Luton will rue missed opportunities in this evening's 2-1 defeat against Gillingham.

The Hatters went ahead on 20 minutes when Parkin headed the ball into an empty net.

But despite numerous chances they failed to increase their lead.

Luton weren't able to hold on and couldn't match Gillingham's pace and power in the second half.

Gillingham pulled a goal back in the second half after a scramble caused confusion, allowing Simeon Jackson to head the ball home on 75 minutes.

Jackson got his second in 87 minutes with a header at the far post.

Luton name an unchanged line up for this evenings game against Gillingham, so Ed Asafu-Adjaye keeps his place and will make his away debut.

While new signings George Ba and Donovan Simmonds are both on the bench for Gillingham.

In a Luton dominated first half it took Gillingham 13 minutes to have their first shot on target. Dennis Oli found space in a packed box to take a shot but on form keeper Dean Brill made an easy save.

Oli had his second chance just two minutes later, but again failed to find the back of the net.

Luton put themselves firmly on the score sheet in the 20th minute, when a well placed cross from Paul McVeigh found Parkin, who was able to head the ball over the stranded keeper and into the net from just outside the area.

Gillingham should have done better when a cross from Simeon Jackson skimmed the goal mouth.

The Hatters could have easily doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Parkin headed wide a cross from Ryan Charles.

Asafu-Adjaye was unlucky not to have added his name to the score sheet when he saw his attempt hit the cross bar.

Keeper Brill made an impressive save on Oli's third chance of the game when he was forced to go full stretch to push the ball around the post.

Luton had the chance to end the first half in style on 33 minutes, when a cross from Parkin found Spring in the area, but much to the delight of the home side, his shot went wide of the target.

HALF TIME: GILLINGHAM 0-1 LUTON

Gillingham looked to have broken down the Luton defence with continued pressure and had a perfect opportunity when on the 56th minute Jackson broke away from the defenders before taking a shot.

Brill only managed to push the ball away, but Hatters fan breathed a sigh of relief when he caught it on the second attempt.

The home side really should have brought the game back level on the 62nd minute when once again Jackson managed to break away from the pack.

Brill came off his line in an attempt to close him down but was unable to prevent the ball heading straight for the empty net.

However, Luton will have Sol Davis to thank with an impressive diving header on the line, keeping the ball out of the net and the Hatters in the lead.

Gilingham continued to persist and eventually the inevitable happened.

A pass by substitute Ba caused a scramble in the area.

The Hatters thought they had finally cleared the danger when Brill pushed the ball out of the area.

However, Leroy Griffiths was waiting and quickly crossed the ball to Jackson who headed it into the back of the net in the 75th minute.

The home side finally pulled ahead on 87 minutes when a long ball from Nicky Southall allowed Jackson to head in his second at the far post.

FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 2-1 LUTON

Luton: Brill, Asafu-Adjaye, Davis, Keane, Emanuel, Hutchison, Spring, O'Leary, Parkin, McVeigh, Charles (Andrew, 77)

Subs not used: Currie, Robinson, Beavan, Goodall

Bookings:

Gillingham: Stillie, King (Simmonds 84), Crofts, Bentley, Southall, Jackson, Oli, Nutter (Griffiths 59), Miller(Ba 67), Richards, Cullip

Subs not used: Kiely, Fuller

Bookings: Bentley (60), Crofts (69), Jackson (70)

Referee: Mr Paul Melin

Attendance: 6,412