Blue Square Premier

Luton Town 2 (0) Cambridge United 2 (0)

Lucky Cambridge United came back from the dead as they snatched a draw at Kenilworth Road today.

After an uneventful first half both sides played a full part after the break as the visitors, with the help of two penalties, fought back from 2-0 down to grab an equaliser in the second minute of injury time.

A first of the season from Claude Gnakpa and a glorious 30-yard strike from Tom Craddock had put the Hatters in charge, before the U's fought back with 10 minutes left with a brace from substitute Danny Crow.

Having pulled a goal back after a great save from Kevin Pilkington, the U's were then awarded a dubious penalty with seven minutes left. Luton's on-loan stopper pulled off a great save to deny Chris Holroyd from the spot, but the Hatters were cruelly robbed of victory when the visitors were awarded a second at the death and Crow calmly slotted home to pinch a point for the visitors.

The Hatters made one change from the team that won 2-0 at Grays Athletic last Saturday. A bang to the head kept defender Alan White out of contention, so Ed Asafu-Adjaye came in at right-back with George Pilkington reverted to his more natural centre-half position.

With conditions once again far from ideal the visitors went within inches of taking the lead after just two minutes. Jai Reason muscled Keith Keane off the ball in the box but he could only curl his effort just wide of the far with Kevin Pilkington exposed in the Luton goal.

The swirling wind was causing problems for both teams with the Hatters looking dangerous every time they went forward. And a long ball forward from Feddie Murray beautifully picked Keane out in the box on seven minutes, but his flick header was easily saved by Danny Potter.

A Kevin Nicholls corner then caused all kinds of problems in the U's box on 11 minutes. Shane Blackett's powerful header was blocked in the six-yard box before his long legs scooped it away from Potter's grasp. But the ball didn't run kindly in the scramble with Kevin Gallen's snapshot eventually flashing well wide.

The early pace of the game waned as both sides had players booked and the openness of the early exchanges became more calculated and stagnated.

Too often the Hatters fell foul of the linesman's flag but the threat always remained.

With both sides having cancelled each other out for most of the half, the game suddenly burst into life on 44 minutes.

A lovely Luton move saw Adam Newton feed the ball into Gallen on the edge of the box and his first-time pass looked to have set Craddock free until Wayne Hatswell barged him. However, referee M Naylor was unmoved and waved away Town's claims for a free-kick and what would surely have resulted in a read card.

At the other end, Reason fired an effort just over on the stroke of half time in a game that had largely lacked incident.

The second half, just like the first, got off to a promising start. Town were forced to weather some early Cambridge pressure before a fluid Luton move saw Newton's dangerous cross fly across the face of goal with no-one able to connect.

A strong run from Gnakpa then opened up the U's on 53 minutes, but Craddock's touch was just too heavy as he looked to step inside his man.

England C striker Holroyd struck well wide for Cambridge before Luton again almost scythed through the visitors' defence on 55 minutes. Gallen, Gnakpa and Craddock were all involved, but the latter just couldn't get a clear sight of goal with the rebound running kindly for Cambridge as they were able to clear the danger.

Another barrowing run by Gnakpa caused problems for the U's on the hour and he got his full reward when he put the Hatters ahead from the subsequent free-kick. Nicholls put a tantalising ball into the six year box and Gnakpa was on hand to poke home his first Hatters goal since the winner at Wembley in April.

Ahead, Luton continued to press. Craddock's nippy run and byline pull-back was scrambled behind by the U's before the young striker fired into the side netting after a long Asafu-Adjaye cross had been allowed to bound right across the six yard box.

Another Nicholls set-piece caused problems on 66 minutes, but Craddock was only able to poke just over as Town continued to turn the screw.

All the deliveries from Town's captain were posing difficulties and his 69th-minute corner almost went straight in, but the unfortunate Craddock just couldn't divert the ball home.

Some calamitous U's defending then handed Newton a gilt-edged opportunity to seal add a second two minutes later. Rory McAuley's terrible touch fell straight into the winger's path, but Newton could only pull his shot wide of the near post with just Potter left to beat.

But Luton did double their lead with 11 minutes left. Newton's cool pass found Craddock in acres of space and he was allowed to turn before rifling a 30-yard gem into the top right-hand corner.

Cambridge then turned the game on its head with an unbelievable fightback. A ball across the box caught Freddie Murray short and Robbie Willmott was allowed to gallop through. Kevin Pilkington pulled off a fantastic stop to deny the winger but substitute Crow was on hand to head the ball into the unguarded net.

And things went from bad to worse when the U's were handed a dubious penalty seconds later. Kevin Pilkington failed to come for a deep cross and Crow was allowed a free header back across goal at the far post. Reason seemed to use his hand to control the ball and Murray was adjudged to have fouled the U's midfielder as he challenged for the ball.

Holroyd stepped up to take the penalty but Kevin Pilkington, standing close to his right-hand upright, did enough to put the Cambridge striker off, diving to his right to repel the striker's spot-kick.

The hosts almost made the game safe with another fine move with five minutes left. Keane, Gallen and Gnakpa were all involved, but Nicholls' long-ranger took a slight deflection as it flew over the bar.

And Cambridge snatched a point in the second minute of injury time as Lady Luck came to their rescue. A deep free-kick into the box caused all kinds of problems and Murray's flick cannoned off the right-hand upright and into the path of Crow. Nicholls threw himself into the challenge to try and stop the substitute from getting his shot away, but caught Crow in the process, and referee M Naylor once again pointed to the spot.

This time Crow stepped up and calmly slotted the ball low to Kevin Pilkington's left as Cambridge grabbed revenge for Luton's fantastic fightback at the Abbey Stadium in September.

Hatters: Kevin Pilkington, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Keith Keane, George Pilkington, Adam Newton (Jake Howells 87), Kevin Nicholls (C), Tom Craddock, Shane Blackett, Claude Gnakpa, Kevin Gallen, Freddie Murray. Substitutes not used: Andy Burgess, Shane Gore, Rossi Jarvis, Ryan Charles.

U's: Danny Potter, Anthony Tonkin, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Andy Parkinson (Courtney Pitt 75), Chris Holroyd, Robbie Willmott, Rory McAuley, Jai Reason, Paul Carden (C), Lee Phillips (Danny Crow 75). Substitutes not used: Josh Coulson, Sam Ives, Laurie Walker.

Referee: M Naylor.

Assistant referees: D Blunden and P Harris.

Fourth official: K Barnes.

Bookings: Keith Keane 16; Paul Carden 17; Anthony Tonkin 39; Robbie Willmott 74.

Attendance: 7,458 (Cambridge 711).

Star Hatter: Tom Craddock. Full of running and fantastic strike for his goal.