Stuart Fleetwood struck twice as Luton closed to within two points of the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off places by comfortably beating Ebbsfleet.

The Hatters took the lead in first-half injury-time when Fleetwood volleyed in from 12 yards.

The striker doubled the lead less than a minute after the restart with a drilled shot from inside the area.

Craig McAllister made sure of Luton's win by firing past Tom McNeil from 12 yards deep into injury time.

The win means Luton are now just two points below fifth-placed Kidderminster with a game in hand, and Paul Buckle's men play host to Harriers on Saturday.

Ebbsfleet, who are 14th in the table, only named four substitutes for the game.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Luton Town manager Paul Buckle told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I'm absolutely thrilled. I thought the performance was fantastic.

"The players deserve all the credit and we've trained very, very hard.

"We're starting to look organised and aggressive, with and without the ball.

"And the fans are responding. This is a great place when it's loud like that."

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent:

"We could have had a bit more belief and showed a bit more aggression in certain areas.

"We've come to Luton and got a result in the past and could have got it today even though we were short of numbers.

"The goals weren't down to Luton being a great side, it was down to naivety and lack of aggression which was a problem.

"The two goals either side of half time killed us."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Luton

  • 01 Tyler
  • 06 Pilkington
  • 15 Howells
  • 18 Osano
  • 34 Kovacs
  • 04 Keane
  • 07 Lawless
  • 11 Willmott (Poku - 90' )
  • 28 Watkins (Blackett - 75' )
  • 13 Fleetwood
  • 27 Gray (McAllister - 83' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Gleeson
  • 12 Blackett
  • 20 Kissock
  • 25 Poku
  • 09 McAllister

Ebbsfleet United

  • 12 McNeil
  • 03 Herd
  • 16 Smith Booked
  • 02 Stone
  • 07 West
  • 08 Marwa (Azeez - 14' )
  • 14 Howe
  • 24 Barrett
  • 31 Bellamy
  • 10 Shakes
  • 15 Marum

Substitutes

  • 21 McCarthy
  • 18 Azeez (Willock - 63' )
  • 27 Adams
  • 09 Willock
Ref: Robert Merchant
Att: 5,526

Match Stats

Shots

15 3

On target

7 1

Corners

13 8

Fouls

6 0

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:42 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:48 Goal scored

Goal - Craig McAllister - Luton 3 - 0 Ebbsfleet A goal is scored by Craig McAllister from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Luton 3-0 Ebbsfleet United.

90:00 +0:02 Substitution

Substitution Godfrey Poku joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robbie Willmott.

88:02

Liam Enver-Marum is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Tyler.

87:47

Short corner worked by Liam Enver-Marum.

84:24

Shot by Stuart Fleetwood from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

82:48

Corner taken by Robbie Willmott played to the near post.

82:04 Substitution

Substitution Craig McAllister comes on in place of Andre Gray.

81:06

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Joe Howe.

79:18

Handball decision goes against Ross Smith. Direct free kick taken by Alex Lawless.

76:50

Inswinging corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line, Effort on goal by Andre Gray from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

74:26 Substitution

Substitution (Luton) makes a substitution, with Shane Blackett coming on for Adam Watkins.

73:04

Stuart Fleetwood is ruled offside. Ross Smith takes the indirect free kick.

72:10

Effort from outside the penalty box by Alex Lawless goes wide left of the target.

68:37

Outswinging corner taken by Michael West from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Jake Howells.

67:24

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott, save by Tom McNeil.

66:20

Inswinging corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Calum Willock.

64:54

Corner taken by Robbie Willmott, save by Tom McNeil.

64:37

Short corner taken by Stuart Fleetwood.

63:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by George Pilkington on Calum Willock. Johnny Herd takes the free kick.

62:16 Substitution

Substitution Calum Willock is brought on as a substitute for Lanre Azeez.

61:01

Outswinging corner taken by Michael West from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Andre Gray.

51:04

George Pilkington concedes a free kick for a foul on Ross Smith. Tom McNeil takes the direct free kick.

50:40

Corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line, Ross Smith makes a clearance.

48:09

Stuart Fleetwood produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.

45:32 Goal scored

Goal - Stuart Fleetwood - Luton 2 - 0 Ebbsfleet Stuart Fleetwood finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Luton 2-0 Ebbsfleet United.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +4:51 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +3:54 Goal scored

Goal - Stuart Fleetwood - Luton 1 - 0 Ebbsfleet Goal scored by Stuart Fleetwood from inside the box high into the middle of the goal. Luton 1-0 Ebbsfleet United.

45:00 +2:39

The referee gives a free kick against Lanre Azeez for handball. Free kick taken by Mark Tyler.

45:00 +1:01

Strike by Jake Howells from inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

45:00 +1:01

Jake Howells takes a shot from inside the six-yard box clearing the crossbar.

45:00 +0:45

Stuart Fleetwood takes a shot. Save made by Tom McNeil.

43:58

Robbie Willmott has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

43:17

Liam Enver-Marum has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

42:18

Inswinging corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line, clearance made by Ross Smith.

40:13

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Keith Keane.

39:27

Corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line, clearance made by Ross Smith.

39:27 Booking

Booking Ross Smith is cautioned.

29:25

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael West played to the near post, clearance by Janos Kovacs.

28:23

Ricky Shakes produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.

26:07

Stuart Fleetwood produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

24:44

Corner taken right-footed by Michael West from the right by-line, save made by Mark Tyler.

23:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andre Gray on Craig Stone. Craig Stone restarts play with the free kick.

21:21

The assistant referee flags for offside against Andre Gray. Tom McNeil takes the indirect free kick.

20:05

Corner taken by Michael West played to the near post.

19:14

Michael West takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Jake Howells.

18:59

Shot by Liam Enver-Marum from 18 yards. Save by Mark Tyler.

17:33

Drilled right-footed shot by Curtis Osano. Save made by Tom McNeil.

16:27

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Robbie Willmott, Joe Howe manages to make a clearance.

16:09

Andre Gray has a volleyed shot. Save made by Tom McNeil.

15:18

The assistant referee signals for offside against Alex Lawless. Tom McNeil takes the indirect free kick.

13:10 Substitution

Substitution (Ebbsfleet United) makes a substitution, with Lanre Azeez coming on for Ram Marwa.

13:10 Substitution

Substitution Calum Willock is brought on as a substitute for Liam Bellamy.

8:54

Johnny Herd fouled by Andre Gray, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Johnny Herd.

8:01

Outswinging corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the right by-line, George Pilkington produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

7:46

Andre Gray takes a shot. Tom McNeil makes a save.

4:07

Adam Watkins challenges Neil Barrett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom McNeil.

2:04

Foul by Keith Keane on Ram Marwa, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michael West.

0:29

Michael West takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Jake Howells makes a clearance.

0:00

The match begins.

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