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Luton Town 3 (1) Peterborough United 0 (0)

Lethal striker Tom Craddock continued his hot streak as his first half strike helped propel the Hatters to a 3-0 victory over Championship outfit Peterborough United at Kenilworth Road today.

Asa Hall fired in a fine volley in the second half to secure Luton's lead, before Adam Watkins scored his first senior goal for the club in the dying seconds to cap a fine victory for the Town.

The Hatters were always in control of this match and made nine second-half substitutions as they even had the luxury of giving some of their impressive youngsters a run out.

The Hatters named four former Posh players in their starting line-up, with Claude Gnakpa, Shane Blackett, Alan White and Adam Newton all included. Keeper Mark Tyler, however, was missing from Luton's squad with triallist Preton Edwards starting between the sticks.

New signing Blackett played at left-back, while Callum Reynolds started a trial spell on the bench, with the view to taking him on loan from Premiership Portsmouth.

The Hatters made a bright start on the lush Kenilworth Road pitch. Kevin Gallen's cross should have been better early on while Adam Newton's effort flashed wide on six minutes.

A brilliant crossfield ball by Andy Burgess opened Posh up on 14 minutes, which Newton did well to control. The former Peterborough man went for the jugular, but his curling effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Jake Howells looked particularly impressive on the left of midfield for the Hatters, but neither side were crafting many chances despite the balmy conditions.

Former Bedford Town striker and Luton trainee Rene Howe curled a tame effort wide on 25 minutes after the Hatters had carelessly given the ball away in midfield.

Jay Davies fired a harmless effort wide on the half-hour mark, while the visitors should have taken the lead seconds later.

Edwards was robbed by Scott Rendell while trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick. His cross left the keeper stranded, but Howe somehow contrived to poke the ball wide of the gaping goal at the far post.

And the Hatters took the lead out of the blue with a flowing goal nine minutes before the break.

Burgess' swivel and pass created room on the edge of Peterborough's box and Craddock then decided to feed Gnakpa on the right. His inviting ball dissected Posh's defence and Craddock just managed to squeeze the ball past Sam Cole, with the linesman signalling the ball had crossed the line.

Enlivened by the goal, Town twice went close in a matter of seconds as Drew Talbot had a stinging effort well saved and Craddock then had a second ruled out by the linesman's flag.

Luton were given an injury scare late in the half when a crunching challenge from behind by Posh captain Kieran Charnock left Talbot needing treatment but he was swiftly back on to the pitch after the re-start.

And Craddock should have made it 2-0 in the dying moments of the half when a misplaced pass allowed him to run at the Posh defence, but he pulled his short just wide of the near post.

Luton made an electric start to the second half and went close several times in the opening moments. First Howells broke down the left and his pull-back found Kevin Gallen. His mishit shot ran to Newton at the far post and his piledriver was somehow turned over the bar by Cole.

Craddock then had a header pushed over from the subsequent corner, before Howells was inches away from getting a deserved goal on 49 minutes. His well-timed run sent him clear but, having expertly dinked the ball over the advancing Cole, Danny Blanchett somehow got back to bravely clear off the line.

Posh substitute Danny Mills showed Herculean strength as he marauded through Town's defence on 50 minutes, but triallist keeper David Wilkinson did superbly to pluck the ball off his toes as he Mills tried to round him.

Gallen sent a powerful free-kick wastefully over the bar on 55 minutes, while only a fantastic stop from Cole kept Luton out again seven minutes later. Kevin Nicholls' free-kick picked out fellow substitute Liam Hatch at the far post, but his header was brilliantly turned over the bar.

Burgess then had a fierce long-range effort easily saved as Town continued to dominate.

The Hatters though, were given a huge let off again with 14 minutes left. Keith Keane's terrible backpass was far too short and allowed Mills to steal in and round Wilkinson with ease but, as he looked to slide the ball into the open net, Reynolds slid in from out of nowhere to save a certain goal.

Hatch could only kick thin air as Hall put in a good low cross with 11 minutes left, while the big striker should possibly have done better with a glancing header from Nicholls' free-kick moments later.

Youngsters Watkins and Jordan Patrick combined with six minutes left, but the striker's rolled effort was easy pickings for Cole.

But the Hatters rightfully doubled their lead with five minutes left. Another pinpoint Nicholls free-kick picked out free-scoring midfielder Hall at the near post and his simple volley left Cole with no chance.

And Luton rounded off a great day at the office with a third in injury time. Hatch's flick-on found the impressive Watkins and he took the ball in his stride before firing a low left-foot effort past the exposed Cole.

Hall fired over from over just a couple of yards out at the death, but it was of no consequence as Luton eased to a fine win.

Hatters: Preston Edwards (David Wilkinson 46), Claude Gnakpa, Shane Blackett (Adam Watkins 67), Kevin Gallen (Jordan Patrick 60), Alan White (Ian Roper 46), George Pilkington (C, Keith Keane 67), Adam Newton (Callum Reynolds 60), Andy Burgess (Asa Hall 67), Drew Talbot (Kevin Nicholls 46), Tom Craddock (Liam Hatch 60), Jake Howells.

Posh: Sam Cole, Alex Austin, Danny Blanchett, Jay Davies, Kieran Charnock (C ), Danny Andrew, Sergio Torres, Charlie Dove, Rene Howe (Danny Mills 46), Scott Rendell, Nathan Koranteng. Substitutes not used: Edward Adjei, Ryan Cotton, Joe Newell, Matt Breeze, Nathan Ralph, Matt Cook, Josh Capocci, Arthur Lee.

Referee: Mark Mellor.

Attendance: 1,598.

Star Hatter: Jake Howells. Fantastic touch and full of running.