Rowan Vine lifted the gloom around Kenilworth Road as he struck a brace to help Luton notch their first win in six games over Crewe.

An amazing finale, with five goals scored in 18 minutes at the end of the second-half, helped lift the atmosphere around the stadium after the entire game was as murky as the thick fog that had descended on Kenilworth Road.

On his first start of the season, Vine scored two goals midway through the second-half, one from the spot, and his strikes were added to by Enoch Showunmi and Dean Morgan.

Crewe had scored a consolation with the Hatters already three goals to the good when Michael Higdon found the back of the net but with Stephen Foster also dismissed, this was never going to be their day.

Luton went into the game without the services of Steve Howard, who was missing from the line-up through illness. That meant Showunmi was handed a rare start with Vine also returning for his first start of the season.

Carlos Edwards was also recalled to the starting line-up after returning from Trinidad with Morgan and Ahmet Brkovic both dropping to the substitute bench.

Crewe made one change from their team that were narrowly defeated by Stoke at the weekend as Mark Rivers was recalled in place of the injured David Vaughan.

In the misty fog, Luton made an encouraging start as the home-side played neat, attractive football with Showunmi, playing up front alongside Warren Feeney, looking dangerous.

The Nigerian striker was in the thick of the action on two minutes when it was his flicked pass that released Feeney, who skipped past the challenge of a Crewe defender but miss-timed his shot, which carried straight into the arms of Ben Williams.

Feeney went close again four minutes later as the Northern Ireland striker latched onto Vine's cross from the right flank but he couldn't keep his effort on target.

Crewe almost found their way through on eight minutes when Gary Roberts' long-range effort was almost poked home at the far post by Higdon, who had beaten the Luton offside trap.

The gloomy weather conditions were not proving to dampen the action at Kenilworth Road as the Hatters continued to break down the Crewe defence in the early stages of the game.

After 15 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Crewe

Showunmi almost found the net on 19 minutes when, after beating two Crewe defenders down the right flank, the striker tried to curl a shot past Williams, with the visitors goalkeeper scampering across his line.

Crewe had been struggling to get out of their own half until Rivers tried his luck from distance with an effort that never really troubled Marlon Beresford, the Luton goalkeeper.

A surging run from Peter Holmes on 22 minutes saw the Luton midfielder try his luck from the edge of the area but, as the Crewe defence backed off, his opportunity narrowly missed the target.

Against the run of play, Crewe almost broke the deadlock on 27 minutes in bizarre circumstances. Kenny Lunt's long free-kick eluded the Luton defence and as the ball bounced off Richard Walker's thigh, Kevin Foley was called to clear the effort off the line.

After 30 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Crewe

As the fog continued to descend on Kenilworth Road, Luton were struggling to convert their possession into chances as the Hatters continued to wait for their first shot on target.

That statistic was broken on 39 minutes as Vine picked up a pass from Showunmi to cut inside from the left flank with a left-footed shot that Williams comfortable saved.

AT HALF TIME: LUTON 0 V 0 CREWE

Luton came out storming out for the second-half with Robinson hitting a first-time volley from the edge of the area straight into the arms of Williams.

As the Hatters began the second-half by pushing more bodies forward, Edwards riffled a shot from distance that was heading goalbound until it was diverted off target by a wicked deflection off a Crewe defender.

Crewe's attacks were rare but the visitors were getting dangerously close to breaking the deadlock. On 53 minutes, Higdon almost got the final touch on Lunt's fierce cross from the right flank.

Chances continued to arrive Luton's way and Showunmi was next up with a header that was directed straight into the arms of Williams.

After 60 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Crewe

Morgan was called upon to try and change Luton's fortunes as Vine partnered Showunmi in attack with Feeney giving way.

The move almost made an immediate impact and Showunmi and Vine combined to lay a shot on for Holmes but the midfielder saw his attempt take a wicked deflection.

The golden chance of game arrived on 65 minutes when Crewe's Steve Jones somehow missed the target from inside the six-yard box after Higdon's knockdown a cross from the left wing.

Edwards saw a low drive on 68 minutes neatly saved by Williams as the Crewe goalkeeper showed great agility to palm away the Trinidad's shot.

After sustaining the pressure, Luton finally saw their possession get their rewards when the deadlock was finally broken on 69 minutes. Picking up a long ball, Showunmi displayed great trickery to cut inside his marker and lay a pass into the path of Vine, who calmly side-footed home from close range.

The home-side didn't have to wait long to double their advantage as they were awarded a penalty just three minutes later. Vine was again in the thick of the action and was sent tumbling in the penalty area under a challenge from Foster. The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and was quick to give Foster his marching orders as Vine dusted himself off to send Williams the wrong way from with the spot kick.

After 75 mins: Luton 2 v 0 Crewe

The game was over as a contest as Luton grabbed a third on 76 minutes. Holmes' cross from the right flank was eventually headed home by Morgan after the Luton midfielder initially had his shot well saved from Williams.

An amazing ending to this game continued on 83 minutes as Higdon gave Crewe a consolation goal as the Luton defence failed to clear their lines. The striker reacted quickest at the far post to head home a cross from Lunt.

To finish off this amazing game, Showunmi got in on the act. He sweetly finished off a move when Vine wormed his way into an opening to lay-off a pass to his team-mate, who made no mistake from six-yards

AT FULL TIME: LUTON 4 V 1 CREWE

Luton: Beresford, Foley, Underwood, Edwards, Vine (Brkovic 90), Feeney (Morgan 60), Robinson, Showunmi, Heikkinen, Holmes, Barnett

Subs not used: Keane, Andrew, Brill

Bookings:

Crewe: Williams, Moss, Tonkin (Moses 46), Jones (Rogers 76), Foster, Lunt, Jones, Walker, Rivers (Varney 70), Higdon, Roberts.

Subs not used: Tomlinson, Johnson

Bookings:

Sent-Off: Foster (71)

Referee: Mr P. T Crossley

Attendance: 7,474 (204 from Crewe)

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