On his return to Kenilworth Road, Manager Mick Harford made two changes to the side that had lost by the odd goal in seven at Bournemouth last weekend for the match against Leeds United.
Calvin Andrew came back into the side to partner Paul Furlong upfront, with Drew Talbot moving to the right of the midfield. Dean Morgan dropped down to the bench to make way and at the back, Richard Jackson came into the side in the place of Don Hutchinson, who accompanied Morgan amongst the substitutes.
Harford's former Chelsea team-mate Dennis Wise also made two changes, amending the side that lost to Doncaster in their last league outing, former Luton striker Tresor Kandle was handed a start ahead of Tore Andre Flo upfront and David Prutton came into the midfield for the suspended Neil Kilkenny.
Matthew Spring tried his luck from 35 yards out in the opening minute and his defeflected drive almost wrong-footed Casper Ankergren. The show of intent from Spring, against his former club, served as an early warning to one of the division's form sides that they would not be in for an easy afternoon.
The early play was broken up by a series of fouls and offside decisions as both sides struggled to get a strangle hold on the game. After 12 minutes Kandol lobbed a right-footed shot over the bar from just outside the box. In reply, a similar effort from Furlong was blocked by Darren Kenton; seconds later Goodall then fired over with a left-footed drive.
Leeds though took the lead after 26 minutes with their first real chance of note when defender Paul Huntington planted a free-header past Dean Brill from a Peter Sweeney free-kick, after arriving in the box under marked.
Another long distance effort from Spring was kept out by Ankergren and then Andrew shot wide from twenty yards out as the Hatters continued to press for an equaliser their first-half efforts had warranted.
Steve Robinson lofted a cross into the box five minutes before half-time and Ankergren misjudged the cross, eventually forcing the ball out for a corner. From the resulting corner, Keith Keane then volleyed over in the final incident of note in a half they largely dictated.
The Hatters made a bright start to the second period - just as they did in the first - when Talbot flashed a shot a cross-cum-shot that ended up on the roof of the net.
After an hour, Leeds' defence continued to stand firm as Prutton deflected another Spring shot wide and from the corner Darren Kenton was able to clear. Midway through the half Ankergren needed treatment after a clash with Andrew and there was a lengthy hold-up in proceedings while the Dane recovered.
Morgan, who held talks with Leeds during the current transfer window, was introduced to the action after 68 minutes, replacing Darren Currie in a straight swap as Harford looked to find the spark that would see his side back on level terms. The Hatters then went close twice in as many minutes as Talbot and Morgan both saw shots blocked.
Luton made their second substitution with quarter of an hour remaining, again a straight swap but a significant one, Parkin returning to action in the place of Andrew, for his first league appearance since the opening day of the season. The former Chelsea man has been out for six months with an ankle injury.
A dangerous cross from Alan Goodall was just beyond Paul Furlong as the Hatters again pressed and the anguish on the striker's face showed how close he was to connecting.
Eleven minutes from the end of the match, Ankergren was booked for time wasting as Leeds attempted to wind the clock down and preserve the three points Huntington's first half header had put them in possession of.
The Hatters then made their third and final substitution as Stephen O'Leary replaced Talbot and another speculative long range effort from Spring was the prelude for Leeds' first change, Tore Andre Flo introduced for the final four minutes instead of Jermaine Beckford.
On the stroke of ninety minutes Ian Westlake replaced Peter Sweeney for the visitors and the fourth official revealed there would be a further four minutes of play as the Kenilworth Road crowd encouraged the Hatters forward and the players looked to oblige.
Morgan scampered free on the left and whipped over a dangerous cross which Furlong was able to get on the end of however he didn't meet the ball as cleanly as he would have liked and was unable to convert arguably Luton's best chance of the match.
With Harford searching for his first point - at the third attempt - since taking charge, he had seen his side enjoy the majority of the second period and watched them throw everything at their promotion chasing opponents however with the clock ticking down, Leeds looked likely to hold on and avenge their 5-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road back in October 2006.
A minute later though Furlong's chance was forgotten by three sides of the ground as Parkin rose to head home another teasing Goodall cross and deservedly level the match.
It was only a month before Leeds previous visit to Luton that Parkin had last struck in a Hatters shirt, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Colchester before he embarked on an injury ravaged 15 months.
LUTON : Brill; Goodall, Perry, Keane, Jackson; Talbot (sub O'Leary 84), Robinson, Spring, Currie (sub Morgan 68); Furlong, Andrew (sub Parkin 75).
Substitutes not used: Hutchison, Beresford.
LEEDS: Ankergren; Richardson, Parker, Huntington, Kenton; Prutton, Johnson, Hughes, Sweeney (sub Westlake 90); Kandol, Beckford (sub Flo 86).
Substitutes not used: Heath, Carole, Sorsa.
Bookings: Huntington 28, Ankergren 79
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