Luton's Jake Howells scored within the first minute as Town beat Macclesfield.

Howells gave the Hatters the perfect start when he struck from close range, before his pinpoint cross was headed home by Andre Gray to make it 2-0.

Silkmen captain Nat Brown pulled one back shortly after the break when he headed Charlie Henry's free-kick in off the underside of the bar.

But the Hatters secured victory when Scott Rendell tapped home and Stuart Fleetwood struck from a tight angle.

Macclesfield had a number of opportunities to equalise with the score at 2-1, but could not find the net as Matthew Barnes-Homer hit the crossbar and Arnaud Mendy's effort flew just wide of the post.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Luton Town manager Paul Buckle told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We've pushed on from the disappointment (of losing 1-0 to Telford) at home to get three points at Ebbsfleet on Monday.

"Another three today is a fantastic return and a great show of character from the players.

"We made a terrific start, which is what we need to do at home, and the fans got behind us.

"We had a little bit of a wobble in the second half but the fans stuck with us and it was a very good day for us."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Luton Town

  • 01 Tyler
  • 02 Rowe-Turner (Watkins - 73' )
  • 03 Taylor
  • 05 Beckwith Booked
  • 06 Kovacs (Essam - 90' )
  • 11 Howells
  • 07 Lawless
  • 17 O'Donnell
  • 10 Rendell
  • 13 Fleetwood
  • 27 Gray (Woolley - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 33 Brill
  • 24 Essam
  • 15 Watkins
  • 28 Woolley
  • 29 Walker

Macclesfield

  • 01 Cronin
  • 05 Brown
  • 06 Charnock Booked
  • 22 Braham-Barrett Booked
  • 31 Martin (Diagne - 81' )
  • 07 Mackreth
  • 08 Murtagh
  • 12 Mendy
  • 18 Henry (Morgan-Smith - 74' )
  • 09 Barnes-Homer
  • 32 Holroyd (Fairhurst - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 14 Diagne
  • 17 Wedgbury
  • 23 McNamee
  • 10 Morgan-Smith
  • 20 Fairhurst
Ref: Whitton
Att: 5,803

Match Stats

Shots

14 9

On target

9 2

Corners

4 5

Fouls

9 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:02 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:31 Substitution

Substitution Connor Essam joins the action as a substitute, replacing Janos Kovacs.

90:00 +2:49

The assist for the goal came from Jake Woolley.

90:00 +2:49 Goal scored

Goal - Stuart Fleetwood - Luton 4 - 1 Macclesfld Stuart Fleetwood grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Luton 4-1 Macclesfield.

90:00 +2:33

The ball is delivered by Jake Woolley,

90:00 +2:16

Jake Woolley takes a shot. Lance Cronin makes a save.

90:00 +1:47

Jake Woolley is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lance Cronin takes the free kick.

89:02

Keiran Murtagh takes the direct free kick.

89:02 Substitution

Substitution Andre Gray leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Woolley.

89:02

Unfair challenge on Amari Morgan-Smith by Adam Watkins results in a free kick.

88:30

Foul by Jake Howells on Keiran Murtagh, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tony Diagne.

88:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alex Lawless by Amari Morgan-Smith. Adam Watkins takes the direct free kick.

87:29

Jake Howells takes a short corner.

87:14

Adam Watkins takes a shot. Save by Lance Cronin.

85:07

The official flags Matthew Barnes-Homer offside. Mark Tyler restarts play with the free kick.

84:34

The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott Rendell. Indirect free kick taken by Lance Cronin.

82:57

Corner from left by-line taken by Amari Morgan-Smith.

81:06

Assist on the goal came from Andre Gray.

81:06 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Rendell - Luton 3 - 1 Macclesfld Scott Rendell gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Luton 3-1 Macclesfield.

80:13 Substitution

Substitution Carl Martin leaves the field to be replaced by Tony Diagne.

79:05 Substitution

Substitution Chris Holroyd leaves the field to be replaced by Waide Fairhurst.

75:35

Direct free kick taken by Jake Howells.

75:35 Booking

Booking Craig Braham-Barrett receives a caution.

75:32

Craig Braham-Barrett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andre Gray.

74:36

The referee blows for offside against Chris Holroyd. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Tyler.

73:58

The official flags Stuart Fleetwood offside. Lance Cronin takes the indirect free kick.

73:11 Substitution

Substitution Amari Morgan-Smith joins the action as a substitute, replacing Charlie Henry.

72:51 Substitution

Substitution Adam Watkins on for Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.

71:49

Matthew Barnes-Homer takes a shot.

70:56

Craig Braham-Barrett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alex Lawless. Jake Howells restarts play with the free kick.

66:10

Unfair challenge on Kieran Charnock by Scott Rendell results in a free kick. Kieran Charnock takes the direct free kick.

65:37

The ball is delivered by Jack Mackreth, Greg Taylor manages to make a clearance. Arnaud Mendy has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

64:52

Corner taken left-footed by Jake Howells to the near post, save by Lance Cronin.

64:05

Shot from deep inside the area by Kieran Charnock clears the crossbar.

62:57

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Charlie Henry.

