Sloppy defending cost Luton a share of the spoils as a late Craig Easton effort gave Swindon their first win of the season.

The Hatters were on course to pick up a hard-earned point after Dave Edwards splendidly guided header on 66 minutes had cancelled out Lee Peacock's second-half effort.

But Easton was somehow given the easiest of opportunities to clinch all three points for the home-side when he slammed home a shot from six-yards after a mix-up in the Hatters defence.

After making several changes to his starting line-up in midweek, Hatters boss Kevin Blackwell reverted to the same side which kicked the season off with a 2-1 win against Hartlepool last week.

That meant Chris Perry, Alan Goodall, Steve Robinson, Darren Currie and Paul Peschisolido were all recalled to the starting line-up after missing the midweek win over Dagenham & Redbridge.

Swindon, under the guidance of former Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock recalled goalkeeper Paul Smith and full-back Jamie Vincent after both missed the Carling Cup defeat to Charlton.

Wet and miserable conditions greeted Luton fans in their uncovered terraces, but the strong travelling Hatters army would have been satisfied with their sides start to the game.

The Hatters were spraying the ball around the slippery County Ground surface with ease as their long ball approach, which was so evident against Hartlepool, was firmly ditched.

And it was clever work from Peschisolido and Currie that almost set up Paul Furlong for the opener on 15 minutes. The former QPR man got in between two Swindon defenders but couldn't direct Currie's cross on target.

Furlong was looking lively and he again went close on 23 minutes, this time failing to direct a header on target after Goodall was given time to cross from the left flank.

And it was not just in the air that Furlong was causing Swindon problems as his power and pace was also giving the home-side some concern.

On 25 minutes, Edward swept through a pass that unlocked the Swindon defence and Furlong almost managed to turn the ball home from ten yards, but was denied by the feet of Smith.

Swindon began to press forward and winger Christian Roberts almost scored a fine individual effort on 26 minutes, but after cutting inside from the right, he was denied a certain goal by Perry's brave block.

From the resulting corner, Swindon thought they had taken the lead when Sofiene Zaaboub's cross was turned home at the back post by Hasney Aljofree. But Swindon's celebrations were cut short after referee Janail Singh awarded a free-kick for a foul on Hatters keeper Dean Brill.

The same combination went close again five minutes before the interval as Swindon finished the half the stronger side. Zaaboub's corner was headed towards goal by Aljofree, but the midfielder was this time to be denied by Matthew Spring, who cleared the goal bound effort off the line.

AT HALF TIME: SWINDON 0 V 0 LUTON

The wet weather conditions was always going to have an effect on the game, but it almost left the Swindon goalkeeper totally embarrassed.

Three minutes into the second half, Luton were awarded a free-kick after Peschisolido was bundled to the ground. With three Luton players over the ball, Currie curled a shot over the wall, which Smith somehow fumbled over the crossbar.

But Swindon were the side who were continuing to look the more likelier to score and were again left frustrated on 51 minutes when a cross from the left found Roberts at the back post, but the midfielder's shot was again cleared off the line, this time by Chris Coyne.

It looked as if the breakthrough for the home side would never materialise but their patient football was rewarded when Swindon unlocked the Luton defence on 55 minutes after Zaaboub's cross was met by the head of the unmarked Peacock, who found the net from eight yards.

Brill should have been punished for flapping at a Jamie Vincent cross on 62 minutes, but, with the goal at his mercy, Blair Sturrock failed to capitalise, with his first touch pushing him out wide.

And that gifted opportunity was to be punished as Luton found a way back into the game on 66 minutes as Currie's cross from the left was headed on by Edwards from 12-yards, who watched on to see his effort leave Smith with no chance.

Swindon were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty two minutes later when a clumsy challenge from Goodall sent the lively Roberts tumbling to the ground.

Half chances were continuing to be created by both sides as Drew Talbot was thrown into the action by Blackwell as Luton went in search of a winner.

On 83 minutes, a cross from Robinson was headed inches wide by Furlong's header from eight yards before Roberts drilled a low shot straight into the body of Brill.

It looked as if Luton had done enough to claim a share of the spoils, but they were to be denied in the closing stages when Ibon Arrieta's cross was skewed by Peacock and found caused confusion in the Hatters defence. The ball then broke loose and Easton slammed home from close range.

FULL TIME: SWINDON 2 V 1 LUTON

Swindon: P Smith, J Smith, Vincent, Peacock, Ifil, Roberts, Easton, Zaaboub (Comminges 82), Aljofree, Pook, Sturrock (Arrieta 68)

Subs not used: Brezovan, Mohamed, Tozer

Bookings:

Luton: Brill, Goodall, Perry, Coyne, Currie (Talbot 76), Peschisolido (McVeigh 63), Jackson, Robinson, Edwards, Spring, Furlong (Morgan 90)

Subs not used: Hutchison, Keane.

Bookings: Currie (36)

Referee: Mr J Singh

Attendance: 7,520