Three goals in five second-half minutes helped Luton secure victory over struggling Alfreton.

Paul Clayton spurned a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead when he raced through on goal, but his effort was saved by Mark Tyler.

And they were made to pay with JJ O'Donnell's close-range finish, before Jonathan Smith's header made it 2-0.

Andre Gray then made the points safe when he smashed home after good work from Ronnie Henry.

Continue reading the main story

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Luton Town

  • 01 Tyler
  • 02 Rowe-Turner
  • 06 Kovacs Booked
  • 11 Howells
  • 12 Ainge
  • 25 Henry
  • 07 Lawless
  • 17 O'Donnell (Walker - 90' )
  • 24 Smith
  • 10 Rendell (Shaw - 86' )
  • 27 Gray (Fleetwood - 86' )

Substitutes

  • 33 Brill
  • 14 Mendy
  • 09 Shaw
  • 13 Fleetwood
  • 29 Walker

Alfreton Town

  • 22 Stewart
  • 02 Law
  • 03 Franklin
  • 05 Quinn
  • 06 Kempson Booked
  • 10 Bradley (Meadows - 82' )
  • 12 Franks Booked (Killock - 71' )
  • 16 Harriott Booked
  • 09 Clayton (Denton - 71' )
  • 11 Arnold
  • 21 Tomlinson

Substitutes

  • 17 Streete
  • 23 Killock
  • 07 Brown
  • 14 Meadows
  • 08 Denton
Ref: Barratt
Att: 5,648

Match Stats

Shots

15 6

On target

5 4

Corners

6 3

Fouls

14 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:21 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +4:05

Centre by Stuart Fleetwood.

90:00 +2:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ben Tomlinson on Lathaniel Rowe-Turner. Lathaniel Rowe-Turner takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:41

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Stuart Fleetwood, Tom Denton manages to make a clearance.

89:50 Substitution

Substitution (Luton) makes a substitution, with Dan Walker coming on for JJ O'Donnell.

88:54

Stuart Fleetwood takes a shot.

87:21

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jake Howells played to the near post, Tom Denton makes a clearance.

85:47 Substitution

Substitution Jon Shaw is brought on as a substitute for Scott Rendell.

85:10 Substitution

Substitution Andre Gray leaves the field to be replaced by Stuart Fleetwood.

84:13

Ben Tomlinson fouled by Simon Ainge, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Danny Meadows from left channel, clearance made by Janos Kovacs.

84:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Ainge on Ben Tomlinson. Danny Meadows takes the free kick.

83:15

Short corner worked by Josh Law, Matty Harriott takes a shot. Mark Tyler makes a save.

82:37

Effort on goal by Andre Gray from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

82:37

Andre Gray has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

81:23 Substitution

Substitution Dan Bradley leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Meadows.

80:43

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Ben Tomlinson misses to the left of the target.

78:59

JJ O'Donnell produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

76:51

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Howells from the left by-line to the near post, Scott Rendell produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

76:32

Alex Lawless takes a shot. Jon Stewart makes a save.

75:50

Lathaniel Rowe-Turner crosses the ball, clearance made by Darran Kempson.

74:49

Ben Tomlinson crosses the ball, clearance made by Janos Kovacs.

73:52

Unfair challenge on Darran Kempson by Andre Gray results in a free kick. Adam Quinn restarts play with the free kick.

72:46

JJ O'Donnell takes a shot.

70:25

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Howells from the right by-line,

70:25 Substitution

Substitution Paul Clayton leaves the field to be replaced by Tom Denton.

70:25 Substitution

Substitution Ross Killock on for Leigh Franks.

68:31

The ball is crossed by Andre Gray, Jon Stewart makes a save.

68:31

The ball is swung over by Andre Gray, Jon Stewart makes a save.

67:25

Scott Rendell has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

66:30

Andre Gray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darran Kempson. Jon Stewart restarts play with the free kick.

65:52 Booking

Booking Leigh Franks is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

60:38

Josh Law concedes a free kick for a foul on JJ O'Donnell. Direct free kick taken by Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.

58:38

Unfair challenge on Ben Tomlinson by Jake Howells results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dan Bradley.

57:18

Ronnie Henry provided the assist for the goal.

57:18 Goal scored

Goal - Andre Gray - Luton 3 - 0 Alfreton Andre Gray scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Luton 3-0 Alfreton Town.

57:10

A cross is delivered by Ronnie Henry,

55:46

Assist by Andre Gray.

55:46 Goal scored

Goal - Jonathan Smith - Luton 2 - 0 Alfreton Jonathan Smith grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty box. Luton 2-0 Alfreton Town.

