Pair of late goals see Luton slip to defeat at Lincoln City

Luton Town were beaten 3-1 by Lincoln City after conceding two goals in the final stages of the contest.

The Hatters had got back on level terms when Jordan Clark had cancelled out Ben House’s first-half opener.

But Justin Obikwu put the hosts back in front with five minutes of the 90 to play, before House’s second in the final minute of regular time sealed the deal for the home side.

Defeat at the LNER Stadium made it back-to-back losses for Matt Bloomfield’s Hatters, who have also now lost 3 of their last 4 games. They sit 11th after 8 games, having played one game less than several of the teams around them, and are 4 points behind the play-offs in the developing third tier table.

Having lost at home to Plymouth last time out, Luton faced a tricky test on their visit to an in-form Lincoln who were unbeaten in their previous 6 outings.

Lincoln nearly found an early breakthrough courtesy of Adam Reach, who saw a sweeping free-kick rebound off the crossbar with Josh Keeley beaten.

But it would be the Imps that scored first. A precise pass by Freddie Draper sent House through, and the midfielder duly got the shot right to put Lincoln City in front.

Luton struggled to get going at first, but they were creating opportunities as the half wore on, with Nahki Wells volleying wide, Jordan Clark being denied by home keeper George Wickens and a goalmouth scramble at a corner not yielding a goal.

Lincoln responded with chances of their own after the half-time break. House would fire wide when well placed before Draper saw an effort repelled by Keeley.

Perhaps Lincoln’s best chance to make it 2-0 came with just over 15 minutes to go. Former Hatter Sonny Bradley was picked out in the six-yard box, but the defender got his shot all wrong and missed the target.

Two minutes after Bradley’s miss, Luton punished Lincoln by grabbing an equaliser. Millenic Alli received George Saville’s pass from a free-kick, and in turn, Alli fed Clark, who was able to guide a finish into the bottom corner and grab Luton an equaliser.

However, Lincoln would regain the lead 8 minutes later. Wickens’ free-kick was flicked on for Obikwu, who duly charged through to beat Keeley and score, putting the Imps back in front.

Lincoln would grab a game-clinching third late on, as Obikwu fed House to curl the ball past Keeley and had the hosts the two goal cushion.

There was no way back from that for Luton as they slid to defeat. The Hatters will seek to get back to winning ways next time out when they welcome Doncaster Rovers to Kenilworth Road next Saturday.