Town comeback to earn a point in thrilling second half
The Hatters came from two goals down to earn a point in a dramatic second half against York which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
York scored twice inside four minutes shortly after the break thanks to goals from Josh Carson and Emile Sinclair to stun Kenilworth Road.
But shortly after the Minstermen had doubled their lead, visiting striker Jake Hyde was shown a straight red for a foul on Nathan Doyle.
The Town rallied with their extra man, and substitute Mark Cullen connected with Shaun Whalley’s right-wing corner to half the deficit on 65 minutes.
And the comeback was complete six minutes later when Cullen planted a fine header beyond York goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik following a super cross from Whalley.
The Hatters were not aided by an injury to Doyle, sustained in the challenge which saw Hyde red-carded, and with the Hatters having used all their substitutes, he drifted in and out of the game in between receiving treatment from the sidelines.
His injury broke up the Hatters verve going forward and the Town’s chances of earning victory were reduced further when captain Stephen McNulty, making his 100th appearance for the club, was shown a red card for a challenge on Bradley Halliday.
Both sides went for the jugular in the final stages and in the seventh minute of added time Nathan Oduwa almost snatched the Hatters a last-gasp victory only for his low shot to be kept out by Olejnik.
In the first half the Hatters should have gone in at the break having gone close on several occasions. Jayden Stockley saw one header saved by Olejnik and another cleared off the line by defender Marvin McCoy on the stroke of half-time.
Nathan Odewa, given his first senior start, also impressed and he almost set-up the first goal only for Andy Drury to sky a shot from inside the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy.
But York went ahead in the second half when Carson nodded home Josh Coulson's right-wing cross just minutes after the Town had to substitute Luke Wilkinson with a groin injury.
And four minutes after going ahead the Minstermen doubled their lead when Sinclair's low shot on the turn from just inside the penalty area crept beyond Mark Tyler.
But the Town's fightback came following Hyde's dismissal with Cullen volleying home Whalley's right wing corner and then heading home superbly following another fine Whalley cross.
The Hatters went in search of a winner but it became increasingly difficult following McNulty's red card and Doyle's injury and the Town had to be content with a draw.
TOWN: Tyler; Harriman, Howells, McNulty, Wilkinson (sub Lacey 53); Doyle, Smith, Drury (sub Cullen 57); Hall (sub Whalley 64), Odewa, Stockley. Subs not used: Wall, Guttridge, Robinson, Justham.
ATTENDANCE: 7,763, including 173 from York.