This match report was kindly provided courtesy of the superb Luton Town news Website www.lutontoday.co.uk.  Lutontoday.co.uk kindly allow us to use their match reports, and, as Hatters fans, we'd urge you to check out their excellent Website, which always contains up-to-date Luton Town news, views and match reports.  The photos are also with the kind permission of Luton Town Football Club and their excellent photographer Gareth Owen.

VENUE Gigg Lane ATTENDANCE 3,052 REFEREE C Pawson MATCH DATE 25 October 2008 KICK OFF TIME 15:00

BURY Wayne Brown   Paul Scott Danny Racchi 87   Ryan Cresswell   Efe Sodje   David Buchanan   Elliott Bennett   Stephen Dawson   Brian Barry-Murphy   Mike Jones   Richard Baker 45   Andy Bishop   Chris O'Grady   SUBS NOT USED Steven Haslam   Glynn Hurst   Andy Morrell

LUTON TOWN Conrad Logan   Keith Keane   Ian Roper   Michael Spillane   Sol Davis   Paul McVeigh 45   Claude Gnakpa   Asa Hall   Rossi Jarvis   Wayne Andrews 86   Jake Howells Tom Craddock Harry Worley 89   Chris Martin   SUBS NOT USED Dean Brill   Jordan Patrick

Match Report	25 October 2008
Bury 1 - 2 Luton Town

BURY 1 Andy Bishop (pen) '53  LUTON TOWN 2 Tom Craddock '35 Ian Roper '44

HAPPY HATTERS CLAIM VITAL THREE POINTS AT BURY...

Luton Town for once buried their chances and made their first-half dominance count as they clung on for victory at Gigg Lane against Bury.

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 the Hatters 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 Luton 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.

"Luton finally got the reward their dominance merited thanks to a Brown gaffe on 35 minutes"

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 goal wards at the near post, only for the unsighted Logan to pull off a great instinctive stop.

"And Ian Roper doubled Luton's advantage just a minute before the break"

And Ian Roper doubled Luton'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 Luton defending was keeping them out.

Bury dominated territory and possession as the Hatters 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 screw 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.

Harford's Comments	25 October 2008
Bury 1-2 Luton Town "I think it was deserved after the first-half performance. We were excellent and could have gone in at half-time at any score as we created chance after chance. "We went in at half-time 2-0 ahead and it could have been a lot more. "They were warned at half time they would throw ball and bodies into the box. "We knew what to expect in the second-half and they went 4-3-3. "In fairness to all the players on the pitch they worked their socks off and defended magnificently. "Overall I'm delighted for the players. "If someone is in possession I can guarantee you Tom Craddock will make the right runs. We had a lot of possession in the first-half and he made the right runs. "The players are buoyant and up for the challenge. They've been told they will be in or around the team for the next few weeks. It's their opportunity."

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