Sam Parkin scored on his return to the Luton team, but it wasn't enough to help the Hatters to a much-needed win.

Back-to-back wins for Luton looked on the cards, but Cheltenham striker Steven Gillespie grabbed a late equaliser.

And to compound Luton's miserable afternoon, the Hatters were forced to play the last five minutes with ten men after Drew Talbot was carried off on a stretcher.

Luton bossed proceedings in the first half as Matthew Spring and Paul McVeigh both had chances to open the scoring.

But the deadlock was broken on 24 minutes when a David Bell corner was met by an onrushing header from Parkin from six-yards.

Ryan Charles, who kept his place in the starting line-up after scoring in the 3-0 win against Oldham last week, came close to adding a second when he stole in front of his marker to meet Lewis Emanuel's cross. However, the young striker couldn't guide his first-time shot on target.

Emanuel almost grabbed his second goal in as many games when the nippy winger hit a tremendous 30-yard shot that was deflected wide of the Cheltenham goal.

The second half saw a much-improved performance from the visitors, as goalkeeper Dean Brill was kept busy for the Hatters.

The Luton goalkeeper produced a stunning save on 55 minutes when he acrobatically tipped David Bird's free-kick over the bar, in what was Cheltenham's first shot on target.

Then, on 65 minutes, Brill produced an even better save to prevent Damian Spencer a certain goal when the striker was put through on goal. Brill showed great bravery to come storming out of his goal and keep out Spencer's effort with his left hand.

It looked as if Luton would secure a win, but a slip from Keith Keane allowed Ashley Vincent to feed a ball through to Gillespie, who had kept onside, and calmly slot the ball under the body of Brill.

The game ended with a serious injury to Drew Talbot, who was taken to hospital immediately at the end of the game.