Luton extended their lead at the top of League One to seven points after inflicting Hartlepool's first league defeat at Victoria Park.

The Hatters turned in a five star performance and fully warranted their three points thanks to splendid all-round team effort, which sent over 350 travelling fans home in high spirits.

Luton got the ball rolling through Chris Coyne's first-half strike, which was added to by further efforts from Enoch Showunmi and Kevin Foley.

Not even an unfortunate own goal from Sol Davis and a late strike from Matty Robson could dampen a wonderful evening for Luton in the North East with manager Mike Newell enjoying success over his former club.

Newell kept faith with the same starting eleven which grabbed a vital win over Hull on Saturday.

That meant Steve Robinson kept his place in the side despite picking up a slight groin injury in the win over the Tigers whilst Alan Neilsen started keeping Keith Keane amongst the substitutes.

Hartlepool, who suffered an FA Cup defeat to Brentford on Saturday, gave a home debut to Jon Daly whilst Gavin Strachan was also introduced into the starting line-up.

Luton made a positive start to proceedings with Foley already looking dangerous down the right flank with two teasing crosses in the opening three minutes.

Showunmi fired Luton's opening effort on seven minutes as the Nigerian striker powered forward only to drill a shot straight into the arms of Dimi Konstantopoulos in the Hartlepool goal.

Hartlepool themselves had made a positive start without threatening Luton goalkeeper Marlon Beresford but the home-side almost took the lead on 12 minutes through Daly who had his goal bound effort blocked by Curtis Davies.

After 15 mins: Hartlepool 0 v 0 Luton

Neither side could sustain any pressure with both sets of strikers struggling to break their way through their respective defences.

However, the deadlock was broken on 20 minutes through Coyne. The Hatters defender picked up the ball just inside the Hartlepool half running 15-yards before unleashing an unstoppable low drive past Konstantopoulos.

The Australian must have been somewhat surprised as Hartlepool's defence backed off enabling Coyne to get his shot on goal.

Hartlepool almost made an instant response as Michael Nelson guided a glancing header just over Luton's crossbar.

Luton began to enjoy a healthy spell of possession and Showunmi nearly doubled the visitors' advantage with a fierce drive that brushed the side netting.

After 30 mins: Hartlepool 0 v 1 Luton

Hartlepool carved open a good chance on 32 minutes when Daly's through ball paved the way for Anthony Sweeney to fire a shot across the face of Luton's goal which needed a fellow team-mate to poke home the ball into an empty net.

Showunmi tried his luck in the closing stages of the half but had an effort blocked by a packed Hartlepool penalty area whilst Strachan had a glorious chance when he was put in the clear but tamely shot straight at Beresford.

AT HALF TIME: HARLETPOOL 0 V 1 LUTON

Luton almost made the perfect start to the second-half when Showunmi, with the goal at his mercy, made a mess of Ahmet Brkovic's cross, which ended in the striker heading the ball straight into the arms of Konstantopoulos.

Hartlepool came out for the second-half in a brighter fashion and had claims for a penalty waved away on 49 minutes as Mark Tinkler was sent tumbling in the penalty area.

Luton continued to play some attractive football and Rowan Vine squandered a good chance to double the visitors' advantage on 55 minutes.

However, Luton did extend their lead just a minute later when Showunmi drilled home a low shot after collecting a deep ball from Coyne's free-kick

The goal infuriated the Hartlepool players who surrounded the match referee claiming that Chris Westwood was in need of treatment and waiting for the physio to come onto the pitch.

After 60 mins: Hartlepool 0 v 2 Luton

As the second-half came into life, Hartlepool reduced the lead with an unfortunate own goal from Davis on 62 minutes. As Luton tried to scramble the ball away from safety, Davis miss kicked a shot, which Beresford was unable to gather and the match referee adjudicated that the ball had crossed the goal line.

The game had certainly sprung into life when Luton restored their two-goal advantage through Foley on 64 minutes. The Hatters midfielder buried a shot past Konstantopoulos after Vine had picked him out with a wonderful lofted pass.

Luton almost conceded a second own goal on 73 minutes when Davies screwed a clearance, which almost found its way past Beresford.

After 75 mins: Hartlepool 1 v 3 Luton

Hartlepool refused to give up the chase and almost brought themselves back into the contest on 77 minutes but Adam Boyd's shot from a tight angle failed to find its way into the net.

The home-side saw further efforts wasted with Boyd once again the culprit firing over from 20-yards after Hartlepool had opened up Luton's defence.

Vine could have extended Luton's lead even further in the closing stages but Konstantopoulos denied the on-loan Portsmouth man with a fine save.

Robson added some nervy moments for everyone connected with Luton Town as he grabbed a late goal at the death, slotting past Beresford but Luton held on to extend that lead at the top of League One.

AT FULL TIME: HARTLEPOOL 2 V 3 LUTON 

Hartlepool United: Konstantopoulos, Nelson, Westwood (Williams 57), Strachan (Ross 70), Clark, Humphreys, Sweeney, Tinkler, Daly (Robson 74), Porter, Boyd

Subs not used: Provett, Appleby

Bookings: Clark (45)

Luton: Beresford, Foley, Davis, Davies, Coyne, Nicholls, Robinson, Brkovic, Neilson (Keane h/t), Showunmi, Vine

Subs not used: Seremet, Perrett, Andrew, Leary.

Bookings:

Referee: Mr M Jones

Attendance: 5,542 (357 from Luton)