Dawid Gawel netted an incredible last minute equaliser for the Hatters to earn a point in an enthralling 3-3 draw against local rivals Stevenage at The Brache.
First half goals from Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso and Rufus Barnes had given Town a 2-1 lead at half-time despite it being a scrappy game for both sides, though Stevenage fought back in the second half to lead 3-2 prior to Gawel’s late leveller.
It took just ten minutes for the young Hatters to take the lead, as Hincapie-Alfonso received the ball and carried it well before placing a low finish past the outstretched gloves of the visiting keeper.
Despite Stevenage drawing level just minutes later and looking to finish the half as the stronger side, it was Town defender Barnes who nicked in to convert from a corner to ensure it was his side that went in at the break with the advantage.
It was the visitors who carried their momentum into the second half, with another threatening transition looking likely to provide Stevenage their equaliser, but Town keeper Riley Flynn got down to his right to superbly parry a shot from the edge of the box.
With Stevenage pressing it didn’t take long before they found their next equaliser, and with 15 minutes to go another set-play would find the Hatters defence wanting, allowing the visitors to strike and take the lead for the first time in the game and make it 3-2.
As the minutes drifted away in the second half, it seemed increasingly likely that the Town would be condemned to their third successive league defeat.
That changed, however, when a corner in the final minute of normal time allowed Barnes to turn provider, his brilliant header across goal from the back post managing to find Gawel, who finished brilliantly with improvised technique on the half-volley to find the top corner and secure a point for the Hatters.
TOWN: Flynn, Roberts-Edema (sub 72' Ed-Okungbowa), Barnes, Kwame Anson, Evans, Isufi, El Gourja (sub 83' Frimpong-Kwakye), Asamoah Junior, Shepherd (sub 83' Passley-James), Hincapie-Alfonso (sub 83' Takawira), Gawel
Subs not used: Lesser
Report by: Liam Wilmot
