We could not have asked for more.

The Town did all they could to extend their season but it was not meant to be on an exhausting and dramatic afternoon at Bolton.

Many of Luton Town’s greatest moments have come thanks to 3-2 victories.

Think Arsenal in 1988. Derby in 1990. West Ham in 1994. Scunthorpe in 2009. Portsmouth in 2019. Blackburn in 2020.

Despite hauling themselves back in front having trailed at half-time in a game that they had to win, Bolton 2026 will not join the pantheon of historic Hatters victories.

It was heartbreaking to witness the Town celebrate their late, late winner not knowing that 200 miles away, just moments earlier, Stevenage had scored against Wigan in stoppage time. The realisation soon dawned on those in orange who just did not know. As hollow as a goal you’re ever likely to celebrate.

Once the full-time whistle blew the Hatters players were applauded by the noisy 3,000 who had made the trip from Bedfordshire, gutted that not even a ninth win in 12 games would be enough to lift the Town into the top six and with it a shot at promotion to the Championship.

It was a day when eyes were everywhere. The control out of our hands. Emilio Lawrence struck the post on eight minutes as the Hatters began on the front foot.

But, on 15 minutes it was advantage was with Jack Wilshere’s side when Isaiah Jones sped into the box and was tripped by Max Conway. Jordan Clark converted the penalty for his 13th goal of the season and the live league table had the Town up into sixth.

However, the lead lasted five minutes. Jordi Osei-Tutu flashed a fine finish home from inside the penalty area and, all of a sudden, we were back to where we started.

As half-time approached the Hatters almost retook the lead. For a second time the woodwork was hit, Kasey Palmer nodding against the bar following Kal Naismith’s inswinging free-kick.

But just when you thought the half would end level, the Hatters conceded at the worst possible moment when the dangerous Ibrahim Cissoko slotted home a wonderful finish to give the Trotters the lead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

There was still time for the woodwork to be struck a third time for the Town at the end of the first period when Mads Andersen’s effort came back off the post.

Behind, the Hatters remained patient in the second half. Bolton pushed for a third goal to put the game to bed. Cissoko saw a shot stopped by Keeley before Mason Burstow saw a follow-up crash against the outside of the post.

But the hope returned just after the hour when Liam Walsh’s deep corner was met at the back post by Hakeem Odoffin. 2-2. Game on again.

Within minutes the Hatters then needed a superb save from Keeley to prevent a top-corner-bound shot from Amario Cozier-Duberry from finding the target. Nerves were beginning to jangle.

As time ticked down into the last 10 minutes the Town began to turn the screw. Wilshere sent on Davy van den Berg and Ali Al-Hamadi but, as the Hatters attacked, gaps were appearing at the back.

The Hatters were caught twice with a minute left on the clock only for the hosts to miss the chances to kill the game off. Cozier-Duberry’s low effort was parried by Keeley before Thierry Gale curled over from the edge of the box.

The game ticked into stoppage time. The Hatters needed a goal. Sadly, before they got one Stevenage did – and hopes of sneaking into sixth evaporated.

Still, the players did not know when substitutes Gideon Kodua and Al-Hamadi combined for Morris to poke the ball over the line. As it stood, 3-2 up but all in vain. Celebrations cut short.

Remarkably the Hatters, by now aware of Stevenage’s goal, had an opportunity to score a fourth when Al-Hamadi was fouled in the box but Nahki Wells’ penalty was saved by home goalkeeper Jack Bonham.

The full-time whistle blew. In isolation, a 3-2 win at Bolton a magnificent result. In the end, though, a victory rendered immaterial with every result elsewhere going the way we did not want.

It’s the hope that kills you – but what a terrific effort.

See you next season.

Up the Town.

Town: Keeley, Naismith, Andersen (sub Al-Hamadi 81), Odoffin, Lawrence (sub Kodua 73), Jones, Walsh, Clark, Richards (sub Morris 61), Palmer (sub van den Berg 81), Wells.

Subs not used: Shea, Lonwijk, Saville.

Attendance: 25,555, including a magnificent 3,003 supporting the Town.