Coca-Cola League Two

Luton Town 1 (0) Notts County 1 (0)

Not even a first goal in Luton colours for Chris Martin could earn the Hatters victory at Kenilworth Road today.

Town had most of the best chances and captain Kevin Nicholls even hit the bar for Luton, but an inexplicable handball in his own box by Sam Parkin ultimately proved costly as the hosts had to settle for a point.

Luton made one change to the side that claimed a great 1-0 victory at Gillingham last weekend, fit-again Lewis Emanuel coming in from Keith Keane.

The Hatters, playing in their new home strip for the first time, broke well on four minutes but Chris Martin made a hash of Claude Gnakpa's fine slid-rule pass and ran the ball out as he drove for the byline.

Gradually the Hatters started to come into the game and Asa Hall, who's never afraid of having a shot, was allowed to turn on a throw-in on the edge of the area but his effort was straight at Kevin Pilkington.

Sam Parkin and Rossi Jarvis then combined to create space for Martin on 10 minutes, but the young loan star flashed his shot well over.

However, the visitors looked to have plenty of pace on the break and Myles Weston got the better of Michael Spillane on 15 minutes, but fired over under pressure from the youngster.

With the game having got off to a scrappy start, Kevin Nicholls was a coat of paint away from giving the Hatters the lead on 20 minutes.

Parkin headed a cross back across goal and Pilkington was unable to gather under Martin's challenge. Jarvis then laid the ball off to Nicholls on the dhe of the area, but the Luton midfielder was desperately unlucky to see his curling chip over the stranded Pilkington come back off the bar.

Hall once again found space on 29 minutes, but hiss effort on the stretch was too close to Pilkington and the County keeper saved, while Jarvis also saw a deflected easily saved seconds later.

With eight minutes of the half Martin capitalised on some poor Magpies passing to break and set up Parkin, but the big striker fizzed an effort just wide.

Martin was making a real nuisance of himself upfront and did well to create an opening on 41 minutes, but his effort was deflected just past the far post.

And the Hatter should have taken the lead in the last seconds of the half as they put together the best move of the game. Some fleet footwork from Martin put Parkin away and his ball found Emanuel in space, however, he could only scoop his effort over the bar.

Town though got the second half off to a blinding started when Martin scored his first goal for the club on 49 minutes. Jarvis and Hall combined well to set the Norwich youngster up and he made no mistake with a fierce drive across goal into the bottom right-hand corner.

Weston threatened the Hatters backline again, but Brill managed to stick out a leg to turn it behind. However, Parkin handled the resulting corner at the far post and the referee point to the spot. Jamie Forrester kept his cool from the spot and rolled the equaliser into bottom left-hand corner on 53 minutes.

Martin again caused problems for the visitors on 64 minutes, his narrow cross glancing off the post before being put behind by the keeper.

Weston almost undid Luton again on 71 minutes when he got the better of Spillane on the edge of Luton's box, but fired well over with just Brill to beat.

Town went close to regaining the lead on 79 minutes when substitute Kevin Watson flaoted in a lovely diagonal ball and Parkin rose above Pilkington, only to see his header drop on to the roof of the net.

With five minutes left Luton went close again. Nicholls whipped in a beautiful cross to the far post but Pilkington did well to gather his header destined for the bottom left0hand corner.


Hatters: Dean Brill, Claude Gnakpa, Sol Davis, George Pilkington, Kevin Pilkington, Kevin Nicholls, Sam Parkin, Lewis Emanuel, Asa Hall (Kevin Watson 71), Rossi Jarvis (Tristan Plummer 65), Chris Martin, Michael Spillane. Subs not used: Keith Keane, Ian Roper, Conrad Logan.

Magpies: Kevin Pilkington, Jason Beardsley, Paul Mayo, Mike Edwards, Michael Johnson, Matt Hamshaw, Jamie Forrester, Myles Weston, Delroy Facey, Richard Butcher, Adam Nowland (Jay Smith 26). Subs not used: Russell Hoult, Adam Tann, Sean Canham, Ben Fairclough.

Booked: Chris Martin 45; Michael Johnson 62; Nicholls 69.

Referee: A Bates.

Assistant referees: I Crouch and T Mason.

Attendance: 6,085 (Notts County 381).

Star Hatter: Chris Martin. Maiden goal and busy all-round performance.