An improved second half performance wasn't enough to give the Hatters a draw despite a late consolation goal.

Northampton took the lead when Poul Hubertz fired home a penalty in the 34th minute before Alex Dyer added another goal on 41 minutes.

Sam Parkin gave Luton a goal in the 90th minute after they failed to make the most of earlier opportunities but it wasn't enough to give them a point.

Luton made one change in this afternoon's team to face Northampton with Calvin Andrew returning to the starting eleven.

Northampton made two changes from the side which drew 1-1 in last weekend's games against Cheltenham.

Poul Hubertz is selected ahead of Jonathan Hayes while youngster Dyer was named in midfield instead of Joe Burnell.

Luton started off well and almost found themselves on the score sheet on the 13th minute when a cross by Paul McVeigh found Sam Parkin in the area who headed it just wide of the near post.

Another well-placed ball by McVeigh gave Andrew his chance just outside the area, but unfortunately for the visitors goalkeeper Mark Bunn made a comfortable save.

A foul by Sol Davis on Hubertz gave Northampton a penalty.

Hubertz stepped up to the spot and shot the ball in the opposite direction to that of keeper Dean Brill, giving the Cobblers the lead in the 34th minute.

In the 40th minute Parkin tried to put the Hatters back in the game in style with a sneaky flick of his foot which forced Bunn to push the ball out of the area.

Encouraged by their lead, Northampton continued to attack and doubled their score on 41 minutes when a cross from Daniel Jones set Dyer up who headed home from 12-yards.

HALF TIME: NORTHAMPTON 2-0 LUTON

The Hatters started brightly and the ball looked to be going in on the 47th minute after Andrew managed to break through the defenders before taking a shot from 20-yards.

On 61 minutes, after some impressive football by substitute Darren Currie, Ed Asafu-Adjaye crossed the ball into the area. Andrew stepped up to head the ball but mistimed it and was forced to watch the ball pass him by.

A minute later and the Hatters missed another golden opportunity when Currie found space past the defenders before powering a shot straight at the keeper from six-yards.

In a game that Luton domainated for long spells, Town continued to find ways through the Cobblers defence but failed to get the ball past in-form stopper Bunn.

However, Luton got a late consolation goal in the last minute when, after a shot from Currie, Bunn palmed the ball into the path of Parkin who shot the ball into the back of the net.

FULL TIME: NORTHAMPTON 2-1 LUTON

Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Jackman, Coke (Burnell 77), Akinfenwa (Henderson 82), Holt, Dolman, Dyer (Hayes 66), Jones, Little, Hubertz

Subs not used: Doig, Dunn

Bookings: Coke (42)

Luton: Brill, Hutchison, Parkin, O'Leary, Emanuel, Andrew, Keane, Spring, Davis (Currie 55), McVeigh, Asafu-Adjaye

Subs not used: Goodall, Robinson, Beresford, Beavan

Bookings: O'Leary (69)

Referee: Mr K Friend

Attendance: 5,132