Coca-Cola League Two

Bury 1 (0) Luton Town 2 (2)

The Hatters for once buried their chances and made their first half dominance count as they clung on for victory at Gigg Lane.

In a true game of two halves Luton put in a fantastic first 45 minutes, going into the break 2-0 up thanks to goals from Tom Craddock and Ian Roper.

But Roper went from hero to villain in the second half as he gave away a clumsy penalty, which allowed Andy Bishop to bring Bury right back into the match.

The Shakers laid siege to Town's goal throughout the second half, but some dogged and determined defending helped the Hatters hold on for three incredibly important point against high-flying Bury.

For the first time in some weeks manager Mick Harford was able to name an unchanged side as he fielded the same 11 players who started the 2-2 draw at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.

The only change saw fit again striker Wayne Andrews come in on the bench for target man Sam Parkin, who this week joined Leyton Orient on a three-month loan deal with a view to a permanent move.

Luton made a bright start and could have been ahead after barely two minutes. Jake Howells took a clever quick free-kick to release Chris Martin but, having shrugged off the challenge of former Hatters centre-half Efe Sodje, he could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle.

And Town went close again on five minutes from Howells' corner. Both Roper and Michael Spillane were in the mix, but Bury keeper Wayne Brown was on hand to gather on the line.

However, the visitors were given an almighty let off seconds later. A long ball over the top allowed Chris O'Grady to brush his way past Michael Spillane and race clear. His lob easily beat Conrad Logan, but the Bury striker was desperately unlucky to see his seventh-minute effort bounce off the top of the bar on its way over.

In a free-flowing game Luton were denied a goal in hugely debatable circumstances two minutes later. The lively Craddock raced on to Claude Gnakpa's header down the right hand side before squaring a beautiful ball across the box for the onrushing Chris Martin. Bury Keeper Wayne Brown could only parry the ball into the path of Howells who drilled the ball low towards goal, only for it to come off the prostrate form of Martin lying on the line and into the back of the net.

After a brief conversation between referee Craig Pawson and his assistant, the linesman raised his flag to silence the away fans' celebrations.

In an enthralling and open game the Shakers went close again on 24 minutes. A long ball into Luton's box found Bishop but his header was turned away by a strong diving stop from Logan.

But Luton finally got the reward their dominance merited thanks to a Brown gaffe on 35 minutes. Gnakpa staged a storming run down the right before putting in a great cross for Craddock. The on-loan Middlesbrough striker did well to pivot in the box and send in a thunderous shot which Brown looked to have covered, only for the ball to squirm under his body and dribble into the net.

The hosts almost levelled though five minutes before the break. Elliott Bennett fired in a great low cross from the right which Ryan Cresswell did well to turn goalwards at the near post, only for the unsighted Logan to pull off a great instinctive stop.

And Ian Roper doubled Town's advantage just a minute before the break. The Shakers failed to clear a deep Howells corner and Martin did brilliantly to nick possession in the box for the Hatters. Craddock then put in a lovely searching cross to the back post where both Gnakpa and Roper were queuing up to score, but it was the veteran defender who powered home his first goal for the Hatters to make it 2-0 at the break.

The second half got off to a mixed start and a marauding run and strike from Gnakpa forced Brown into a decent low stop on 50 minutes.

But the hosts hauled themselves right back into the game moments later. Luton failed to properly clear the danger and as Richie Baker burst into the box he was chopped down by a cumbersome challenge by Roper. And Bishop made no mistake, drilling home from the spot after 53 minutes.

The Shakers were certainly causing a stir in the second half and only some desperate Town defending was keeping them out.

Bury dominated territory and possession as Town dropped deeper and deeper across the pitch.

Bennett warmed Logan's gloves from range on 75 minutes while Bishop dragged an effort well wide moments later.

The hosts continued to turn the crew as the minutes ticked down and Baker curled a dubiously awarded free-kick just over with eight minutes left.

In a rare foray into Bury's half Craddock went close with five minutes left. The young striker cut inside two defenders before stroking the ball just wide.

Shakers: Wayne Browne, Paul Scott (C, Danny Racchi 87), David Buchanan, Ryan Cresswell, Stephen Dawson, Andy Bishop, Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones (Richie Baker 46), Chris O'Grady, Efetobore Sodje, Elliott. Subs not used: Steve Haslam, Glynn Hurst, Andy Morrell.

Hatters: Conrad Logan, Claude Gnakpa, Sol Davis (Paul McVeigh 46), Ian Roper, Michael Spillane, Keith Keane (C), Asa Hall, Rossi Jarvis (Wayne Andrews 87), Jake Howells, Chris Martin, Tom Craddock (Harry Worley 90). Subs not used: Dean Brill, Jordan Patrick.

Referee: Craig Pawson (Yorkshire).

Assistant referees: S Cummins and K Haycock.

Fourth official: R Madley.

Booked: Paul Scott 38, Tom Craddock 48, Jake Howells 76.

Star Hatter: Tom Craddock. Looks a class apart when running at defenders.