Luton Town Legends 2 (1) Arsenal Pro-Celebrity 1 (1)

A whole host of former Hatters favourites turned out today as a Luton Town Legends team beat an Arsenal Pro-Celebrity side 2-1 in a charity game at Kenilworth Road.

Luton triumphed with goals from Mark Stein and David Oldfield as the Luton Legends rolled back the years.

Meanwhile, there was also a surprise substitute appearance from recent favourite Kevin Nicholls.

Wayne Turner fired in a volley after just two minutes, while Rob Johnson should have given the Hatters the lead on five minutes, but he couldn't quite force Scott Oakes' near post cross home.

Kingsley Black's floated ball into the box picked out Ricky Hill at the far post seconds, later, but the skillful midfielder could only head just wide.

The high temperatures, couple with the players' ageing limbs, meant the pace of the game was slow, but the class and skill of the 88 team was clear for all to see.

Luton again went close on nine minutes when Black's curving cross was spooned goalwards by Stein, but the ball bounced off the top of the bar and behind for a goal-kick

However, Arsenal took the lead against the run of play on 12 minutes when Dimitri Kharine was left completely exposed and Giles Alderson was left in acres of space to tap home at the far post.

Hatters should have been level seconds later. Some Stein magic on the right completely opened up the visiting defence but Mick Harford shot deflected of the left-hand upright and behind.

The Legends though deservedly levelled after a quarter of an hour though. Mitchell Thomas' through ball picked out Stein and his curling finish from the edge of the box beat Vince Bartram and rebounded of the left-hand post and in.

Bartram produced a decent stop low to his left to deny Stein on 22 minutes, after good break by Tim Breacker, before former Town skipper Kevin Nicholls made a surprise appearance as a 32nd minutes sub, fuelling the rumours that he could be set for a return to Kenilworth Road in the summer.

Black produced some more magic four minutes later to waltz through the Arsenal defence, but could only blaze his shot over from just inside the box.

A mazy Marvin John run almost opened up the visitors on 41 minutes, but he could only fizz a wayward effort well wide.

Arsenal crashed an effort against the left-hand upright with two minutes of the half left, but both sets of red-faced players were relieved to hear the referee's half time whistle.

John Dreyer, Phil Gray, Oldfield, Godfrey Ingram and Tony Thorpe were all given run outs for Luton, with the latter generating a chorus of boos from the Kenilworth Road faithful.

Julian James was introduced in place of Thomas on 55 minutes, while Nicholls' floated effort seconds later was headed behind.

2020 director Godfrey Ingram and youth team product Ed Asaf-Adjaye provided some fresh legs for the Hatters, while Oldfield lashed an effort over the bar on 57 minutes.

The heat began to take its toll in the second half with both sides struggling to break out of a canter.

Thorpe almost scored a brilliant individual goal with 13 minutes left. Having weaved Arsenal's defence into a knot, Bartram got down well to deny the evergreen striker, with Ingram just unable to pounce on the rebound.

The game suddenly burst into life with 10 minutes left when Thorpe's delightful through ball sent Oldfield clear. Having rounded Bartram, Oldfield was felled in the box and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the sport.

Dreyer's trademark two-step penalty may have been saved by Bartram but Oldfield was on hand to slide the ball home.

Typically nervy, Luton just about managed to hold out in the closing moments to claim another memorable victory over their illustrious London rivals.

Hatters squad: Dimitri Kharine, Tim Breacker, Rob Johnson, Mitchell Thomas, Steve Foster (C ), Marvin Johnson, Scott Oakes, Ricky Hill, Mick Harford, Mark Stein Kingsley Black, David Oldfield, Wayne Turner, Julian James, Tony Thorpe, Godfrey Ingram, Phil Gray, Kevin Nicholls, John Dreyer, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, George Beavan.

MoM: Ricky Hill. Never lost his touch.

Attendance: 4,688.