The Hatters' last match at Kenilworth Road in the Football League ended all square as play-off chasing Rochdale came back to earn a share of the spoils.

Tom Craddock had given the Town the lead from the penalty spot on 32 minutes when Chris Martin was fouled during an aerial challenge with Dale's Rory McArdle.

Rochdale came out in the second half with much more purpose and they levelled 11 minutes into the second period when substitute Adam Rundle rolled the ball past Dean Brill in the Town goal.

Neither goalkeeper was forced into any meaningful action until the final minute when Brill did well to get down low to deny Adam Le Fondre a minute from time.

For the Hatters' last match at Kenilworth Road in the Football League, manager Mick Harford made two changes to his side following Tuesday night's defeat against Wycombe Wanderers.

Sol Davis and Rossi Jarvis were relegated to the substitutes' bench and were replaced with Kevin Gallen and Jake Howells.

Keith Keane continued with the captaincy in the absence of Kevin Nicholls who underwent an operation on a knee problem on Friday, while Ed Asafu-Asafu was again missing with a sore knee and ankle and Lewis Emanuel was away on compassionate leave.

Rochdale arrived in Bedfordshire chasing a ninth away victory of the season as they looked to confirm their place in the League 2 playoffs for the second successive campaign.

Dale boss Keith Hill named an attacking 4-3-3 formation including 20-goal top scorer Adam Le Fondre alongside Lee Thorpe and Chris Dagnall. The trio has netted 35 goals between this term.

As the visitors kicked off sporting their blue and black striped shirts, the Town lined-up 4-4-2 with Gallen in central midfield and Tom Craddock and Chris Martin in tandem up front.

It was a bright opening from the Hatters who began to play some neat football, much of it coming through the footballing know-how Gallen.

And on five minutes the hosts created the first chance of the game when Michael Spillane's right-wing cross found its way to Asa Hall in the visitors' penalty and the midfielder's shot on the turn was blocked by Ciaran Toner.

The Town threatened again four minutes later when a fine flowing move from the Hatters combining Howells and Craddock found Ian Henderson whose shot from 18 yards was deflected over the crossbar by Nathan Stanton.

Not for the first time this season it was a match the Hatters were dominating possession but Rochdale tested Dean Brill for the first time of the afternoon on 10 minutes when comfortably saving Lee Thorpe's downward header from Simon Ramsden's right-wing cross.

The Kenilworth Road crowd were getting behind their team with a consistent period of support from the stands and on 15 minutes supporters in executive box number 15 unfurled a banner behind Mick Harford reading 'Luton Legend'.

The action had subsided following the bright opening but Gallen volleyed a shot wide Frank Fielding's right-hand post on 23 minutes after the Rochdale goalkeeper had conceded a corner when carrying the ball over the byline when catching Henderson's deep cross.

A beautifully disguised pass from David Livermore found Martin in the Dale area on 27 minutes but the Town's leading scorer's first touch wasn't a good one and Fielding was quick to snuff the danger.

Moments later the visitors carved out a chance themselves when Thorpe's clever ball to Dagnall resulted in the ball squirming wide as Brill advanced.

Back came the Hatters and a minute later Hall drove a shot from 20 yards straight at Fielding.

However on 32 minutes the Town were ahead when referee James Linington awarded a penalty when Martin was pushed in the back by Rory McArdle as the two challenged one another in the air.

Craddock stepped up to slam the spot-kick straight down the middle leaving Fielding with no chance for his 12th goal in Luton colours from 12 yards.

The Hatters were playing some good football with Gallen, Craddock, Livermore and Howells at the heart of it, and on 36 minutes Henderson's dangerous in-swinging free-kick was well caught by Fielding with Hall honing in.

Six minutes before the break another outstanding crossfield ball from Livermore found Martin but for the second time the striker couldn't latch on to the pass and the chance went begging.

A minute later Spillane found himself in the Dale area but after making room for himself his turn and left-footed shot was blocked by Toner.

Two excellent moves of bright, attacking football before half-time underlined the Hatters' dominance, both of which fell to Martin.

Firstly he flashed a header well over Fielding's crossbar after intelligent link-up play involving Livermore and Craddock and then he was unable to latch on to Craddock's cross-field pass.

HALF TIME: LUTON TOWN 1-0 ROCHDALE

As the Hatters kicked-off the second half kicking towards to the Kenilworth Road end, Rochdale manager Keith Hill made two changes at the break introducing Adam Rundle and Joe Thompson for Adam Rundle and Keltie.

Martin had been frustrated in the first half unable to get on the end of a number of chances and as he went in search of his 14th goal of the season he crashed a shot over the bar three minutes into the second period.

Dale threatened two minutes later when Le Fondre glanced a header wide of Brill's left-hand post following Rundle's left wing cross.

A flowing move full of quick passing and close control involving Howells, Martin and Craddock resulted in Martin's shot being blocked bravely by Stanton on 51 minutes as the Town looked to double their lead.

The Hatters were playing some very neat, close football which Rochdale were struggling to cope with but the visitors equalised against the run of play on 56 minutes when Le Fondre found Rundle who was able to tuck the ball past Brill as the Town stood and watched.

A minute later the Hatters should have gone 2-1 ahead when Martin's cross from tight on the right touchline rolled across goal but no Luton player was on hand to tap the ball home as the chance went begging.

From that move Rochdale spurned a great chance to take the lead themselves when Le Fondre blazed over Brill's crossbar when well found by Rundle's square ball as the Town defence was caught napping.

On 66 minutes Thorpe flashed a shot way over Brill's crossbar following Rundle's right-wing cross as the visitors continued to press for the advantage.

Two minutes later Howells had to be alert to head the danger clear following Tom Kennedy's left-wing cross as Le Fondre and Thorpe waited in the wings.

Thorpe missed another good chance for the visitors on 73 minutes when heading over substitute Thompson's cross past Brill's right-hand post from six yards.

Harford made his first change of the afternoon on 77 minutes introducing Sam Parkin for Livermore as the Town went search of a winner.

Hall battled his way through the Dale defence after receiving Gallen's header from just outside the box but his shot sailed harmlessly wide just as a conga started snaking its way through the Main Stand.

With three minutes left Martin tried his luck with shot from 25 yards that was deflected into the arms of Fielding.

Dale almost grabbed a winner with a minute left when Le Fondre's turn and shot was well saved by the good reactions of Brill from close range and that was final act of of League action at Kenilworth Road.

FULL TIME: LUTON TOWN 1-1 ROCHDALE

Luton Town: Brill, Keane, Pilkington, Henderson, Livermore (Parkin 77), Hall, Martin, Spillane, Craddock, Gallen, Howells.

Substitutes not used: Davis, Roper, Jarvis, McVeigh.

Booked: Livermore (72)

Rochdale: Fielding, Ramsden, Kennedy, Stanton, Keltie, Toner, Jones, Dagnall, Le Fondre, Thorpe (Buckley 83), McArdle.

Substitutes not used: Russell, Rundle, Thompson, Newey.

Booked: Thorpe (5), Dagnall (42)

Referee: James Linington

Attendance: 7,025 (including 385 from Rochdale).

Sponsors' man of the match, chosen by Colin Keeley: Jake Howells