The Hatters picked up their first plus point of the season and were a minute away from taking all three as an incredible match ended with both sides sharing six goals.

After leading at half time with goals from Asa Hall and Sunday Wasiu, the Hatters then allowed the Bantams back into the match with two goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

With time ticking away the Hatters thought they'd won the game when Hall headed home Kevin Nicholls' free kick.

But in a controversial and confusing ending, referee Trevor Kettle sent off Chris Martin and awarded Bradford a penalty three minutes into added time which was converted by Barry Conlon to give the visitors' a point.

Captain Kevin Nicholls was a surprise inclusion on a strong-looking Hatters bench which also included Claude Gnakpa, Ian Roper and Sam Parkin.

Hatters manager Mick Harford made three changes to his starting 11 following Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy area final first leg.

Kevin Gallen, Ian Henderson and Sunday Wasiu were all cup-tied for the trip to the Withdean, but all started.

Gnapka, Paul McVeigh and Drew Talbot all missed out following Tuesday's match with the Frenchman the only one of the trio selected on the bench.

Bradford boss Stuart McCall was able to call upon fit-again striker Peter Thorne and included former Town apprentice Paul McLaren in midfield.

With the Hatters looking for their first positive points of the season, they received a blow just before kick-off when Keith Keane picked up a hamstring injury in the warm-up.

He was replaced by Roper at the heart of the defence and Rossi Jarvis took over the captain's armband.

Bradford, who arrived in fourth place in League 2, did not take long to register their intentions of a sixth win on the road this season when Steve Jones shot past Conrad Logan's goal after two minutes.

The Hatters responded well, though, and took the lead on five minutes when Asa Hall headed his fifth goal of the season.

Visiting right back Paul Arnison conceded a corner down the Town left and Hall rose highest at the near post to meet Rossi Jarvis's corner to glance a header beyond Rhys Evans to give the hosts the perfect start.

On 19 minutes Bantams captain Graeme Lee let fly from 30 yards but saw his shot drift way over Logan's crossbar.

Two minutes later, this time at the other end, Chris Martin headed over Henderson's deep right-wing cross from six yards as the Hatters looked to double their advantage.

Henderson had to leave the pitch on the 25 minutes and headed down the tunnel to receive treatment on a head injury.

The striker, making his Kenilworth Road debut, returned five minutes later with a new shirt but was refused back onto the pitch by referee Mr Kettle until he had checked the condition of his injury.

Bradford went close to equalising on 33 minutes when Matthew Clarke headed Nicky Law's left-wing corner over the bar.

City almost levelled on 36 minutes when Law's vicious left-wing free-kick caused confusion in the Hatters penalty area, but, after the danger was cleared, the Town broke away and doubled their lead a minute later.

Henderson was causing all sorts of problems down the right flank and he won a free kick after being sent tumbling by Luke O'Brien who earned a booking for his troubles.

Jarvis bent in another dangerous set piece and Sunday Wasiu got ahead of Evans to knock in his first goal for the club from six yards.

Following the goal, and incensed by some of the referee's decisions, Bantams boss Stuart McCall was sent to the stands by Mr Kettle but instead of walking around the pitch he decided to take up residence in executive box number 10.

A minute before the break Wasiu came close to grabbing his second and the Hatters third of the afternoon when he headed over another dangerous Henderson cross.

Bradford came close to reducing arrears when Peter Thorne headed Law's cross just wide of the right post.

Law was then booked for the visitors after taking a free-kick too quickly in the third minute of added time. His first effort shaved the post, but after being cautioned for being too eager to take his shot, his second sailed harmlessly over the bar.

HALF TIME: LUTON TOWN 2-0 BRADFORD CITY

Bradford began the second period well, and after Omar Daley's shot was deflected behind for a corner, they pulled a goal back two minutes after the restart.

Law's left wing corner was headed across goal by Clarke which found ex-Luton midfielder McLaren to tap home from two yards.

The visitors were looking very dangerous, and after Roper was booked for an innocuous-looking challenge on 50 minutes, Lee drove a powerful free-kick from 30 yards which Logan did well to parry away.

However, the visitors were not to be denied an equaliser on 57 minutes when Law - who was a emerging as a constant threat down the Bradford left - squared the ball to Dean Furman on the edge of the area to fire an unstoppable shot beyond Logan.

With the visitors well in command, a minute later Daley ran half the length of the pitch to eventually shoot over from 20 yards.

On 66 minutes Jones came within inches of getting on the end of McLaren's free-kick to give City the lead as the Town's defence stood still.

Wasiu broke clear of the Bantams' defence on 71 minutes but shot straight at Evans and from the follow-up Martin curled a shot agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.

The Kenilworth Road crowd were in full voice moments later when they welcomed Kevin Nicholls to the action when he replaced Gallen.

City continued to threat and Furman came close to scoring his second of the match on 74 minutes.

Bantams' boss McCall, by now sitting in executive box number 11, introduced Barry Conlon for Peter Thorne and it nearly paid dividends on 78 minutes when he headed over another Law corner.

Conlon then should have done better with another header six minutes from time when missing the target after Daley did well to volley over a right-wing cross.

But the Hatters thought they'd won the match in first minute of stoppage time when Hall headed his second of the afternoon.

Martin was fouled on the edge of the Bradford penalty area and Nicholls' accurately flighted free-kick found the midfielder at the back post to head beyond Evans.

But the drama was not over three minutes into added on time when Bradford stole an equaliser from the spot.

The Town failed to clear the ball from their area and in amongst the melee, referee Kettle saw a foul by Hall and awarded the Bantams a penalty.

Mr Kettle's decision had clearly angered the Town players and in the ensuing angst, Spillane and Nicholls were booked and Martin was sent off.

After both sides settled down, Conlon stepped up to roll the ball home from the spot to earn a share of the spoils to cap an extraordinary ending.

Worse news followed the full time whistle with wins for Bournemouth and Grimsby leaving the Hatters nine points adrift at the bottom and 19 points from safety.

FULL TIME: LUTON TOWN 3-3 BRADFORD CITY

Luton Town: Logan, Davis, Roper, Henderson (Howells 90), Wasiu (Parkin 75), Hall, Asafu-Adjaye, Jarvis, Martin, Spillane, Gallen (Nicholls 71).

Subs not used: Brill Gnapka.

Booked: Roper (50), Parkin (90), Spillane (90), Nicholls (90).

Sent off: Martin (90).

Bradford City: Evans, Arnison, McLaren, Lee, Daley (Colbeck 84), Thorne (Conlon 74), Clarke, O'Brien, Furman (Bullock 77), Law, Jones.

Subs not used: Bower, Boulding.

Booked: O'Brien (37), Law (45) Arnison (53), Thorne (72).

Referee: T Kettle

Attendance: 6,053 (including 465 from Bradford).