The Coca-Cola League One trophy proudly sits at the front of the Luton team coach

Luton narrowly missed out on 100 points in a six-goal thriller against Doncaster in what eventually turned out to be an entertaining encounter.

Despite missing out on the century, Luton have set themselves a new club record of scoring 98 league points in one season, beating the previous record which was 97, obtained in the 2001/02 campaign.

This game saw some great goals, one in particular from Kevin Nicholls, and some costly mistakes which resulted in an entertaining afternoon of football.

Doncaster had taken the lead early on through Lewis Guy but the Hatters put themselves in front at half-time through strikes from Steve Howard and Russell Perrett.

The home-side were back in front through an unfortunate own goal from Steve Robinson but the Hatters responded with a wonder strike by Nicholls.

Luton thought they had done enough take all three point but Guy struck his second of the game shortly after the Hatters had restored their lead with a well taken goal.

As anticipated, Luton boss Mike Newell was forced to name goalkeeper Dino Seremet in his starting line-up as regular shot-stopper Marlon Beresford was out due to a back injury which has seen the former Middlesbrough favourite require an operation.

However that was not the only change in Luton's starting line-up as Rowan Vine was recalled to partner Steve Howard in attack, with Warren Feeney dropping to the bench, whilst Perrett came in for his first start since being dismissed in a game against Bournemouth recently.

Doncaster, who have seen their promotion aspirations disappear in recent week despite a good run of results, included former Luton midfielder Michael McIndoe in their starting line-up.

The game was only 43 seconds old when Doncaster made the breakthrough as James Coppinger's surging run and cross down the right flank wasn't cleared by the Luton defence enabling Lewis to poke home from close range to give the home side the early advantage.

It was a blistering start from the home-side who, despite having little to play for, showed early signs of the good form at Belle Vue that has seen them lose only twice in the league this season.

Luton showed little sign of getting themselves back on level terms as Rowan Vine and Howard continued to be frustrated by the Doncaster offside trap.

Rowan Vine goes into a tussle with Nick Fenton

After 15 mins: Doncaster 1 v 0 Luton

Doncaster's counter attacking football continued to cause the League One Champions a number of problems and on 17 minutes Leo Fortune-West almost capitalised on an error from Seremet as the Slovenian goalkeeper was unable to hold onto Coppinger's right-wing cross.

Chances remained few and far between in an uneventful contest between the two teams. Doncaster continued to look more threatening on the attack although Seremet had not been called upon to make any important saves.

There was nearly an embarrassing moment for Seremet on 26 minutes when the Luton goalkeeper was unable to claim a difficult ball into the visitors' penalty area and McIndoe almost struck home with a delicate lob.

After 30 mins: Doncaster 1 v 0 Luton

Luton were back on level terms just after the half-hour through a well worked set-piece routine, finished off by Perrett. The Luton defender guided a header into the net after Kevin Nicholls' free-kick was put into a dangerous area by a Robinson header.

The visitors almost took the lead just moments later when Chris Coyne sent a header over the crossbar but Luton's army of fans didn't have to wait long before they witnessed their team take the lead.

And Howard will not have scored an easier goal throughout his career when on 36 minutes a mistake from goalkeeper Iain Turner allowed the former Northampton striker to tap home into an empty net for his 22^nd goal of the season. There was no immediate danger as Turner received a back pass but the Rovers goalkeeper saw his punt up field strike Howard to gift Luton the lead.

Fortune-West had an opportunity to bring Doncaster back on level terms just moments before the half-time interval but the former Lincoln striker took too long on the ball and wasted his opening, firing over the Luton crossbar.

AT HALF TIME: DONCASTER 1 V 2 LUTON

Doncaster were back on level terms on 50 minutes through another bizarre goal that saw Robinson head the ball into his own net. Seremet's kick up field was pulled back in the strong wind and when Fortune-West squared the ball into the penalty area, Robinson could not do much as his header flew into the net.

There was concern amongst the home supporters as Doncaster's skipper Steve Foster left the field of play on a stretcher following a 50/50 challenge with Howard meaning Craig Nelthorpe was gifted his first appearance for the club.

After 60 mins: Doncaster 2 v 2 Luton

Luton rarely threatened in the second-half as the strong Yorkshire wind played havoc to visitors' attacking play but with Doncaster causing some concern on the counter attack there always looked as if more goals would just be around the corner.

On 61 minutes, Doncaster almost took the lead when Paul Green unleashed an unstoppable shot that beat Seremet but struck the outside of a post and bounced into safety.

The game was certainly coming alive as Luton, with their first real attack in the second-half, put themselves back in front just a minute later when Nicholls' drive towards goal saw the midfield unleash a 25-yard unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.

Kevin Nicholls turns and celebrates in front of over 3,000 Luton supporters after scoring with a 25-yard wonder strike

Luton's travelling fans had barely finished celebrating the skipper's strike when Doncaster popped down the other end to put themselves back on level terms for the second time in the game. The visitors' defence was cut open as Guy struck his second of the game with a low drive into the corner of the Luton net.

After 75 mins: Doncaster 3 v 3 Luton

Guy almost turned in his hat-trick on 80 minutes when the midfielder fired over the crossbar as the home-side continued to look promising on the attack.

Feeney, who had replaced Vine midway through the half, nearly sneaked home a late winner for the Hatters in the closing stages but Turner prevented the former Stockport striker grabbing his first goal for Luton.

Green had Doncaster fans out of their seats in the closing stages of the game when his 20-yard fizzing shot flew over the Luton crossbar.

Luton players celebrate after the final whistle at Doncaster

AT FULL TIME: DONCASTER 3 V 3 LUTON

STATISTICS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

Doncaster: Turner, Ryan, Green, Fenton, Guy, Doolan, McIndoe, Foster (Nelthorpe 56), Coppinger (Brown 50), Mulligan, Fortune-West (Roberts 74).

Subs not used: Blundell, Warrington

Bookings: Fortune-West (4), Ryan (31)

Luton: Seremet, Foley, Davis, Coyne, Perrett, Nicholls, Robinson, Underwood, Brkovic (Showunmi 69), Vine (Feeney 69), Howard

Subs not used: Beckwith, Holmes, Leary,

Bookings: Brkovic (40)

Referee: Mr S Mathieson

Attendance: 8,928

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Match STATS
	Hatters	Hatters
Goal Attempts	-	-
On Target	-	-
Offside	-	-
Corners	-	-
Free kicks	-	-
Yellow cards	-	-
Red cards	-	-
Possession (%)	-	-

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