Luton Town 2 Notts County 2

Last updated : 14 September 2002 By Footymad Previewer

A late rally extended Luton Town's unbeaten record to five matches.

Goal by Russell Perrett and Steve Howard in the last 12 minutes secured a 2-2 draw for Luton against a Notts County team that are still unbeaten on their travels in the league this season.

Bill Dearden's men looked to have maximum points in the bag after first half goals from Paul Bolland and Danny Allsopp so the visitors enjoy a two-goal cushion until the 78th minute.

Luton, lifted by their midweek Worthington Cup win at old rivals Watford, started the game brightly with David Bayliss hitting the post on three minutes and Howard forcing a fine save from Stuart Garden seconds later.

But it was County who went in front on 26 minutes when hesitation between Paul Hughes and Sol Davis after Kevin Nicholson's hopeful long free-kick let in Bolland, who beat on-loan keeper Ben Roberts with a crisp half-volley.

Roberts, who was suffering from flu then made a blunder that gifted County a second goal on the stroke of half time.

His poor goal-kick was collected by Allsopp 30 yards from goal and the visitors striker charged into the penalty box before firing a goalbound shot against Perrett's outstretched boot and into the bottom corner.

An angry Joe Kinnear replaced Roberts, Hughes and Alan Neilson at half time but the triple substitution did little to change his sides fortunes until the final stages.

Perrett gave his side an avenue back into the game when he met captain Kevin Nicholls' corner to the far post with a close range header.

Allsopp then rattled the inside of a post at the other end before Howard snatched a point for the home side with his fifth goal of the season.

The giant striker met Dean Crowe's cross to the far post with a towering 86th minute header to equalise.

Substitute Andrew Fotiadis then wasted a glorious opportunity to give Luton victory, firing straight at Garden after being put clear on goal by Crowe