Luton 6-3 Histon

Craddock's hat-trick helps Luton keep the heat on leaders Stevenage

A Tom Craddock hat-trick helped Luton to keep their title hopes alive with victory over Histon in a goal feast.

Jake Howells opened Luton's account before Craddock scored his first two either side of the interval.

Howells then got a tap-in and Daniel Sparkes pulled one back for Histon with Nathaniel Knight-Percival adding a second soon after.

Craddock's penalty and Kevin Gallen's strike made it six for Luton and Glen Southam added a third for the visitors.

The title hopefuls took the lead after 29 minutes when Howells latched onto a cross from Craddock.

Craddock doubled the Hatters' advantage two minutes later before making it 3-0 early in the second half when he shot into the bottom corner.

Howells added his second of the game, and fourth for Town, when he netted from close range after Craddock had hit the post with a header.

But Histon pulled a goal back 12 minutes later when Southam crossed for Sparkes to score and Knight-Percival made it 4-2 six minutes later.

Craddock's third came with 13 minutes remaining after Southam had fouled Simon Heslop.

The recalled Kevin Gallen then made it 27 goals scored for Luton in their last five home matches before Southam reduced Histon's deficit late on with a left-footed strike from the edge of the area.

Luton: Tyler, Asafu-Adjaye, Pilkington, Blackett, Murray, Keane, Newton (Barnes-Homer 82), Howells, Heslop, Craddock, Gallen (Hatch 88).

Subs Not Used: Kovacs, Jarvis, Nelthorpe.

Goals: Howells 29, Craddock 32, 50, Howells 56, Craddock 77 pen, Gallen 84.

Histon: Knight, Oyebanjo (Stewart 45), Tann, Bygrave, Okay, Southam, Verma, Sparkes, Knight-Percival, Smith, Sheringham (Tidswell 82).
Subs Not Used: Key, York, Taffe.

Booked: Stewart, Bygrave.

Goals: Sparkes 69, Knight-Percival 74, Southam 87.

Att: 7,083

Ref: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).