55:36

Alex Lawless delivers the ball,

55:00

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Alex Lawless, clearance made by Paul Clayton.

54:13

Adam Quinn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Janos Kovacs. Ronnie Henry takes the free kick.

52:34

The assist for the goal came from Alex Lawless.

52:34 Goal scored

Goal - JJ O'Donnell - Luton 1 - 0 Alfreton JJ O'Donnell gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Luton 1-0 Alfreton Town.

52:19

Alex Lawless crosses the ball,

51:05

The assistant referee flags for offside against Andre Gray. Direct free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

48:51

Alex Lawless produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

47:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Rendell by Leigh Franks. Simon Ainge restarts play with the free kick.

46:37

Paul Clayton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Simon Ainge. Mark Tyler takes the direct free kick.

45:43

Adam Quinn challenges Andre Gray unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Jake Howells from right channel, Jon Stewart makes a save.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +3:17 Half time

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

45:00 +1:53

The offside flag is raised against Scott Rendell. Free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

45:00 +1:12

Paul Clayton is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Tyler.

42:44

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Josh Law.

42:44 Booking

Booking Janos Kovacs goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

42:28

Janos Kovacs challenges Paul Clayton unfairly and gives away a free kick.

41:08

Corner taken right-footed by Josh Law, Leigh Franks takes a shot. Save by Mark Tyler.

39:59

Dan Bradley fouled by Jonathan Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Josh Law, Mark Tyler makes a save.

38:37

Unfair challenge on Paul Clayton by Janos Kovacs results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Adam Quinn from right channel, Janos Kovacs makes a clearance.

37:35

JJ O'Donnell crosses the ball, clearance made by Adam Quinn.

35:59

The official flags Paul Clayton offside. Direct free kick taken by Janos Kovacs.

34:45

Scott Rendell challenges Matty Harriott unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leigh Franks restarts play with the free kick.

32:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Janos Kovacs on Paul Clayton. Adam Quinn restarts play with the free kick.

31:21

Scott Rendell produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

30:24

Andre Gray takes a shot. Leigh Franks gets a block in.

28:19

Foul by Leigh Franks on Scott Rendell, free kick awarded. Jake Howells crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Darran Kempson.

27:47

Andre Gray takes a shot. Blocked by Leigh Franks.

26:21

Free kick taken by Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.

26:21 Booking

Booking Darran Kempson receives a caution.

25:59

Foul by Darran Kempson on Scott Rendell, free kick awarded.

22:04

Lathaniel Rowe-Turner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Clayton. Free kick taken by Josh Law.

20:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Connor Franklin on Jake Howells. Free kick crossed by Jake Howells.

19:56

Paul Clayton takes a shot. Mark Tyler makes a save.

18:21

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Josh Law.

17:49

Lathaniel Rowe-Turner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Clayton. Darran Kempson restarts play with the free kick.

14:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Connor Franklin by Andre Gray. Direct free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

14:04

Jake Howells takes the free kick.

14:04 Booking

Booking Matty Harriott booked.

13:46

Foul by Matty Harriott on Jake Howells, free kick awarded.

10:34

Matty Harriott challenges Jake Howells unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Tyler takes the free kick.

9:19

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jake Howells, clearance made by Josh Law.

8:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darran Kempson by Scott Rendell. Free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

7:28

The ball is swung over by Andre Gray.

5:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Connor Franklin on Jake Howells. Jake Howells crosses the ball, Andre Gray takes a shot. Jon Stewart makes a save.

5:03

Foul by Connor Franklin on Jake Howells, free kick awarded. Cross/shot by Jake Howells, save made by Jon Stewart.

4:08

Ronnie Henry challenges Paul Clayton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Josh Law.

3:35

Foul by Paul Clayton on Simon Ainge, free kick awarded. Mark Tyler restarts play with the free kick.

3:11

A cross is delivered by Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, save by Jon Stewart.

1:42

The assistant referee flags for offside against Andre Gray. Free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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VIEWS FROM THE TRAINING GROUND

Luton manager Paul Buckle told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We were poor on the day up there [when Luton lost 3-0 at Alfreton in September], we were awful, but a lot's happened since then.

"We've recovered really well and we've marched on in the league, we've marched on in the cups, and the boys are on a good unbeaten run at the moment.

"The players are not in any mood at the moment to give up what they've built - and it's been built on work-rate and desire. In these winter months now, I really feel we're upping our game.

"We're looking forward to it, we know it's going to be a tough game because they're a good side, but there again that's nothing new."