62:38

Charlie Henry produces a cross.

62:13

Inswinging corner taken by Stuart Fleetwood from the left by-line played to the near post, Carl Martin makes a clearance.

61:52

Stuart Fleetwood takes a shot. Save by Lance Cronin.

60:29

Scott Rendell restarts play with the free kick.

60:29 Booking

Booking Kieran Charnock shown a yellow card.

60:23

Foul by Kieran Charnock on Andre Gray, free kick awarded.

58:45

Janos Kovacs challenges Chris Holroyd unfairly and gives away a free kick. Keiran Murtagh restarts play with the free kick.

56:54

Dean Beckwith is caught offside. Lance Cronin takes the indirect free kick.

56:21

Foul by Nathaniel Brown on Scott Rendell, free kick awarded. Stuart Fleetwood takes the free kick.

55:13

Andre Gray fouled by Kieran Charnock, the ref awards a free kick. Dean Beckwith restarts play with the free kick.

53:49

Keiran Murtagh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jake Howells. Free kick crossed by Jake Howells, Nathaniel Brown manages to make a clearance.

50:58

Alex Lawless produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

50:02

The assist for the goal came from Charlie Henry.

50:02 Goal scored

Goal - Nathaniel Brown - Luton 2 - 1 Macclesfld Nathaniel Brown finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Luton 2-1 Macclesfield.

49:37

Charlie Henry fouled by Jake Howells, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Henry restarts play with the free kick.

48:58

The ball is swung over by Jack Mackreth, clearance made by Janos Kovacs.

48:18

Arnaud Mendy concedes a free kick for a foul on JJ O'Donnell. Lathaniel Rowe-Turner takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +2:11 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:45

Stuart Fleetwood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Braham-Barrett. Lance Cronin restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +0:21

Janos Kovacs challenges Chris Holroyd unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Henry has an effort direct from the free kick, Mark Tyler makes a save.

43:30

Craig Braham-Barrett sends in a cross, Mark Tyler makes a save.

42:26

Foul by Charlie Henry on JJ O'Donnell, free kick awarded. Mark Tyler restarts play with the free kick.

41:27

Jack Mackreth challenges Lathaniel Rowe-Turner unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Tyler takes the direct free kick.

40:05

Charlie Henry restarts play with the free kick, Matthew Barnes-Homer produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

40:05 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Dean Beckwith for unsporting behaviour.

39:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Holroyd by Dean Beckwith.

38:08

Andre Gray takes a shot. Save by Lance Cronin.

37:31

Scott Rendell is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Lance Cronin.

37:10

Jake Howells fouled by Keiran Murtagh, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Janos Kovacs.

35:14

Shot from deep inside the area by Andre Gray goes over the bar.

34:50

The ball is crossed by Scott Rendell, clearance made by Nathaniel Brown.

34:02

The offside flag is raised against Jack Mackreth. Mark Tyler takes the indirect free kick.

32:53

A cross is delivered by Charlie Henry, clearance made by Janos Kovacs.

32:14

Stuart Fleetwood takes a shot. Lance Cronin makes a save.

31:03

Keiran Murtagh produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

29:32

Craig Braham-Barrett delivers the ball, Dean Beckwith manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Henry from the left by-line played to the near post, Jake Howells makes a clearance.

28:39

The ball is swung over by Jack Mackreth, Scott Rendell makes a clearance.

28:11

Corner taken short by Charlie Henry.

27:49

The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott Rendell. Lance Cronin restarts play with the free kick.

24:12

The official flags Chris Holroyd offside. Mark Tyler takes the indirect free kick.

23:20

Chris Holroyd takes a shot. Save by Mark Tyler.

22:38

Effort from outside the penalty box by Stuart Fleetwood goes wide left of the target.

21:41

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Braham-Barrett from the right by-line to the near post, Charlie Henry has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

21:41

Corner taken by Craig Braham-Barrett from the right by-line, Headed effort on goal by Charlie Henry from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

21:25

A cross is delivered by Jack Mackreth, Greg Taylor gets a block in.

19:40

Stuart Fleetwood delivers the ball, Nathaniel Brown makes a clearance.

19:10

Carl Martin is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Tyler.

16:52

Assist on the goal came from Jake Howells.

16:52 Goal scored

Goal - Andre Gray - Luton 2 - 0 Macclesfld Andre Gray scores a headed goal from close range. Luton 2-0 Macclesfield.

15:45

Jake Howells takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

12:22

The referee blows for offside against Andre Gray. Nathaniel Brown restarts play with the free kick.

11:06

Scott Rendell is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lance Cronin takes the free kick.

10:06

Scott Rendell has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the goal.

6:15

Craig Braham-Barrett sends in a cross, Janos Kovacs manages to make a clearance.

4:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Barnes-Homer by Dean Beckwith. Direct free kick taken by Craig Braham-Barrett.

1:33

Charlie Henry crosses the ball.

0:45 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Howells - Luton 1 - 0 Macclesfld Jake Howells finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Luton 1-0 Macclesfield.

0:24

Shot from 12 yards by Andre Gray.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association