The Hatters' got their pre-season off to a winning start with a comfortable win at St Neots Town.

The United Counties League outfit threatened early on and the Town had to thank goalkeeper Mark Tyler for two crucial saves in the opening six minutes.

But gradually the Hatters got on top and Alan White put them in front on 13 minutes when the defender beat his marker at the near post to head Kevin Nicholls corner into the net.

The Town continued to dominate but were pegged back, against the run of play, three minutes before the break when Josh Sozzo hit a tremendous equaliser with a shot on the turn.

Saints' joy, however, was short-lived as the Hatters regained the lead two minutes later when the lively Adam Newton volleyed the second Town goal of the night after Liam Hatch had seen an initial header well-saved.

Both teams changed personnel at the interval but, in a period of few clear-cut chances, the Hatters put the game beyond doubt when substitute Lawrence Hunter fired home at the back post.

For a minute-by-minute analysis, read below...

St Neots Town 1 (Sozzo 42)

Luton Town 3 (White 13, Newton 44, Hunter 64)

Live updates from Rowley Park.

90 mins - It's all over here at Rowley Park. And the Town have run out 3-1 winners.

80 mins - Another change for the Hatters as Mitchell is replaced by Dan Walker.

79 mins - Craddock twice sets-up Talbot for two chances in the space of the 30 seconds. Firstly Talbot's shot on the turn is deflected behind and from the resulting corner, Craddock nods the ball into the path of Talbot who volleys high and wide.

74 mins - Craddock goes on another run, twisting and turning past the home defenders. He almost gets through, and it looks as though he's pulled back, but nothing's given by the referee and the ball rolls harmlessly through into the arms of Brown.

70 mins - Hunter, the trialist and the scorer of the Town's third, is hunting a second but this his shot at the near post is caught by Brown, much to the annoyance of the waiting Hatters attackers looking for a square pass.

69 mins - Craddock runs menacingly at the home defence and finds Gnakpa on the right-hand edge of the penalty to strike a shot which is comfortably saved by Brown, diving to his right.

64 mins - GOAL!  The Hatters, however, react well to that scare by going further ahead. Jason Mitchell does well to dig out a cross from the right and fellow trialist Lawrence Hunter is on hand at the back post to smash the ball firmly into the net.

62 mins - A let-off for Town as they are this time thankful to Jake Howells who is in the right place at the right time to clear Shane Fox's goal-bound shot off the line after the home striker was well found by Scully.

60 mins - A change for the Hatters as Tyler makes way for substitute goalkeeper Preston Edwards. Moments later Claude Gnakpa's dangerous is well cleared by Fuff.

59 mins - The referee has finally noticed that St Neots have two number nines on the field and gets Lee Bassett to swap shirts. He's now wearing the number four.

55 mins - Now it's the other way round as Craddock sets-up Talbot this time to hit a left-footed shot towards goal from 15 yards, but it's comfortable for the Saints' substitute goalkeeper Ian Brown.

52 mins - In the first chance of the second half, Craddock fires high over the St Neots crossbar from just outside the penalty area after being fed by Talbot who did well to twice win the ball off the home defence.

46 mins - It's the Saints who kick-off the second period. Craddock and Talbot up front for the Hatters who are now skippered by Rossi Jarvis.

It will be all change in the second half for the Hatters as Mick Harford makes 10 changes for the second 45.

Luton Town: (second half) Mark Tyler, Jason Mitchell, Ian Roper, Ryan Frater, Jake Howells, Claude Gnakpa, Rossi Jarvis, Asa Hall, Lawrence Hunter, Tom Craddock, Drew Talbot.

HALF TIME: Referee Mike Shaw blows time on the first half action in which the Town lead. 

After being indebted to goalkeeper Mark Tyler during the early exchanges for two great saves, Alan White headed the Town ahead before the hosts equalised three minutes before half time.

But the Town lead thanks to Adam Newton's close range effort a minutes before the interval.

44 mins - GOAL!  The Town are only behind for two minutes as Newton gets the goal his play deserves when smashing home the loose ball past McShane after the goalkeeper had initially done well to keep out a firm Hatch header.

42 mins - GOAL! Against the run of play the Saints hit a storming equaliser. Scully's cross from the right find Josh Sozzo who, on the turn, hits a teriffically hit shot beyond Tyler from the edge of the area.

41 mins - Newton continues to terrorise the home defence and he lays a square patch into the path of Hatch who could only shoot straight at McShane.

37 mins - A great challenge from Steve Dogbe on Hatch denies the striker an opportunity to test McShane.

30 mins - Still the Hatters continue to attack and Kevin Gallen, wearing the number four shirt this evening, sees his shot from 20 yards hit Charles.

26 mins - A great chance for Town goes begging. Good play between George Beavan and Andy Burgess sees the latter cross for Hatch who gets his header all wrong when unmarked in the centre of the six-yard box.

25 mins - Charles has looked lively up front for the Hatters and nimble footwork from the striker gives him the space to fire an effort inches wide of McShane's right-hand post.

23 mins - Brave defending again from the hosts, this time from Nick Hurst, flying into a challenge to deny Nicholls a chance on the edge of the penalty area.

20 mins - Newton is proving to be a right nuisance on the right flank and he draws another good save from McShane when sending an angled shot goalwards. Moments later, after St Neots fail to clear their lines, George Pilkington sees a shot well-blocked by Glen Fuff.

13 mins - GOAL!  From the resulting corner from Nicholls, Alan White beats his marker at the near post to the head the Town in front.

12 mins - The Town are turning the screw and an Adam Newton shot from the right-hand edge of the area is deflected behind for a corner.

9 mins - Chance at the other this time as the Hatters call the Saints goalkeeper McShane into the his first serious action. Kevin Nicholls sends a deep cross to the back post to find Hatch but the striker's diving header is well blocked.

6 mins - St Neots are enjoying a fine spell and Tyler comes to the Town's rescue for the second time in two minutes when a Edge free-kick from 25 yards curls towards the top corner. It seems like the ball is heading in until Tyler sticks out a hand to turn the ball around the post. Great stop.

4 mins - The first chance of the game and it falls to the hosts. A deep cross from the left from Ian Edge finds Leon Simpson who's towering header is saved by Mark Tyler, diving down well to right.

2 mins - Ryan Charles, starting alongside Liam Hatch in attack uses his pace to wriggle free of his marker but the St Neots goalkeeper Luke McShane is quick off his line to deny the striker a shot at goal.

It's a warm and sunny evening at Rowley Park as the Hatters begin their pre-season.

Town boss Mick Harford names a strong side to start the first 45 minutes with a second team coming on at the break.

Luton Town: (first half) Mark Tyler, Keith Keane, George Beavan, Kevin Gallen, Alan White, George Pilkington, Adam Newton, Kevin Nicholls, Liam Hatch, Ryan Charles, Andy Burgess.

St Neots Town: Luke McShane, Steve Dogbe, Parys Okai, Michael Hyem, Glen Fuff, Nick Hurst, Matt Kennelford, Ian Edge, Tony Scully, Leon Simpson, Josh Sozzo. 

Referee: Mike Shaw.