Coca-Cola League Two

Bradford City 1(0) Luton Town 1 (0)

A dramatic late leveller snatched Luton a draw at Valley Parade today, but it could have been so much more against 10-men Bantams.

Still deprived of Kevin Nicholls, Sam Parkin and George Pilkington manager Mick Harford's young charges dug deep to grab a point.

A terrible defensive mix-up had handed the hosts the lead with just 11 minutes left as Barry Conlon tapped home, but Michael Spillane made sure the Hatters would leave with a deserved point as he thumped home a great header with four minutes left.

Town made just one change to the starting XI that drew 1-1 with Chester City on Saturday, Ed Asafu-Adjaye coming in for Marc Pugh who dropped out of the squad.

The Hatters made a bright start, Rossi Jarvis forcing Rhys Evans to push his free-kick over the bar after just two minutes and Claude Gnakpa heading over Lewis Emanuel's subsequent corner.

And Emanuel missed out on a glorious chance to give the visitors the lead on his birthday. Some lovely neat play by Chris Martin sent him clear on 13 minutes, but Evans was quickly on to his heavy touch as he tried to beat his man inside the box.

Asa Hall tried his luck with a half-volley on 18 minutes, but it was easily saved by Evans.

City were struggling in the blustery conditions and Luton were playing well despite lacking some of their most experienced campaigners.

A great passage of play saw both side go close midway through the half. Gnakpa's dangerous cross was tipped away by Evans at one end, while the dangerous Omar Daley's centre was allowed to run right across the face of Luton's goal.

After a lull Martin let rip with a great opportunistic effort with seven minutes of the half left, but his 30 yard effort was grasped by Evans.

Bradford didn't manage an effort throughout the first half until injury time when ex-Hatter Paul McLaren's tame effort from the edge of the area was easily held by Conrad Logan.

Logan had to be at his very best just two minutes into the second half. A clever City free-kick was rolled to McLaren and his venomous effort was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Logan.

Bradford were far better after the break and twice went close after the hour mark. First Joe Colbeck saw his fierce effort deflected behind after good work by Daley, while Logan did well to beat away captain Graeme Lee's firm header from the following corner.

Martin fizzed an effort well over on 67 minutes, while Daley burst through second later and forced a good low stop from Logan.

The game upped quickly through the gears with the action come thick and fast. Daley tumbled in the area at one end, while Spillane's effort from the edge of the area cannoned off the face of a home defender.

Town then raced into the ascendancy with 17 minutes left. Paul Heckingbottom put in a reckless challenge on Martin, but the referee waved play on as Jarvis raced clear. He pulled the ball back to Paul McVeigh and Asa Hall but the pair got in each other's way and Bradford cleared. However, the referee went back to the earlier poor tackle and showed Heckinbottom a second yellow card.

McVeigh then fired over and Gnakpa hit a tame effort straight at Evans as Luton began to turn the screw.

But just as Luton looked well placed to push on they dropped a defensive clanger to hand the hosts the lead. A hopeful ball down the middle caused Town all kinds of problems and Harry Worley headed the ball past the stranded Logan. Spillane tried to clear but could only succeed in scooping the ball into the air and substitute Conlon was on hand to slide the ball home.

Conlon thumped another effort straight at Logan with nine minutes left as the Hatters struggled to take advantage of their numerical advantage.

But out of the blue Luton equalised with four minutes left. Ed Asafu-Adjaye put in a pinpoint cross from the right and Spillane was on hand to power home his free header from six yards out.

And Town almost grabbed victory in the last minute when substitute Ryan Charles' low free-kick was fumbled by Evans but Spillane was unable to force the ball home.

Bantams: Rhys Evans, Paul Heckingbottom, Paul McLaren, Graeme Lee (C ), Omar Daley, Peter Thorne (Luke O'Brien 83), Matthew Clarke, Michael Boulding (Barry Conlon 78), Joe Colbeck, Somon Ainge, Dean Furman. Substitutes not used: Jon McLaughlin, Willy Topp, Kyle Nix.

Hatters: Conrad Logan, Claude Gnakpa, Sol Davis (Jake Howells 37), Keith Keane (C ), Lewis Emanuel (Paul McVeigh 46), Harry Worley, Asa Hall, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Rossi Jarvis (Ryan Charles 82), Chris Martin, Michael Spillane. Substitutes not used: Dean Brill, Tristan Plummer.

Bookings: Paul Heckingbottom 14, 73; Chris Martin 45; Claude Gnakpa 65; Joe Colbeck 69; Keith Keane 83.

Sent off: Paul Heckingbottom 73.

Referee: G Laws.

Assistant referees: S Clayton and A Newell.

Fourth official: D Street.

Attendance: 13,083 (Luton 492).

Star Hatter: Michael Spillane. Battled hard and took his goal well.