw both teams create half chances at either end, Craddock enjoying Luton's best opportunities while Andy Bond and Carlos Logan both ballooned over for Barrow.

Gradually the home side worked their way back into the game, but as the first half came to a close it was Town regained the ascendancy.

The impressive Asa Hall twice had efforts off target, but Town couldn't find a way through as the half ended all square.

And Luton almost took the lead 21 seconds after the break as the fog dropped in. Gnakpa's canny pass put Hatch away but, as he closed in on Deasy's goal, the striker could only slam his effort into the side netting from a narrow angle.

Having weathered a spell of Barrow pressure it was again the Hatters who almost broke the deadlock. The ball ran kindly for Craddock on the edge of the box but his curler drifted agonisingly over.

Luton were looking far more inventive than the week before and when Nicholls and Craddock combined to put Gnakpa clear on the right, the Frenchman looped in a cross that sneaked just past the woodwork.

Substitute Paul Jones twice threatened from a corner for Barrow as the result remained on a knife-edge with the fog thickening.

Mark Nwokeji almost made an instant impact when he came off the bench but, having turned his man and driven toward goal, his low show was easily saved by Deasy.

The Bluebirds continued to look dangerous when they went forward and almost snatched the lead with 19 minutes left. A deep cross ran to Jason Walker at the far post and the AFC striker brought a sharp stop out of Tyler which he gathered at the second attempt.

With time running out the Hatters finally found a way through with seven minutes left. Some patient build up play had earlier seen substitute Nelthorpe put in a delicious cross that was headed off the line by Jones.

And from the subsequent corner Town made the breakthrough. Nicholls' outswinging corner found the diving figure of Hatch who powerfully planted his header home.

An opportunistic effort by Chadwick posed no problems for Tyler late on and, having taken a ball in the face minutes before, Hatch almost scored his second with three minutes left. Again a Nicholls corner picked Hatch out in the box but this time his diving header was turned over the bar by Deasy.

The on-loan Peterborough United striker enjoyed an immensely busy ending to the game and, with a minute left, a header found him in space on the edge of the box but his first time effort went well over.

Barrow rarely threatened in the closing stage but, a Craddock miskick almost let substitute Gregg Blundell in at the death, but the striker was unable to capitalise and the chance vanished as Luton claimed three invaluable points.

Bluebirds: Tim Deasy, Simon Spender, Gareth Jelleyman, Phil Bolland (C, Paul Jones 11), Mike Pearson, Paul Rutherford, Andy Bond, Mark Boyd, Jason Walker (Gregg Blundell 86), Nick Chadwick, Carlos Logan (Simon Wiles 83). Substitutes not used: Stuart Tomlinson, Luke Powell.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, George Pilkington, Janos Kovacs, Keith Keane, Freddie Murray, Kevin Nicholls (C), Asa Hall (Rossi Jarvis 66), Adam Newton (Mark Nwokeji 57), Claude Gnakpa (Craig Nelthorpe 78), Tom Craddock Liam Hatch. Substitutes not used: Shane Gore, Jake Howells.

Referee: Paul Curry (Durham).

Assistant referee: B McGill and J Mainwaring.

Fourth official: A Backhouse.

Bookings: Jason Walker 9; Kevin Nicholls 38; Freddie Murray 76.

Attendance: 1,579 (302).

Star Hatter: Tom Craddock. Non-stop running, deserved a goal to cap a fine display.